First Day of School

The summer went by fast and furious!

And we did lots on our summer bucket list

And now it is time for back to school!

 

Nick is so nervous about going back to school. He is starting grade 2 and has the same teacher as last year. He was very excited to wear his Captain America shirt!

 

Katheryn, on the other hand, is very excited to go back to school. To learn, play with her friends, meet her new teacher. Katheryn got a new dress for school, but she's worn it twice already and told everyone it was her back-to-school dress

Grade 2 and 3!
How did they get so big!

The kids were very good with pictures before school starts. And I got 3 pictures in 3 shots

Grade One and Two... First Day of School

The day arrived. The first day of school.

After getting all my thoughts and stresses out on 'paper' yesterday, and a good night sleep we were all ready for today!

Both the kids got up and were ready to go in the morning. The bags were packed, lunches were done, clothes picked out, new shoes all ready.

Katheryn was very specific about what she wanted for her hair style. And wanted me to take a picture so that she could show it off.

Katheryn was very excited to start school and see all of her friends. She couldn't wait to get on the bus and start grade 2!
She told me that I could take 3 pictures of her, but she only wanted to do one pose.

We weren't sure how the bus schedule will work with the kids. So Kyle and Katheryn went together to Katheryn's bus stop. He got  back to the house in time for Nick's bus, so there is enough time to get to both stops.

Nickolas is excited as well to start school. Not nervous a bit (or if he is, he isn't telling me). When Nick got up in the morning, he was happy that he was going to see his friends today. When I reminded him that he was going to his new school, he told "I know that, I am happy to  meet my new friends."

The bus driver called me yesterday to confirm pick-up time, and was there in time at our house. So there wasn't any delay in Nick going to school. Nick got in the bus and then was gone.

 I went into the school right after first recess to watch Nick's bathroom routine and offer any suggestions. Nick looked so happy there and everyone said he was doing well. I never got to see Katheryn (I didn't want to interrupt anyone too much).

When the kids came home. They said that they had a great time at school. Nick said he made lots of friends, and seems to be in class with all of Katheryn's friends. Katheryn is also in a split class of grade 2/3, which I am very happy about. I think she will do great in a split class.

Both of them are very happy to be back in school!

School Time!

Katheryn is all ready for real school now! Grade one!

She started last week (and still enjoys going), which is always a good sign.

 

She gets to sit at a real desk (surrounded by boys), and her favorite parts of the day are recess, gym class,  and the library. She has all of her friends in the class with her and she likes her teacher.

I've been trying to ask how school is going without asking the same questions every day.
What was your favorite thing you did today?
Did you have fun?
What was your favorite thing you learned today?
Who did you play with?

Nick's first day of school was today.
His second (and final) year at Campbell's Children's School for senior Kindergarten

Nick had a great day at school. Some of his friends were still there (including a little girl he talked about all year) and some new friends, including Alejandra that we've known for a couple of years (and who also has spina bifida).

Nick wanted to have a Ninja Turtle picture. So this is Nick with his nun-chucks

Nick is just jumping right back into school-mode. He is in the same class, same teachers, EA's he knows, same bus.

Back to school has been great so far!

First Day of School... For real

We had some big first day of school this year!

Katheryn started SK last Tuesday, and she was nervous at first, we only found out who her teacher was and who were in her class the Friday before.

 

 

And Nick started JK today.

 

 

Oh my! They look so big!

And for being so good and posing for first day of school pictures.

I get to take some funny face ones too!

 

 

We've done lots of talking with Nick about school, and how he was going to have his teacher, and other students. And it would be fun.

So he has started to get excited about going.

 

 

(After the initial pictures I let Nick put his sweater on, it was kinda cool out)

Then it was time to wait for the school bus!

 

 

When we did our tour of the school in June we got to go on the bus, but Nick had been in his walker, so he didn't get to go on the ramp. But Nick will be taking his wheelchair on the bus (and leaving his walker at school for now).

So we got him all buckled on and ready.

He got a little jumpy when it first started moving, just it goes super slow and I even got a wave! 

 

We got him into his seat and then all of the tying up and seat belts and everything came in.

(notice the canes on the back - yeah I got in trouble for that, apparently it isn't safe to have canes on the back of the wheelchair)

 

 

More straps, nice and secure, and closer to leaving...

And then Jennifer (his daycare) and I were going to be going, and he was going to be on his way to his first full day of school!

 

 

And Nick started to get nervous, I could still get a smile out of him.

But this is definitely his nervous face...

We talked about his teacher, and the classroom and that he got to ride a bus. So he knew he was going to be having fun, but he was still nervous about the change.

No tears (Nick or mommy). And then he was ready to go

Got another wave through the window.
And my little boy was off to his first full day of school.

I have a year to prepare for this day, and I did my research and know how important this is for him (besides which I have no desire to homeschool).

But it's that milestone.

Now he is going to school, all day, every day.

This is it!

 

It seems like we have worked hard to get this place, but also that it wasn't that long ago that we were here

 

 

 

 

School is cool!!

The day has come.

Katheryn's first day of school.

Junior Kindergarten.

 

She was so excited to start, then would get nervous, and get excited again.

Of course I got her first day outfit all ready (and took pictures in the rain), but her dress is super cute.

Once the time came, Katheryn was all attitude!

 

The first day of school is actually a meet and greet for us.
We met the teacher, went into the classroom and had a little scavenger hunt together.
We also did a couple of crafts and read a story.

Then it was time to go home until the morning.
Katheryn was so upset that we had to go! Always a good sign.

Except she was so excited to go to school in the morning she wouldn't go to sleep early.
The whole family dropped her off at the school this morning, for her FIRST real day of school.
Backpack full of a change of clothes, lunch bag full of food she will (hopefully) eat.

We walked her to the gate, she was met by her friend Carson. The teacher knew who she was. And she was gone!

Kyle and I kept looking to see if she was ok. And of course she was.
Nick was pretty good, no tears or anything. Asking about her a lot.

And then we all got ready to pick her up at the end of the day!

Finally the school bus pulled up.
Kyle and I had a couple of moments of worrying about the bus ride. What if she was on the wrong bus, or didn't get off. All the things that could be wrong.
No worries of course.
She got off, no problems. (Thanks Emma)

She was very excited to tell us how school was, how she didn't eat her strawberries at snack time, how she played, and how she had a lot of fun! And really wants to go back tomorrow!!!

Ready for school

This is it.
The last week before life changes forever. Well, someone in our house's life changes forever.
The first day of school - next week.

We had a trial of school when Katheryn went away for zoo camp in the beginning of the month. School hours, away from parents, taking her own lunch, being independent and making friends.

She did so well.

I have discussed that in Ontario we are participating in their full-day kindergarten program. So once she enters that school on the first day, that is it. School for the next 14 years (at least - and if she is anything like her mom then just add another 10 years on top of that!)
No more pj days, sleeping in, playing all day, no more going out for lunch just because, scheduling things after school...
This is it.

I think I'm handling it pretty well.
Because Katheryn will have no problems adjusting. We already know she will know 2 other kids in her class. And the program is all about play-based learning. So I'm not worried about her.

Nick is going to be in for a shock. But we've talked about it. And that he will be going to school next year with her. So far Nickolas seems accepting about all of this. And he's excited we'll be walking to the bus stop every day.

I have absolutely no idea what Katheryn is going to need for school. What do you need for kindergarten? Backpack, lunch bag, shoes, labels. Shopping done.

T minus 7 days