Back to School - 2018 - grades 1 & 5

And, like that, we are back to school!

August 20th was a big day in our house -- Steve started a new job, University started fall semester so I was back to a schedule, and both girls started Indian Hills.  This is Lizzie's first year at Indian Hills.  She is in 1st grade, with Mrs. Wolff.  Carolyn is in 5th grade, with Mrs. Starr.  It is so nice to have both girls at the same school.

 

The obligatory videos:

  

Another mom captured these sweet photos of Carolyn with her friends (Parley, Zoe).

 

Our kids, plus two other kids from the cul-de-sac, have been riding their scooters to and from school every day.  I hope they keep this up.  (They think they are independent, but either Steve or I have discretely followed them each day.  One day there was an incident where Lizzie crabbed and Carolyn sent her home, instead of working with her.  And another day when Kay fell and scraped her knee.)  

Here is Carolyn celebrating the end of the first week of school with her friend Zoe!

When I did the laundry the other day, I noticed that Lizzie was carrying around in her pocket a photo of her friends from Montessori (Ava & Akasha). When I asked about it, she just said, "I miss them and hope they like their new school as much as I like mine"  It made me a little sad for her.  Though, from the first week of photos, it looks like she is fitting in at the new school, even if she misses her friends! Our neighbor (Kyler) is in her class and the teacher moved their desks to be together.  These two do homework together each night as well. Her teacher seems pretty awesome -- she started a school garden and brings the 1st grade class out there almost every day. She is also setting up an incubator to hatch and raise quail in the classroom.  

 

 

We are quickly learning that Lizzie is a serious student, but like Carolyn, is pretty hard on herself and shuts down when she is first learning something challenging.  It is awesome to see how much she is learning every day with her reading and writing. It is also interesting to see how exhausted she is with the changes and all the brain-work she is doing. 

Carolyn vowed to write her name on her work this year (trust me, this is a big deal!) and she seems to really like her teacher.  Lately, she is showing huge improvements in her bladder dysfunction, which would be a major stress relief for everyone, especially her.  She won "first place" in a drawing contest, as voted on by her classmates.  They had to make a picture out of a cursive letter.  She got a letter J and made an impressive picture of a mermaid and turtles under the sea.  I only pray that these small boosts of confidence are the first of many more for her.  She deserves a good year.

So far, it is shaping up to be a great year!  (let's hope I do not jinx us by saying that)