It’s late (well, after dark) and I’m beyond tired, but I wanted to tell you a little bit about Tristan’s first-first day (as opposed to his first small-class day, and his first whole-class day) on Wednesday. I’m not sure I have enough brainpower left to create a cohesive narrative arc, so bear with me as we bullet this out.
- Tristan’s actual teacher is on leave until the end of September, so his school career starts with a supply teacher. This doesn’t particularly bother me, except I feel I have to explain to him that these women will not be his regular teachers. It simply complicates everything – because this week’s theme seems to be complication.
- We walk in the door and are greeted with a cheery “Bonjour!” and I freeze like Bambi on the train tracks. “Um, er, allo,” I stumble, “Ici, this is Tristan.” They immediately switch to English, but I later learn that they alternate weeks in English and French, and what they study in one week in English (the family, the parts of the body, etc) they learn the next week in French. This is French week.
- For the first of what I expect will be innumerable times in years to come, I am called “Mrs (Beloved’s Lastname)” instead of Tristan’s hypenated surname or even my own name.
- I am way too big to sit in a kindergarten chair gracefully, especially in low-riding jeans that are a little too tight after a summer of indulgence.
- The kids are to be dropped off precisely between 8:50 and 9:00. This worries the control freak in me who will not be doing the drop-off.
- Tristan is so ready for this. While I talked to one teacher about rules and expectations and the usual paperwork, the other teacher showed him around the classroom, and Tristan took it all in with huge, glowing eyes.
- It was hard not to choke and gulp a little bit when I overheard her telling him “And this is where we pray to Jesus.”
- I am eternally grateful that the train conductor hats were immediately beside the pray-to-Jesus station, and Tristan was distracted enough by them to leave off questioning the prayer station – for now.
- Mommies are not welcome to stay for the first day. (sob!)
- They have a clever idea of a parent-teacher communication folder, which is basically an 9×11 laminated folder that goes back and forth every day with notes back and forth. Unfortunately, Tristan’s TtFTE backpack is too small, and we will have to buy a larger one for school.
- There are two junior kindergarten classes. The school is much larger than I realized. There seems to be at least two classes of each grade, up to Grade 6. For Grade 7, they move to the local high school. Thinking of Tristan going off to high school gives me anxiety pangs already!
- We need to buy new shoes, even though we just bought new shoes. One pair stays at the school as ‘indoor shoes’. We also need to supply a box of kleenex, and a box of large ziploc baggies.
- Each parent is obligated to make a batch of home-made playdough one week of the school year. My week is in February, which gives me lots of time to practice the recipe – thank god. Do you think they’ll notice if I just buy bulk and pass it off as mine? (I can’t take credit for this idea – but can’t remember who did it. Was it Jen?)
- I’m feeling a little left out of the whole school process because Beloved will be dropping Tristan off in the morning, and the daycare provider will be picking him up at 11:30. The teachers won’t know me from Adam. I’m going through working-mother angst all over again.
His first official day (with a small group) is Wednesday – you can expect more hand-wringing and angst within the week!
Hey Dani…
My daughter is in SK, takes the bus to school (EEK!) and my Mom (God love her!) takes care of both my daughters during the day. I know all-too-well the working Mom angst, the guilt and disconnect and fear associated with not being a regular “face in the cloakroom”… so to speak.
Nevertheless I managed to forge a great relationship with the JK teachers last year (incl. 4 mos with a great Sub) and this is how: I used the mail bag. Whatever the system in place (folder, Ziploc) use it… drop in a note, share your thoughts, concerns, observations re your child… I found it was the best way to stay connected, feel like I’m a contributing player and show my interest in being a partner in my kid’s education.
Also, we had a few phone calls and I managed to squeak in one volunteer day.
Oh, and p.s. – the playdough is actually pretty easy to make and your boys will think you’re an alchemist!
Hey Dani…
My daughter is in SK, takes the bus to school (EEK!) and my Mom (God love her!) takes care of both my daughters during the day. I know all-too-well the working Mom angst, the guilt and disconnect and fear associated with not being a regular “face in the cloakroom”… so to speak.
Nevertheless I managed to forge a great relationship with the JK teachers last year (incl. 4 mos with a great Sub) and this is how: I used the mail bag. Whatever the system in place (folder, Ziploc) use it… drop in a note, share your thoughts, concerns, observations re your child… I found it was the best way to stay connected, feel like I’m a contributing player and show my interest in being a partner in my kid’s education.
Also, we had a few phone calls and I managed to squeak in one volunteer day.
Oh, and p.s. – the playdough is actually pretty easy to make and your boys will think you’re an alchemist!
I found a playdough recipe on the net. It makes a bit of a mess in the pot, but washes with no problem. Smells and feels like the real thing, only lots cheaper!
Is this a parochial school? (With the whole Jesus bit. Just curious.)
Sounds like he will do great!!!!
I found a playdough recipe on the net. It makes a bit of a mess in the pot, but washes with no problem. Smells and feels like the real thing, only lots cheaper!
Is this a parochial school? (With the whole Jesus bit. Just curious.)
Sounds like he will do great!!!!
Welcome to the school-age mom club. So many little things you will now be learning.
As for the working mom thing: been there, done that. With big sis, I NEVER dropped her off nor picked her up. But I compensated with notes and volunteering whenever I possibly could.
Welcome to the school-age mom club. So many little things you will now be learning.
As for the working mom thing: been there, done that. With big sis, I NEVER dropped her off nor picked her up. But I compensated with notes and volunteering whenever I possibly could.
As I’ve watched each one go off, the same angst has come back. It’s all very bittersweet, to sound cliche.
Here’s to a fantastic first year for Tristan! 🙂
As I’ve watched each one go off, the same angst has come back. It’s all very bittersweet, to sound cliche.
Here’s to a fantastic first year for Tristan! 🙂
Going bananas here myself. It’s Sam’s first full day of “school”–a pilot program at Carleton Heights PS where kindergarten and preschool kids (only 4 preschoolers, incl. my baby!) spend the whole day. The Centre has 3 big classrooms and the kinderkids swap out for their half day program. Then, after the bell, it transitions to an After Care program for kids up to 11! It’s a great way to get Sam integrated into his public school–and he was begging to switch out of home care–but the sight of my 3 year old lined up expectantly with the JK and SK big kids hurts my heart with pangs of pride and fear. Can’t wait for the strike of 4 so I can run to him. He may be more ready for this than I am! Do you remember thinking, when these boys seemed mere lumps of sweet-smelling playdough themselves, “oh my god: some day they’ll go to SCHOOL!”
Going bananas here myself. It’s Sam’s first full day of “school”–a pilot program at Carleton Heights PS where kindergarten and preschool kids (only 4 preschoolers, incl. my baby!) spend the whole day. The Centre has 3 big classrooms and the kinderkids swap out for their half day program. Then, after the bell, it transitions to an After Care program for kids up to 11! It’s a great way to get Sam integrated into his public school–and he was begging to switch out of home care–but the sight of my 3 year old lined up expectantly with the JK and SK big kids hurts my heart with pangs of pride and fear. Can’t wait for the strike of 4 so I can run to him. He may be more ready for this than I am! Do you remember thinking, when these boys seemed mere lumps of sweet-smelling playdough themselves, “oh my god: some day they’ll go to SCHOOL!”
OH hugs.
I snuck into the school today to see how he was doing. APPARENTLY fine. he was playing with friends at recess and when they came in he was leading the line and running down the hall yelling and having the rest of the Kindergatern class doing the same. (Can we say Natural born leader?) I watch as he changed his out door shoes for indoor (doesn;t do that at home ) and hug up his coat. Doesn;t do that either.
My boy is doing fine and so will yours.
Hugs
OH hugs.
I snuck into the school today to see how he was doing. APPARENTLY fine. he was playing with friends at recess and when they came in he was leading the line and running down the hall yelling and having the rest of the Kindergatern class doing the same. (Can we say Natural born leader?) I watch as he changed his out door shoes for indoor (doesn;t do that at home ) and hug up his coat. Doesn;t do that either.
My boy is doing fine and so will yours.
Hugs
Buy the playdough. I would.
Buy the playdough. I would.
Just to put things in perspective: there are five JK classes at St. Andrew’s and Liam has been in a portable since grade two. The school is not large enough to house anything other than the JK/SK grade 1 and 2 levels. Very disappointing.
Tristan, however, will not notice anything other than his teacher and the awesome friends that he makes. Stock up in four year old BD presents: you’ll need them for the parties.
Just to put things in perspective: there are five JK classes at St. Andrew’s and Liam has been in a portable since grade two. The school is not large enough to house anything other than the JK/SK grade 1 and 2 levels. Very disappointing.
Tristan, however, will not notice anything other than his teacher and the awesome friends that he makes. Stock up in four year old BD presents: you’ll need them for the parties.