Today was Connor's second visit to his new school. We went earlier this year to register him for the following school year, but it's been several months and that's a really long time for a five-year old. He was excited to go again. So much so that he wanted to stay longer than the hour we were there. And he also wanted to come back again tomorrow.
Today was one of the two days you could select for the "Kindergarten Kickoff" or standard screening program that they do for incoming kindergartners. The teachers are trying to get an idea of where kids are so that they can plan activities and schedules for the school year. He aced the screening of course. We were lucky enough to have him in a really great preschool program these last two years, and he was coming in as well prepared as most kids his age. He does need work on his "pencil grip," which we knew and which the teachers reassured was a common problem for incoming kids. But when it came to core concepts, he performed well.
After the assessment, the assessment, we were taken on full tour of the school by members of the school PTA. It was the first time we had been beyond the front office. We had started our day in the media center (or library, as they were once called). That was where I filled out some additional paperwork and Connor was led away by a teacher for the assessment. So we spent some time looking around there before that segment of our day was over.
The tour started with important stuff - like a snack (fruit roll-ups for kids and cookies for adults) and the playground. Connor liked the playgound, one of our first stops, though he did comment that it was a really long way to walk (not really, but for a little boy eager to play, there is a bit of a walk). He also liked the big cafeteria with its tall ceilings and long tables (something he's never had at school before). We saw the specialty classrooms, where the kids will do art, music and dance, and even Chinese language. Our last stop of the general tour was the indoor gymnasium (for rainy day activities).
We ended our tour at the kindergarten complex. There are four classrooms in one big, open space that are separated only by bookcases and some commonly shared resources. Those teachers are brave, let me tell you. There is one classroom that is separated from the others, mostly because of a space issue it seems. That fifth classroom is a more traditional classroom setting.
The tour officially ended by turning in the last of our paperwork and by Connor getting to pick a helium balloon of his favorite color. He picked green, which is appropriate, because his brothers are extremely envious of that balloon. Xander has wrapped it up in the ceiling fan not once but twice when he managed to get it away from Connor (it was worth the trade of giving up the computer, which in Xander's world, is a really BIG deal). It's now safely tied down in Connor's bedroom.
And that was our next step on the road to kindergarten. We have another open house and meet-the-teacher night next Monday (they couldn't do classroom assignments until after all the assessments were complete). So we'll be back again next Monday night, and then he'll start on that following Wednesday.
It's hard to believe it's time. But it is. And we think he's ready. He knows he is, if you care to ask him. He's been ready since last May when preschool ended. Maybe before. It should make the transition easier for everyone. It's hard to argue with a kid who's excited to go to school!
