First Day of School 2012

Grace and Jack were really excited to start the school year.  I think it was a great feeling for them to be going back to the same school with a sense of belonging and familiarity.  For Jack, it was the first time he went to the same elementary school for two consecutive years.

Grace is now in 5th grade...her last year in elementary school.  She is such a young lady now!  Her teacher's name is Ms. Dean, and she has Grace's seal of approval.  Ms. Dean is young and American.  She seems really sweet, organized, and creative.  After the first day of school, Grace said she really liked her.  She compared her to Ms. Graham, her kindergarten teacher, and that's a very good thing.  

5th grade already has plans for two field tripsplanned in the next two weeks to a sustainability centre.  They will wear warm clothes and wellies to explore ecology.  

I already like several things about Grace's teacher.  She gives a point system of rewards when the kids bring fruit for a snack.  And her only classroom rule is the "golden" rule.  She sounds like a great teacher so far.

Jack wanted a picture with the car?!  He is very into cars right now.

Jack is now in 3rd grade, and has Mr. Paterson as his teacher.  Mr. Paterson is a young South African teacher.  I think it will be a great experience for Jack to have a male teacher.  They are few and far between, especially in elementary school.  So far Jack has had good things to say, although he is a "man of few words."  (Typical conversation ... How was your day?  Good.  What did you do?  Not much.)

I asked them both what their favorite thing was after their 2nd day at school.  Both replied "We got to do real school work!!"  I just had to laugh, and I hope their enthusiasm for learning continues.  

A few more pictures...