Tonight, Julie, Ted, and Joe went to what's known as Kindergarten Roundup. It's different from the fall's Kindergarten Open House in that one registers one's child for kindergarten at the Roundup. Or, at least, one tries. Julie was admonished that Joe would not be registered for kindergarten until his immunization record was received, despite the fact that he will not receive all of the requisite immunizations until he turns five in July. Apparently one turns them in incomplete and then again, once completed. Similarly, one turns in the bus transportation form incomplete as necessary. It is necessary if, at the Roundup, one enters one's child's name into the lottery for full-day kindergarten and one thus has, of course, no idea whether one will need bus service and if so, when, and between the school and where.
By now, Fans, you have realized that the people being rounded up are the parents of the class of 2026.
While the parents listened to a presentation delivered by the principal in the gym, the members of the class of 2026 were taken to one of the four kindergarten rooms by a kindergarten teacher, depending on what color the string was holding the card with their name on it around their neck. Joe was in the purple room. Joe wrote his own name on his card. (This would be the first time Julie chocked back tears. Clearly, it's going to be a wet road to 2026.) Joe went off with the purple room's teacher, swept along in the tide; one second he was holding Julie's hand and then he wasn't. (FANS! More holding back of tears.) As it happened, Joe's friend from Pre-K, Eric, was also in the purple room. Joe had a great time visiting the kindergarten room. He reported that they sang a song and colored a picture.
Oh, Fans. . .There we sat in the gym. It had an orange stripe around it about a third of the way down. The muscle group of he week was the abdominals. Empowering sayings abounded. So many that we can't remember any of them anymore. But we learned other things:
1. If you want a specific teacher, or don't want a specific teacher, tell Principal Johnson in May when you fill out your child's profile at his or her kindergarten assessment. Don't be the parent tells him in August that you want your child moved to a different room. They will talk about you behind your back as a problem parent.
2. Get ready to volunteer! You might be ostracized if you do not volunteer. You can sign up tonight to start getting e-mails! PARK PRIDE! (That's St. Louis Park Pride, Fans.)
3. Kindergarten apparently involves a lot of glue. The supplies list included 12 glue sticks--!!!!!
4. Julie at least will have to take the first day of kindergarten off from work. She was teary-eyed over the school supplies list, too, and at least two other times as well. None of this bodes well for the first day of kindergarten. She will need to practice being brave so that she does not embarrass Joe (or Ted or Clara for that matter).
5. It's going to be 2026 before we know it.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
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It seems like yesterday Nicholas was heading out on that first day of school.
ReplyDeleteI remember him coming home on the bus, he was so little. Now, some ten years later, and three years from college I have absolutely no idea where that time went. I do have some advice, as you know:
1. You will learn many more things before 2026 my young padawan
2. No matter how you plan things, they never go in the direction you would have guessed, sometimes all you can do is hang on for the ride. I should have foreseen this when it became apparent Nick liked roller coasters.
3.Volunteer, it's what makes schools better on many levels, but do not try to do everything; every padawan needs a master.
4. It's ok to be sad, just remember we are not our kids, and they unfortunately will learn some things the hard way. Here too I often keep reminding myself that I must let Nick make his own mistakes, this is the only way we truly learn, not easy for me, in fact it's very hard.
5. No joke, 2026, it's already here. Don't forget to enjoy it.
I leave you with a great quote:
"I'm not testing you, Obi-Wan. Life tests you! Every day it brings you new chances for triumph or defeat. And if you pass the test, it doesn't make you a Jedi. It makes you human."
―Qui-Gon Jinn, to Obi-Wan Kenobi
When Betsy was ready for kindergarten we went to the hoop-de-do at the public school. She went off to do the bus safety/ride thing and I went into the audutorium with the other parents who were there. The principal started in on hid speil and got to the point that we would know in August if our child was going to be AM or PM kindergarten. At which point I raised my hand and had the unmitigated gall to point out that not knowing until August presented a problem to people who had to line up daycare. Mr. Pompous replied that he was much too busy(capitalize this and put in red to get the tone of voice) to determine before August something as trivial as AM and PM sessions. How dare I have asked a question! I decided that there was no way I was going to have to deal with this jackanapes for the next 6/8/10 years. So Betsy and Tommy and Susie went to St. Thomas where there was full day kindergarten. It helped graet deal that Betsy had not had a great time on the bus - too many people.
ReplyDeleteIf you do not stand up for your child no one else will. There are many pluses to volunteering. One of them is that your child loves to see you there being involved. Another is that you are somewhat on the inside track for what may be hitting the fan. If you volunteer you will know the parents and the kids and the teachers. I do not regret one moment I spent at their schools or sporting events. I became a Girl Scout leader because I wanted my child to have the experience. The memories are priceless. And the end comes much too soon. The class of 2013 is on it's way out and Susie will be off to college. A new chapter begins.
The stores are practically giving supplies away starting in July. Buy the glue sticks then and you will always have a supply. Walgreens usually has posterboard at 4/$1. Stock up and you will not scream at 10PM when they announce they need to do a poster. There is nothing like a new large box of crayons and/or markers. Again, they are cheap in July. Susie and I just had a field day at an endcap at Target; random pens, markers, report covers, clips at more than half off
As Scott said, they do have to make their own mistakes and learn through them. That is one of the painful things about being a parent; you can't keep them from doing stupid things. You can guide them and be there to pick up the pieces if things go south.
There is nothing new under the sun.
Aunt Janie