Kindergarten | A Progress Report

We went to Parent Information Night at Joe's school on Tuesday.  Principal Johnson went over again important things like please only park on the south side of the street when picking up or dropping off one's child, a rule that seems to be flatly ignored on most days.  This circumstance is humorous given that the first learning unit for kindergartners is about community, and the importance of rules and respect for others in building strong communities.  We heard all about that and more from Mrs. Dvorak when we all trooped up to her room from the gym.  She is one organized lady, Fans, which seems to be a pretty good thing to be when you are in charge of roughly 20 five and six-year-olds.  We like her a lot.  (She told us that she'll be distributing report cards twice this year.  Well, of course, but we'd sort of forgotten about that part of school.  Report cards.  Crazy!)

Joe seems to have taken to this whole kindergarten thing like a duck to water.  He is still a little apprehensive at drop-off at Kid's Place in the morning when another kindergartner he knows may or may not be there when he arrives.  He makes his way with such stoicism and spirit though.  Site Supervisor Gina tells us that he will often read his books from home, but now, sometimes, he will color with Audrey, a girl in his class.  Afternoons are easier because he and another boy in his class, Miles, arrive together.  On Friday, when we picked Joe up, he and Miles were pilling dirt and mulch up before snaking beaded jump ropes up to the piles.  We have no idea what that business was about, but it was heartening to see him busy and with a friend.  By the time we came back outside from signing him out, he and Miles were chasing each other all around the playground and we had to coax Joe away.  So the days are not without, still, some tough moments, but they are getting fewer and further between, bit by bit.