The First Day of School!

Yesterday was the first day of school. Jacob is starting 4th grade, Jonah is in 3rd, and Noah will be in Kindergarten.

Noah's first day was a little confusing for us. Not the day itself, but the planning for it. The kindergarteners don't actually get to do school on the first day. It's orientation. I really wish they would do it differently, but after yesterday, it will no longer be of concern to me, anyway. The parents get to go in with the kids, then the principal takes the kids on a school tour while the teacher furiously speeds along with all the rules, policies, and procedures of Kindergarten. In total: 1 Hour. Then, we went home. Okay, we went out to lunch. But, the point is, that it makes it hard for kids who have been waiting their whole lives for this day, and then it's not even a REAL first day. And, it makes it hard for the poor parents. I mean, how are you supposed to plan an outfit for the first day when you're not really even sure when the first day is! So, our solution was that Noah got to choose 2 outfits. And, after this morning, it's all behind us.

Noah's teacher, Mrs. Graham is expecting on September 24th. She will have a long-term sub after she has the baby, and will return after Thanksgiving. Even though it is not the best situation, we are trusting that it will work out well. We got the meet the sub at back to school day. Her name is Mrs. Waiss, and she has a 1st grader at Brownsville, too. We think the kids are really going to love her, too.

Noah asked Mrs. Graham if this would be his desk every day or just today. She said that tomorrow, he would get to choose where he can sit. That was good for Noah, because his biggest fear (we've been talking about for weeks now) is that he won't have any friends or know anyone. He told me he's going to sit by Kohen, his one friend in his class who was from his preschool.

Jonah has Mrs. Stewart, who was Jacob's teacher last year, and also the teacher Jacob had for 1st grade (she moved up during the year between). We love her. Jacob loved her, and Jonah is so excited to have her, too. He is also really pumped about some of the friends who are in his class. He has lots of insight into who he should and should not sit by. He knows who will get him into trouble. He came home saying that only 2 kids had to move their star today (the disciplinary system in his class). He said, "Guess who?" Interesting. It's the 2 boys he says he does not want to sit by. Ironically, he considers both of them good friends. Hmm.

Here's Jonah at his new desk. For ease and order, Mrs. Steward assigns a number to each student in her class, alphabetically. Hereafter, they will many times be known as that number. That way, she can tell evens to do one thing, odds to do another, and it's not always split up boys/girls, or alphabetically. Jonah was curious to know his number because Jacob remembers his from both first and third grades. Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present, Number Eleven!

Jacob is so excited about his teacher, Ms. Berry. At school they call her "Scary Ms. Berry." Honestly. Remember those books about the teacher who disappeared and a witch came in her place? Miss Nelson is Missing is what it was called. A favorite book of mine growing up. Anyway, that's who his teacher reminds me of. Jacob came home from school beaming yesterday. It is difficult to explain how rare that is. He told us all about how when you do something bad, Ms. Berry sends you to Siberia, "which is a cold place in Russia where they send adults." He thought that was hysterical. And, that was the beginning of his year.

This is Jacob just after he sat down at his desk. He got to work right away, before I could even snap a picture!

Here is Noah this morning, on his REAL first day of school. He's all decked out in his new clothes, including the RED shoes we got him for his birthday, that he saved for school.

For the record, Noah told me I could take ONE picture. So, here is the progression of how the photography went:

But, he was happy when he got to school. You can't see it in the picture, but he's in line with his classmates, walking in to his class with Mrs. Graham. Look out world, here he comes!!!