Tuesday, July 10, 2007

And They’re Off…

My kids were so excited about the first day that I could hardly contain them.  This is the first year that my kids will be riding the bus and we were up early, 6 am.  We didn’t need to go to the bus stop until 7 am but my 6 year old was trying to bust out the door at 6:30. 

Turns out that even when we showed up at the bus stop at 7 am we waited for 38 minutes for the bus to show up.  I had been told by the person who is the transportation coordinator in our area that the bus would be here about 7:20 or so.  Well I figured that since we needed to be there 10 minutes before the bus came and the TV crew was meeting us there that 7 am was reasonable.  Let me apologize now to those folks because after they were done with what they needed to do we waited and waited for the bus.  We all could have used a little more sleep that morning.  Next time we will be a little less timely. (and the bus will show up early)

As 2 out of my 3 scurried onto the bus it struck me that time surely does fly.  I can’t believe I have a 4th grader.  And my 1st grader is 6 going on 20.  Nothing gets by her.  My youngest spent the day with me and we ran some errands.  I took her to her dentist appointment and we went shopping and just kind of relaxed.  She is going into Kindergarten this year and she is on what they call staggered entry.  It seems that this is different in every school but she will be going to school today for 2 hours and then start school next Monday. 

I am the parent that feels school is a good place for my children to be.  When the others went off to school for the first time I was very proud of them and continue to be.  I missed them but I believe that I will be missing my youngest more.  Not because I love her more just because she is my baby.  The last one to go to school.  Monday through Friday, all day.  That will be an adjustment for sure.  I probably will cutely play off like it doesn’t bother me but when I get home I’m sure there will be some tears. 

When the afternoon came, me and my daughter drove up to the bus stop to pick up the others (yes we drove IT WAS HOT and it’s quite a walk)  When the bus arrived the kids flew off the bus with the biggest smiles on their faces.  They were full of first day stories, each of them talking at once.  The sound was deafening but wonderful.  They absolutely loved their first day.  And isn’t this what every parent wants?  Their children to be filled with the love for learning.  Having them enjoy school so much warms my heart. 

What we need to consider is this, children are resilient.  They find the best in every situation and make it work for them.  Yes they had a shortened summer break but they were absolutely thrilled to start school.  There was no complaining.  No grumpiness.  Nothing but joy about returning to school.  We, as adults, could learn something about this whole conversion from our kids.  Our kids will be OK.  They will adjust and make the best of this situation without giving it a second thought.  They will go on.  My oldest had said something a while back that comes to mind.  He had said that he didn’t understand why people were getting so upset over the conversion.  I explained to him why some where upset and he said “Why don’t they just try it first and see how they feel?  Maybe it won’t be as bad as they think?“ Indeed! 

How is it going for you?

May I assume that your kids are enrolled to the same school this year? My kids are reassigned from Morrisville Elem to Green Hope Elem, base school for Riggsbee Farm subd. They spent the last 2 weeks at their former school crying and depress; waking up with puffy eyes. My husband and I spent almost 4 weeks explaining to them that it is the BoE/Wake Co Schools who dictates which schools children will go to and not parents. We told them that we don’t have the power nor the voice to overturn what has been done. Please note that I did appeal and turned down (and a couple of parents I know who were in the same situation).  Resiliency? Sure, I relatively agree:  my kindergartener has no clue; my 2nd grader will recover; and my 5th grader is definitely scarred and devastated(next year, she needs to move again for middle school. Tough luck) We love the year round schedule but we firmly believe that it should be a choice, a real choice….not the kind we faced/offered this school year. BTW, we also had a short turnaround…ONE WEEK!

Yes you may assume.  My children have not changed schools only schedules.  I understand your frustration with the system and I feel for your daughter.  Many children in Elementary school that were already YR paid for the conversions too.  I have met a few that were moved and though they don’t seem upset they do fear, for lack of a better word, a new school with new teachers and system.  But I have always known that living in Wake County comes with a price that unfortunately our children bear the brunt of.  There is no guarantee of a specific school.  You could build a house next to a school and the BOE could reassign your child to the school down the street.  I have had a hard time with this because when I grew up (many moons ago) I went to school in a city school district.  My parents knew where I was going to school right up until I graduated.  That is not so here due in part to the county wide system in place. 
Every year our children were tentatively placed in a new Elementary, Middle or High school but when the final vote was cast, they stayed put. 

I guess what I am saying is be the best parent you can for your child to help her in this time of “devastation”.  She will thank you for it and I hope she will be fine.  Sorry for your situation.  Sincerely!

sorry to correct but it should be “and they’re off”

And “their off”?  Their off what? I suspect you meant “they’re off”?  What a comment you make about education.

We are allowed to make mistakes and be corrected, so be nice Susan.