PRE-K GRADUATE

Sydney's Pre-K experience was a lot different then Bella's.
She was always a little less into it, but for the most part she was still excited to go ... most days.
She was a lot more quiet and apprehensive about making friends, talking to teachers, participating in the activities/dances/songs ... well everything.
She usually told me things she wasn't a fan of in school. And she sat out quite a lot.
But she did enjoy telling me stories about preschool; although they usually were made up and involved extensive Magic School Bus-type field trips or ridiculous lists of snacks she had, usually including birthday cake.
She also hasn't been quite as attached to things either, so when she dumps out her backpack it wasn't surprising if she ran off afterwards saying, "Just throw it all away, my teachers did it".
She found some days quite boring and was eager to go home and not too excited the next day.
Some days were a battle to get her to go, and we ended up going late a lot the second half to avoid the drop off attachment struggles that struck her. (Also we all got a little more time to sleep in.)
She also enjoyed counting all the way home, which we tried to do everyday to see if we could get home before we got to 100!

I am so proud of her for sticking with it, we have worked on a lot at home as well. Especially since I found the preschool program to not be as academically focused as it was for Bella. All in all though Sydney picked up on her Letter Recognition and is writing her name (we're working on legibility). And she has a lot more interest in learning, for a short span of time at least. We have a lot to work on this summer to get Kindergarten ready but I think she is really excited and ready for the big kid world of school that is right around the corner.

Pre-K had its ups and downs but she figured it out, and I'm crossing my fingers that Kindergarten goes even better! I think having Sister and Brother both at the school and going in with her everyday will definitely help, along with the fact that it wont be quite as early (Pre-k was at 7:45). She is mainly excited for the art special, the lunchroom and recess on the big playground.

At her Pre-K Graduation Piper was a attentively watching her sister every step of the way. AND... playing with the baby behind us.

"ITS SYDNEY!"

The bottom "S" poster Sydney and I made
together. She loved finding all her
favorite things and more to put on it. 

SO PROUD OF OUR GRADUATE!

Her teacher Mrs. Woodward

Kindergarten here she comes!

(Hope we are ready...)

First Day of School

We have a FIRST GRADER AND A THIRD GRADER! 

It’s hard to believe summer is over, and yet we are all so excited!

(School normally starts Mid August, but with the recent changes with BOE the start date is now after Labor Day like many surrounding counties.)

They loved showing off at Back to School Night!

Connor.

Third grade. Desks! (He hasn't had a teacher that has done desks yet.)

Teacher, Mrs. Shankle. "Super Nice" (Code for I think I will get away with a lot this year.)

Best friend Ryan. Same Class. Lockers right next to each other. 

Bella.

First Grade. Desks!

Teacher, Mrs. McGuigan (Out on Maternity leave doesn't come back for a month, but her long term sub was a long term sub for art(?) last year so Bella knows her already; SCORE!)
Doesn't have any friends from her class last year in her class. More than a little anxious. But we spotted some potential friends so we are going to be just fine!

So bittersweet saying goodbye at the bus stop (first year riding the bus)... actually they just ran to get in line no goodbyes, I guess that’s a good sign. I have walked them to class every year the first day, (even when I wasn’t supposed to) I so missed that today.

Daddy surprised them at lunch and heard all about their day so far!

UPDATE:

And a few weeks later Miss Syd started PRESCHOOL!

She gets a little clingy but once she gets over the initial drop off she warms up, I'm told.

She started beginning of October

With each new child in school it gets all the more quiet at home and yet all the more busy.

It’s going to be a fun (crazy) year!

First Day of PRE-K

She has been pretty much been waiting for this day since the day she was born. 

Bella's take on the First Day of Pre-K, without a breath in between:
M: So tell me everything.
B: Okay so first we did playdoh and then we laid on the rug and learned about school. Rules. And we read a story and we had to be quite. And then we were going to watch a show but it was canceled. So we did playdoh again and then... You wanna know why it was canceled it had low battery and then we ate snack, grapes and fish. But not real fish because that would be weird.  And then we watched the show anyway. And then we drawed. I drawed a heart ... and I put you in the heart mommy because I love you. Except I need a pencil when I get home to actually draw you in it because I forgot. Then I did playdoh again and then we headed outside to play and wait for parents and I did wait and then guess what my parents came because your my parent and you came. 
M: Wow that's quite a day, sounds like you loved it. 
B: YES CAN I GO BACK TOMORROW!
(With her hands in the pleading motion!)