Orientation at The Potomac School

Aidan had orientation this afternoon at his new school this afternoon! He got his schedule and met with his Senior Buddy and his advisor. Classes start tomorrow! 

School Orientation!

 It has been sooooooo hard to wait for today!  The kids had no idea who their teachers would be or who would be in their classes until we got to school this afternoon for orientation.  We have had some anxious kids around the house for the past few days and this morning was no exception!  Luckily everything turned out fantastic - or so it seems!  Everyone's teachers seem soooooo great and everyone has a good friend (or a few good friends in Emmy's case) in their class.  Both Aidan and Aoife have enough kids from other classes that it should give them some good opportunities to meet more kids.  Emmy has a bunch of girls from other classes but she already knows most of them from either church or lacrosse.  I'm really happy for them - this is the first time in 3 years that they have spent more than one year in a school.  To actually know lots of kids before school even starts seems like such a luxury!!  Emmy hasn't known kids on the first day since she was in Kindergarten, Aoife has NEVER known anyone on the first day and it's been since 2nd grade for Aidan - pretty much no one can really remember feeling comfortable at school on the first day.  Makes me so happy that they are confident and really looking forward to Tuesday!!!

Aidan and his 5th grade teacher:

 Emmy found her locker!

 Emmy and her 3rd Grade teacher

 Aoife and her 1st grade teacher

Declan's Preschool Orientation

The day that we have been waiting for ALL SUMMER has finally arrived!  Declan visited his classroom and met his teacher and some of his classmates today.  This may actually have been the best day in Declan's life so far, although I'll bet that in 2 days he'll have the best day of his life again when he actually gets to stay at school without me! 
He is so ready for school and I'm so excited for him!  He needs friends his age - we have a few from Stroller Strong but Declan is a guy who wants a pack of friends.  He is happiest in a big crowd - I guess that's what you get for being the youngest of four!!  We cannot WAIT until Wednesday when he has his actual first day!!

School Open House

 Today we went to the kids' school for open house/orientation.  They all got to meet their teachers and see their classrooms!!!  We've been waiting for this for AGES and everyone was excited - especially Aoife!
Aidan's classroom is in a trailer along with all of the other 4th grade classes.  His teacher Mrs. Campbell, seems awesome and really on the ball!  Emmy has Mrs. Handley and is really happy because her two friends who live around the corner had the same teacher in 2nd grade and they really liked her.  Aoife has Mrs. White - who is barely taller than Aidan - for Kindergarten.  She is so warm and welcoming.  I'm sure it's going to be a great year!!

On the playground:

 Aidan in his classroom:

 Emmy and her teacher:

 Going to Kindergarten!!

 Aoife's cubbie

 Aoife's locker - so exciting!

 Doing her Kindergarten scavenger hunt!

 Aoife and Mrs. White

School Orientation

We had orientation at the kids' school today and school starts bright and early on Monday morning!!!  We have switched schools - still on post but just at a different elementary school.  I needed to have them at a school where they would be challenged and they just weren't being challenged where they were.
Aidan is going in to 3rd grade and his teacher seems amazingly awesome.  She is tough - you can tell right away but he was so excited going to bed tonight.  He said, "I think I'm actually going to learn something this year!  She said that if we understand something we can keep going and learning more stuff!  School has always been so boring and easy - maybe it won't be this year!"  I nearly died.  Can you imagine?  3 years of being bored out of your mind everyday??  Holy mackerel. I have really high hopes for this teacher and this new school!!
Emmy was really nervous going in to the school.  All of her friends moved at the end of last year and she has been so lonely.  Playing with Aoife is great and all but I think she really misses seeing her friends.  This year at a new school she will be starting fresh but her teacher seems like the nicest person I have ever met - seriously.  Emmy warmed right up to her and found the treasure box - of course!!
Aoife had no problem dropping right into playing with the mass of chaos that was her PreK class.  Her teacher is super nice - really young and just had her first baby.  Aoife won't start school for another two weeks and her teacher will make a home visit next week - to check up on us???  Aoife is OK with not starting right away - she said she is looking forward to some fun Mommy-Aoife time!!  SO CUTE!!!
After we spent about an hour at orientation we went to Chipotle for burritos!  Mmmmmmm - even Declan gorged himself!!
Aidan's classroom:

 Emmy and her teacher, Mrs. Lewis:

 Aoife playing in her classroom - I think she would have been happy if I just left her there!