Back to School Fall 2019

The kids survived, barely, their first year of school in Colorado. Now they are more confident and less scared this 2nd year. School seemed to start a week sooner this year, on August 14/15th.

We have kids in three different schools this year: elementary, middle and high school!

Samuel started with Freshman orientation on August 14th at Ralston Valley High School, the very same school that his Aunt Stoehrs' graduated from. He wasn't really nervous at all, but excited. So far, he's really enjoyed the "freedom" of open periods to do homework. He also started early morning Seminary the following week and is waking up like a champ on his own! Tyler takes him (yay!!) because it's one of his callings is Seminary (substitute teacher and security).

Jocelyn began middle school, again, with a fresh start, in 7th grade. She really didn't like her experience at the K-8 Charter school (see below) last year so we open enrolled her at Drake Middle (where I attended 7/8th grade!). She was nervous but this was something we prayed for and so far, so good! No girl drama so far and she feels a lot more confident.

The "littles" as we call them, are both at Lincoln Academy Charter School. Cecily started 4th grade and Colin is in Kindergarten.

Cecily didn't get in the class with her BFF, Aubrey or with her student teacher from 3rd grade, which was a bummer for her otherwise she's doing well. She is an awesome reader and writer! She read TONS of chapter books this summer and wrote stories. She still struggles with math but I hope her new math group and practice at home, including Saxon math (same method that Tyler and I used in high school) will help her mind comprehend the information.

Colin is loving Kindergarten so far. It's only half day so he's there from 8-11:20am each day. He's a little competitive. Not so much with others but more with himself which I never really noticed with our other kids. Definitely picked that up from Tyler. The students receive "pride paws" for doing good work. He reports to me each day if gets one or not and it's very important that he does. He has only received 4 so far and it's interesting how it motivates him to be a "good boy" and good student. He tells me about the nice boys and girls and the "mean" kids, mainly just one kid in particular who is difficult. He really seems to like school and doesn't mind the homework. I also love that Cecily drops him off to his class each morning on her way to her class. They'll love it next year when they finish together at the end of the day too.

No, I did not cry the first day of school, as my baby, last child to begin school. Perhaps because I knew it was like preschool instead of full-day school. Maybe next year it'll feel more real, when he's gone full time, that ALL of my kids are in school now!! For now, I am enjoying the freedom to get things done without the distraction of the kids. Then once they get home, it's straight into homework/chores/piano/activities/managing screens/dinner prep time until bedtime!

Unfortunately for us, Colorado passed a law allowing Full-Day K to be free for everyone at your local school. However, since we are choice enrolled, to a charter school, they do not have to guarantee a spot in Full-day. Sadly, they passed this law AFTER the choice enrollment period ended otherwise I would have signed him up. It really breaks up my day having to stop what I am doing at home or running errands to go and pick him up 3 hours later. I look forward to next year when I won't have to do that. So, his day is short and he's home for lunch and we spend the afternoon together.

Because 4 kids go to 3 different schools, ALL of which are choice enrolled, meaning, not our local school, I have to drive them. This means I spend 2-3 hours a DAY just in the car driving and waiting in pick-up lines. The first week was rough but I've figured out how long I can wait before leaving home to make it in time. It also means the kids have to do a little extra waiting while I'm picking up their sibling. Luckily, I listen to the Book of Mormon in the morning commute. Podcasts while I don't have kids in the car and then I get some good conversations in with the kids while I drive with them. It's working out, though I am sure our gasoline bill will be going up!