Otis' First Day of School - Senior Kindergarten

We are trying to keep life as normal as we can for this little boy during a crazy time.  Dave got everything Otis needed for school this year.  They went shopping for his indoor shoes and came home with Spiderman shoes.  He told everyone he came in contact with that he got Spiderman shoes for school.

Otis will be going to school full days every other day and every other Friday.  Last year he went half days every day.  His best friend from school is in his class.  He will be in the same class room as last year but with a new teacher.

Dave and I both took him to his first day.  Dave should have been at work today but has not been back yet since Marlo was born.  As soon as we got to school his friend was their ready to play.  They took off to the playground and get some playing in.  When the bell rang he was so quick to come up and get in line to go in.  There were only 4 kids in his class line.  It was then that we found out that only the senior kindergarten kids were there.  They would not have a full class until Monday.  It is part of the gradual entry program which helps the junior kindergarten children adjust to starting school.

Dave picked Otis up after school.  They played at the playground for a bit before they came home. The first thing Otis said to Dave was that school was so long.  We tried to prepare him for the idea of all day school but he obviously did not understand what that meant.

School is very different these days.  His school does not have a lunch hour they have two nutrition breaks.  We have to pack two half size lunches and lable them so that he won't eat everything at once.  The theory is the children stay more energized as the nutrition is spread through out the day.  I find it strange not to have a lunch hour but I do get the thought behind it.  He will not be able to come home for lunch.

Otis said he had a lot of fun at school.  He ate almost everything in him lunches that Dave had packed and made his very own necklace during craft time.  Starting school on a Friday is somewhat anticlimactic, now we wait until Monday for the next day of school.  He plans to ride his bike with Daddy.  It will still be awhile before I can walk him to school.

Last Day of School - Junior Kindergarten

Thursday was Otis' last Day of school.  He has decided that now that he is out of school there is no a bedtime and he doesn't have to wear under wear.  Otis truly loved going to school this year.  Next year he moves to the all day alternating day schedule.  I look forward to not having to walk him in the dead cold of winter everyday.

Sorry about the picture quality.  Still working out the bugs of my new phone.

Butterflies

One of my favorite things about being home now is going on school trips.  Last week Otis's class went to the Butterfly Conservatory in Cambridge.

It is so fun to watch children experience something for the first time.  I had five kids in my group and I am not going to lie it can get a bit a hairy trying to keep track of so many.

100 Days of School

Friday was Otis' 100th day of school.  He came home wearing this cute little sticker.  About 1 minute after I took this picture the sticker was in many little pieces.

Otis decided to sled down the stairs and leave the stickers behind.

Today while getting dressed Otis counted all the way to 100 with out my help.  Yeah 100.

Not Much

Been pretty uneventful around here these days.  Two more weeks and I should start to waking up from the first trimester sleepiness.  I remember being tired with Otis but I don't remember falling asleep at 9pm on a regular basis.   I have also had nausea this time around.  Can't wait for that to go away.

There is a club in Otis's class called the "Zipper Club"  you can only join it once you can do up your coat zipper.  We have been working on this most of the winter with out any luck.  The coat Otis has is finicky and Dave and I have trouble with it sometimes.

Up until recently Otis had given up completely and wouldn't even try.  This past week He has been able to pull put the zipper together and as long as I hold it he can pull the zipper up.  He has been doing the same thing at school so his teacher has encouraged him by saying he is halfway to the Zipper Club.

I think once we get to his Spring jacket he achieve his goal.  Here's to the "Zipper Club"

1st School Picture Day

Otis had his first picture day at school last week.  I love the button up shirt with cardigan.  Oh and that smile almost kills me.  I am so happy we managed to get his hair to stay down.

There is something to be said about a dozen Otises or Oti looking back at you.  In order to get enough pictures for all the grandparents we have ended up with a plethora of photos to share.  

Otis is a big fan of school.  He really likes going and he has a lot of fun while he is there.  I was lucky enough to volunteer once a week for the first couple of months.  I loved being able to watch him in the classroom.  He adjusted much better then I had expected he would.  With all the rules and stuff.  I found it strange dropping him off outside and not having a clue what went on.  I hope I am able to do so again at a later time.

Here is the latest drawing her has brought home.  When he started school in September he barely held his pencil correctly.  No matter how many times we showed him he had no interest in conforming.  Now he can draw stick people. The OMF Otis wrote stands for no play fighting in class with his friends.

First Day of School

Otis started school Tuesday. The Waterloo District School board has a gradual entry program that eases children into going to school.  Last Tuesday we had a one on one with his teacher.  She gave us a tour of the class room.  Otis had to find his cubby and his name on a star.  He was sad that we had to leave almost as fast as we got there.

Tuesday he went to school with a smaller class size.  He is in a mixed class of Jr. Kindergarten and Sr. Kindergarten. We met up with other kids from our street walking to school.  He thought that was pretty cool and made sure to show them all his new Ironman backpack.  When we got to the school he said "bye mom" and ran into the school.

Otis has half day classes.  I picked him up from school 2 1/2 hours later.  When he left school he was upset that he had to leave his new shoes behind and some of the kids didn't share. On our walk home we talked about what he did at school.  He painted a picture, they did the alphabet and counted to twenty.

There was a girl and her mom walking behind us.  The girl pointed to Otis and Said "Mom that boy knows the whole alphabet.

All in all it seems this boy likes school. I wonder how long that will last.