Cora started Kindergarten this year. We easily decided that she would attend Grand Rapids Christian Elementary, but they offer a plethora of options for kindergarten and for some reason we had a very hard time making and sticking with a decision! One of the options available is Spanish Immersion, but since she did not attend the SI preschool we had to put her name in a lottery drawing for 2 open slots in the kindergarten class. Her name was drawn 3rd, so she was first on the waiting list. So at that point we thought she would be going to kindergarten 3 days a week, but two weeks later the school called and said that one person declined the spot in Spanish Immersion so it was available to Cora if we wanted it. After deciding to go for it, we then debated whether to also have her go to a Spanish Enrichment class in the morning, since the SI Kindergarten is only a half-day program. At first we didn't want to do it, afraid that it would be too much for her to go all day every day and, honestly, not quite ready to let go that much more of our little girl!
Through this summer we decided that it would be best for her to do the morning Enrichment class to help her get caught up with the rest of the class in her acquisition of Spanish and possibly even help her excel. Also because bringing her to school in the middle of the day posed a number of complications for me with Peter and Addie. And, while I miss Cora while she's gone all day, Peter is much easier to manage when he's not competing or trying to prove himself to big sister Cora. This summer was wonderful and I would not change a thing about it. I wish we could live permanently like we did this summer! But I often explained to people that it wasn't adding a baby to the family that made things difficult, but rather having Cora and Peter home together all the time. We definitely got used to it and I loved having everyone home every day, but on the occasions where Cora was gone for a few hours, Peter turned into a different, more mellow child. This was a case where we had to make the decision that would be best for the whole family, and it seemed that this was the best, as far as we could see. Since Peter still naps in the afternoon, he gets some more focused attention from me in the morning and seems to thrive with this calmer time. Let's not deny that it's also a little easier for me in general to have just Peter and Addie to run errands and such.
Cora was ready for the big first day of kindergarten. She was a little bit subdued during breakfast, but bravely went through the motions of getting ready to go to school. At one point she said her stomach hurt a little bit. I told her that I sometimes when I'm a little bit excited and a little bit nervous my stomach hurts. She thought for a moment and said, "I think that's how I feel. A little nervous and a little excited."
I was very proud of her!
There was no bus transportation for the first week so I got to bring her to school. I enjoyed being able to see how the morning routine goes and to be there for her for the first few days. She gets her own locker to keep her backpack and gym shoes in.
What a big girl she is! We're so proud of her. She is at a new school again this year and will have to make all new friends. After the first couple of days she came home talking about a couple girls in her class and who she plays with at recess.
We are praying for good friends for her at school, for a year without academic hurdles as she acquires a new language, and also for her teachers, Sra. Wolf and Sra. Marquez. Senora Wolf is the classroom teacher and Sra. Marquez is the aide. Sra. Wolf is having a baby in November so they are still looking for a sub for November through January! Praying for that also!
