Back to School!

Working in the U.S. public school system for the past 13 years as well as attending as a child, I was not at all prepared for the private school sector! There are so many things that are different due to being a private school, as well as being an international school located in Brasil. 

Enrollment: I have never given so much information about myself, Greg, my parents, his parents, etc. They hardly took any information about the children. It also was not, "here is a packet, fill it out, turn it in." We had multiple meetings, on multiple days, with multiple people to get them enrolled. PHEW! 

Supplies: This is where the public school teacher in me was boiling. Not only did we provide the basic, 'normal' supplies (books, tissues, pencils, glue, scissors, etc.) we also provided reams of copy paper - in multiple colors, chart paper, meters of contact paper, pastel chalk, paint brushes, books in both English and Portuguese for the classroom library and much more. It took almost 3 hours for them to finish up enrollment and gather all these supplies for us. The boys were very bored! They ended up falling asleep on the 10 minute drive home!

Page one of Zane's three page list

Part of Zane's pile of supplies

 4 meters of contact paper, one roll chart paper (each), tape of different sizes and types

Some of Alden's supplies

 Journals - there were all different kinds. Some with lines from top to bottom, some with picture box on top and lines on bottom. 

3 folders of 100 sheet protectors

Brown paper bags

And then, uniforms. First up, shorts and short-sleeved shirt

 Long-sleeved shirt, and wind-breaker type pants

 Sweatpants and sweatshirt-type jacket

And the end result...one massive receipt (and we did not even get everything!). This did not include Zane's books or the taxes for bringing in materials from the U.S. 

One thing that I did really like is that each students is required to have a dental hygiene kit and the encourage and allow time for them to use them daily. Good thing we brought all those extra brushes and toothpaste (Thanks Aunt Jacque!!!)

First day: They have an adaptation process for the little ones. They request that parents stay on campus so that the kiddo can see you IF needed. It is a great way to meet other parents and to calm fears of the parents and child. I stayed for half the day and waved to Alden a couple of times, but he was happy and did not pop out to see me. I let him know I was going to head home to eat and he was fine with that. I walked over to the primary section and met Zane for lunch. He was also much happier at this point and was talking to peers. He was excited to see me and I sat with him while he ate. He loved the fact that it is homemade buffet style and even tried a few new things.

Both Alden and Zane attend all day. We drop them off at 7:30 and pick them up at 3:15. Alden has to be walked in each day, but Zane can hop out in a drop off line and make his way to the classroom. 

Alden's daily schedule looks something like:

7:30-8:20 - Portuguese class (typically this will be language, history and geography)

8:20-8:55 - Recess/Free time

8:55-9:50 - Portuguese class

9:50-10:45 - Circle time

10:45-11:20 - English class (typically this will be math, reading, and science)

11:20-12:40 - lunch and recess

12:40-1:35 - Rest time/DEAR (silent reading/working)

1:35-2:25 - English class

2:25-3:15 - Exploration (science)

Zane's reflection about his first day

Alden's reflection about his first day

As for me...well I may have news