Clara is beside herself to start school. A few weeks ago--when it seemed clear they really are going to have school in person--I went ahead and told Clara her first day is August 23. She wrote "SCHOOL" on that date on her calendar and has been eagerly anticipating it since.
On Sunday Jack and I took the kids to the school so Clara could see the outside of the building and the playground. They all played there for awhile.
Clara asked if I could show her the inside and the "other children" and I told her that would have to wait, but I did show her a Facebook picture of her teacher and she was excited about that too. That night as I was putting the kids to bed, I told Clara we got her a new dress for the first day, and she excitedly kicked her feet back and forth and squealed "I can't wait for SCHOOOL!" I also let her know that this Friday would be her chance to see the inside of the classroom and meet her teacher and the other kids.
In anticipation of kindergarten orientation this morning, yesterday Clara drew a picture of a "school tree" (apparently a Christmas tree?) which I said she could bring with her. As we were getting ready to leave the house, she was literally dancing and leaping about saying she couldn't wait to see the inside of school.
And once we got there, I was buoyed by not only her excitedment and delight but also my own nostalgica for when I was in grade school. She was thrilled to enter the school, to see a desk with her name on it, to meet the teacher and tell her favorite color, and to talk to other kids. It was great.
The school is pretty cute, well put together, bright and clean. The kindergarten classroom was sunny and colorful. I suspect academically there won't be much for Clara to do, as she already knows the alphabet and really basic arithmetic and is starting to sight read. But Jack and I figure if she's too far ahead we can see about skipping her a grade later, after she's already gotten used to a school routine.
At some point the cafeteria manager sought out Jack and me specifically to discuss possibilities for making sure Clara has GF lunch, which was very sweet/encouraging. Sounds like it might be doable for her to get lunch there. They also gifted us a new backpack and we do have to pick up some more supplies for Clara's art and technology classes, as well as a $5 party fund. I plan to join the PTO (just as a follower) to help support events like back-to-school picnic and monster bash (wonder what that is!) and I hope they make a kind of big deal out of holidays, because that was a favorite for me as a kid in elementary school.
I'm glad we're in Missouri where they are prepared to make sure in person school continues if at all possible. It's a huge relief to see Clara finally get to go back.
