Sunday, September 8, 2013

Back to School

 Four kids in three separate schools, each beginning and ending at four separate times, made for an eventful first day back to school for the Holt's.  Caleb was our first off this year beginning his turn at riding the bus to the intermediate school.  He has to be at the bus stop by 7:05 a.m. each morning but has been GREAT so far! He is already loving the six separate classes on his schedule and seeing all of his friends that attended different elementary schools everyday. Hopefully he will be a little less like his older sister and try to keep SOME friends from closer by.
 Bailey was our next to head out the door. She has to leave by 8:00 a.m. to walk to the middles school in time to make it to school.  Although she is technically a freshman, this will be her last year at Snow Canyon Middle before she heads up to the big school... If only we could send a mass bulletin out to all the high school aged boys that she JUST turned 14 and won't be dating until she's 16....
 Easton was the third out the door on the first day. Beginning his very last year of elementary school as a 5th grader he was up and at it early and excited for the new year. Easton doesn't need to leave for school until 8:40 to ride his bike in time but he leaves at 8:25 or earlier every morning. It's so strange to have him head out the door by himself each morning. 
 Peyton began her first year of kindergarten. She is participating in the Chinese Dual Immersion program our school offers. It was a difficult decision but one we are very glad we made! Most every one of her neighborhood friends are in the program. The only ones that aren't have moved in after the classes were already formed last spring. She still goes for regular kindergarten hours and she is in afternoon so she doesn't begin school until 12:45 p.m. each day.  She goes to her english specking class to learn reading and writing for an hour and a half then goes to her Chinese class for math as well as every other subject.  The only real difference is she doesn't learn her math in English and ONLY Chinese is spoken in her Chinese class. Parents are welcome to observe or help in the class but we are not allowed to speak any English if we are inside the classroom.  The teacher is from China but does speak English.  They just don't want the kids to hear her speak it. It's crazy!  She should be fluent in Mandarin Chinese before she leaves elementary school! When she graduates from high school she will graduate with a minor in Chinese. Once a child is accepted into the program (we were based on where we live) they are committed to stay in it until they graduate. Looks like we should start saving for a graduation gift because I can't imagine a trip to China will be very cheap. ;) I was very nervous about her starting a program like this but everything I have heard is amazing. 
I'm not one of the moms that gets weepy when the kids begin new school year's but rather I like having them actively involved in something everyday. I like being able to clean the house (if once a month a decided to) and not have it a disaster at least until they come home. I like to see them socialize with friends and  make new friends and have new experiences. I will miss the freedom of summer but I will never miss not having homework each night. ;)

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