Back to School 2011

The kids started school today – 8th, 6th, 5th, 3rd, 3rd, and 1st grades.

It’s Nate’s last year before High School and I think he’s looking forward to 8th grade being another good year for him. He’s struggled a little bit in the previous years, with motivation, but I’m thinking this year will be even better. Nate decided to try orchestra, and is learning to play the Alto Sax. He’s also planning to join Chess club and the Track team again this year.

Kyndall is a big 6th grader this year, and is still very serious about her education. She loves school as much for the learning as for the socializing with friends. She’s not playing soccer this fall season, but Kyndall has expressed mild interest in the possibility of maybe (her excessive qualifications, not mine) joining the Track team with her brother this year. Kyndall is taking orchestra again, for her second year playing the violin.

“Indecisive” is the best way to describe Ian’s start to the 5th grade school year. No soccer for him either, this season, and he’s also not in orchestra. I’m not sure if Ian just decided he didn’t want to try an instrument, or if he couldn’t decide which one to try. There was talk about both the Trumpet and the Clarinet for a while. He also talked about Lacrosse and baseball, but never committed to playing either one. Ian is looking forward to joining chess club and guitar club again, and rumor has it that the school is starting a Thespian club for 5th, 6th and 7th graders, which Ian has expressed great interest in, as well.

Caleb and Tylor are in the same class, again, and are both very excited about it. They also got the teacher they were both hoping for, though I’m not sure how they determined that choice because both of the 3rd grade teachers are new. The “Twins” also both declined fall soccer but are more than ready for Chess club to start up again. Caleb has already committed to a monthly reading challenge in which he can earn prizes for reading daily.

Lily is in 1st grade and that means school all day, 5 days a week now. She’s signed up for fall soccer with daddy coaching, and while not as excited about chess club as her siblings, she’s still looking forward to that as well. Lily is learning that she’s not always going to have all of her friends in the same class with her, but she seems to be accepting it well enough. She’s quite the social butterfly, now, so she’s excited about all the new friends she’s already made on her first day.