Change is in the air

I feel a change comin' on. I don't know about other people, but for me change seems to come in a big chunk. I can usually feel it coming, and there is always anticipation and a little bit of uncertainty with it.
I've had to make some changes with the newspaper. I'm restructuring, and there is a lot of excitement, stress, sadness, and possibility. For some I know it will be scary and I might even lose some people in the process. I truly do believe I'm doing what's best in order for us to grow and put out a better publication.
There is also a change coming here at home. I homeschooled Sean last year with Montessori philosophy and materials. I use that term philosophy loosely because I am not a trained Montessori teacher. I have a Montessori outlook on learning. I think he did fine here, but given the chance I would rather have him in his old Montessori school. Part of the lower elementary education is collaborating with other children, learning from the olders, and mentoring the youngers.
There is just no way to get that at home. So while I definitely prefer having him home as opposed to a classic public classroom, I really prefer that he continue with his Montessori education in a Montessori classroom.
During his summer camps I have been talking with various people and found out that a public school near us is converting to Montessori. The school has gotten a bunch of grants, etc. and they are phasing in Montessori for pre-K, K, 1 and 2 grades. Of course in Montessori, the pre-K and K are the Children's House, and the 1 and 2 grades will be combined.
Their plan is to build a brand new school, starting on it next year, and convert the entire school to a K-8 public Montessori school. There is already one school in that district that has been a huge success. The lady who turned that school around is now coming in as principal at this one.
I'm beside myself with excitement.
We visited today. I wanted to first know if he would even be accepted, since we live in a different district. It was easy peasy. I had to get a release form from our district to transfer him to that one, and that was surprisingly painless. (I've never had good luck with any "school" bureaucracy, whether it was elementary or college.)
I didn't really talk to Sean about it very much because I wasn't sure if we could get in. I didn't want to stress him out for nothing, nor get him excited for nothing.
He prefers to stay home, but honestly I have seen a big difference in him since he started camps, and it is a positive difference. I just hope it will be the same at this school. XX(That's me crossing my fingers.)
I felt like this move was meant to be. As soon as someone explained what they are doing there, I thought it was the answer for us. I can't afford private Montessori. He's going into second grade, and just makes the cut for their Montessori plans. AND, a teacher from his former school will be teaching a first-second class. If this works out, he will have had Montessori education from the age of 4.
So we met the most friendly office lady, Michelle, and she was very helpful and welcoming. She said we could have a look around in the rooms, though they don't have everything in them yet. They expect a shipment tomorrow of the equipment and furniture.
Sean had his face in a sour pout, so we stopped first at the library. Strategic plan on my part. He loves books, and the library was his favorite room at his old school. I knew this one would be larger, and he fell in love at first sight.  He could have stayed all day looking at the books.
This move is a huge leap of faith for us. This school has been a very poor performing school. The enrollment has dropped dramatically over the years. It's a very old building. It's public school.
For him, it will be a big change. He doesn't always do so well with change, so I hope that he will settle in nicely there. I'm going to be very watchful. If it just isn't working out, we'll change back to homeschool.

Montessori Days

It's back to school time, and I'm excited. This will be Sean's third year in a Montessori school, and I have been so pleased with our experience. No school is perfect, but from the first day I have felt totally at ease leaving him in their care.

I love the curriculum, and it fits him for now. I take it year by year. The school he attends goes beyond Primary (3-6 years old) so our options are open as long as I can continue to afford it, and he continues to fit with it.

He has Spanish twice a week, PE, and art.
He also started his first piano lesson today, something that is offered through the school. Next month he will start his second year of Chinese.
Have I said I really like this school??


The only photo I could get of the first day back at school. Thanks Gwennie, for the cool Spider-Man lunch bag.
I snapped this picture before he realized I had the camera, and that was it, no more pictures. This is part of Sean's classroom, and he is celebrating his birthday with a Birthday Circle.

The Birthday Circle Celebration is really fun. We started out with a poster that we put together with pictures of Sean from each year, and he and I both talked about what he was doing, and what he liked, etc. during each stage of his life.

The teacher prepares the circle with a cloth, a candle in the middle, and the names of each month on cards around the circle. The one celebrating a birthday begins on their birth month and walks around the "sun" which is the candle, with the Earth, which is the globe. They walk around for each year they have celebrated. Then the teacher brings out the magic box that plays "Happy Birthday," and the birthday child chooses if they want to have the class sing. (Sean chose not to.)

That was a very hectic day for me, and I felt like I needed a body suit with a big S stitched on the front, and a flowing cape. I was running from his school, to an event I had to write about, back to his school for the Birthday Circle, and then home to write a story and turn in before Noon. And I made it, with a few minutes to spare.