Taking on 2010-2011...

It was a long good-bye to Harley dog.

Back to teachers, back to books...Beeson Boys are back to school again!  Something new this year, each of the boys will be participating in some sort of school experience.  Oakley will be taking on 3rd grade at Montessori, Eli will be attending a full day of school at Quail Run Charter School as a first grader, and Asher will be going to Leap and Learn Preschool three mornings a week.  It's a glimpse of a new life for Mom- three mornings a week with a couple of hours all to myself.  What to do?  What to do?

Oakley's school started on 23 August.  The usual complaints about not wanting to go back to school were heard days, even weeks before class was back in session.  And, as usual, the moment he walked through the school doors, he dashed off to his class without even looking back.  Oakley certainly has a love/hate relationship with school.  Scott and I both feel like three years at Montessori is just what Oakley needed, but it's time for a new adventure.  Where that will be is still to be decided- Quail Run? (We'll be able to make a better decision once we see how things go for Eli)  The Districts Advanced Learning Lab?  (We've heard a lot of pros and cons about the Program, so we're still undecided if it's the best fit for Oakley)  Another private school?  Another charter school?  Hopefully the right option will become clear as this year progresses.

Eli had his first official full day of school today.  We have loved watching the new Quail Run School building being constructed right across the street from our house.  When Eli was selected from the lottery to attend, we became even more interested in how it was all coming together.  As I was researching schooling options, there were a number of things about Quail Run that seemed a perfect for Eli.  There are more art, music, and dance in the curriculum.  The students have options for seat learning- stand up desks, exercise balls to sit on, etc.  It isn't a school of "Sit in your desk, don't move, and listen to teacher all day."  They want students to explore and discover their own learning style.  There will be a garden that each student gets to help maintain and enjoy the produce grown.  The overall feeling I had when reading through their information was they recognize and embrace each child learns differently and they will provide opportunities for every kind of learner.  Not to say that I was 100% confident in our decision.  But, as so often is the case in parenting, it felt right and I have to "go with my gut."

Eli has been anxiously awaiting 1 September arrival!  We attended the Open House the night before.  He was so excited about everything!  He was pulling me by my hand, wanting to race around and see everything.  The construction of the building was delayed a few weeks because of an extra-long wet and rainy spring.  There is still finishing touches to be completed in the building and the landscaping outside.  There are a lot of details that are still being worked out.  The staff didn't have answers to every question.  I am absolutely okay with all of it.  I was quite annoyed with all of the complaining parents!  This is the first year and there is a huge learning curve.  Of course there will be growing pains, but it's the parents that are having a problem, not the students.  When Eli is reminiscing about his first grade year, is he going to remember all of the outlets weren't finished and some of the halls weren't carpeted?  He's going to remember how he felt.  Based on his comments on the way home, I know he loved how he felt in his new school.  He told me as were walking back home, "I wish it was 8:30 tomorrow morning so I could just stay there.  I'm so excited, I won't sleep at all tonight."  The major and important factors are in place- Eli is safe and happy in a beautiful new school building filled with optimistic and enthusiastic staff and a lot of new friends to be made.

I have been stating that I will be doing the "happy dance" the moment Oakley and Eli are both in school all day.  After a summer of keeping them entertained, I was more than ready to turn over the reigns for a good part of the day to the schools.  As soon as I hugged Eli good-bye, the tears wouldn't stop.  Our Eli is such a sweet, tender-hearted boy- his loving influence will be missed around the house during school hours.  Yesterday he told me he wished Oakley and Asher were going to Quail Run, too, so they could meet at recess to play together.  Asher will be one lost and wandering soul without his favorite playmate.

I guess Quail Run isn't the only one experiencing growing pains- Mom is, too.