School Days

Sophia wearing her new jumper (sweatshirt) after our tour of the school
Sophia on the morning of her first day of school (in TLF, also the day we checked out and moved into our house!)

She had to wear her only gray pants (trousers) because we didn't have time to find the correct skirt or trousers.

Sophia and Tessa one morning before school in our new house

Sophia, Tessa, (and especially Mommy!) were really excited to find out that both girls could attend the SAME school here. We all like to walk most of the time, though if we are moving slow or the weather is particularly unpleasant, we hop in the car instead. The walk takes about 20 minutes and is mostly along footpaths rather than the street. Sophia usually rides her scooter when we walk, but really wants to ride her bike now. Mean Mommy isn't willing to carry the bike on the way back, though, so she is stuck with the scooter for now. A new, bigger bike and a bike lock will definitely be on her birthday list this year!Sophia after school, out to dinner somewhereTessa on her first day of schoolShe was using her play phone to tell Tutu that she was heading to school.Sophia in her proper uniformSophia after school, hair messed up, cardigan unbuttoned and shirt untucked!

Tessa goes to Nursery, which is in an adjacent building to the Primary School, in which Sophia attends Year 2. They both seem to enjoy school for the most part...occassionally a bit of friend trouble has gotten them upset and waking in the morning is always unpleasant, but even more so when the sun hadn't risen until after 8am and we were almost out the door! Fortunately, as we move out of winter, the sun is rising earlier and earlier and both girls are making more friends.

Tessa before school one day

Tessa getting bundled up for school

Figuring out the other children's names has proven to be a bit tricky for both girls! Sophia told me there was a boy named Maxamilton and a girl named Miami in her class...we have since learned they are actually Maximilian and Naomi. Tessa spoke of a boy named Ducky and another named Cornbreader! We have discovered they are actually named Dougie and Conrad, but we all prefer the name Cornbreader in our house! She also has a friend that she enjoys playing with, but doesn't communicate with very much because she says the girl always speaks Spanish...technically she is speaking Polish, but you get the point, right?

Tessa having lunch before school, she goes from 12:30-3:30

Sophia joined several clubs at her school. She started off with an after school Circus Skills Club. On the first day she explained that it is simulataneously the most difficult thing she has ever done and the most fun...to this day I haven't received much more of an explanation than that! "Something about twirling sticks, something kind of like a bicycle, but really not, and can I have a snack please? I'm really hungry and can't wait until supper!"

Sophia in her PE uniform, with her new shin guards and Football trophy

Since then, she joined Dance Club during one recess a week and has just recently signed up for Football Club (think round, black and white ball, not oblong, brown ball). I was a bit worried that she wouldn't enjoy it (remembering Smart Start Soccer when she spent her time hiding with a little boy in the corner), but encouraged her none-the-less. After only two sessions, she seems to really like it and even brought home the weekly trophy yesterday! She explained to me that it doesn't really mean that she played really well, only that she tried her best. I reminded her that is the important part, and could tell she really was pleased about it, no matter how nonchalent she appeared. Her only probelem with football, so far, is that the shin guards weren't the girly kind (she was hoping for pink, I think).

Sophia's football trophy

In addition to the clubs, her school is going well. Her teacher is impressed with her reading and writing skills and says the math is good, just not as excellent as the others. Having never done any math fact sheets in any of her classes in the US, I think she needs a bit of extra practice...but I'm glad she doesn't seem to be behind at all. One day she came home from school to tell me about a new thing that she was learning that they had never tried in her American School: joining up! I must confess that I had no idea what she meant! I imagined the kids choosing partners, or building with legos until she explained that it is the beginnings of cursive writing. She now "joins up" her letters whenever she can, especially when writing stories which is one of her passions, and thinks it is the most brilliant thing ever. As I haven't used any cursive writing since I was about 10-12 years old, I don't personally consider it a highly valuable skill, but it does make her concentrate on her writing more (encouraging neatness but not always legibility, if that makes any sense!). Besides, seeing her excited for schoolwork thrills me, no matter what subject she chooses.

How can you dress up a unifrom? Colorful tights!

Her recent school accomplishments include receiving 2 different certificates; one for playing nicely at recess and another for accomplishing work in the classroom. She also has gotten 5 merits, which are given out as the teacher sees fit for following directions or working diligently, especially when others are not. We are quite proud of her continued successes and I hope that she continues to adjust. She has had some issues with understanding words spoken in the classroom, but is quickly overcoming that obstacle. She now calls the letter H "heich," rather than the America "eich." She also refers to an eraser as a rubber, to me as mummy instead of mommy, the sidewalk is a pavement, rain boots are wellies, a trash can is a rubbish bin, and lunch is sometimes called dinner and dinner called supper. It is an adjustment for all of us!Sophia with her certificates... An Improving Own Performance and Learning Award

and A Good Citizen Award

Tessa shocked me the other day, also, when we were pointing out letters on a menu, and she said, "There's a Zed!" She was referring to the letter Z, of course, but I hadn't realized she was picking up the British lingo as well. She receives homework from her school, in which she traces and then writes letters, colors a picture to go along with it, and then we say the sound of the letter while doing an action to match. She loves it, partially because she is doing a big girl thing and partially because she has learned to write many letters and they are starting to look much neater than before. She isn't quite ready to read yet, but we are starting to work on it a little at home. She has been watching her sister devour books, so I can tell that she is getting quite interested and is starting to ask about how to read. Next year, we may have two girls with their faces buried in books all the time!Tessa working on her homework

A sisterly hug before school one morning

I'm sure many more posts about their schooling will come in the future!