Local School: First Week!

So our homeschooling adventure came to an end this week.  Last week we received word that they had let A in as well.  She sat for exams last Friday and we waited for results the whole week!  G was able to start Tuesday (first day of school) and A had to wait until Friday.  I really regret that I haven't been writing about this whole experience (decision to put in local school) all along.  It has been a very long emotional road for me to come to peace with sending them to school. 

I had really sold myself on homeschooling... It was bitter/sweet for me.  The bitter and sweet being the same.... I loved spending so much time with my kids.  I loved being in charge of their learning.  I loved watching them grow and develop because of my hard efforts.  I loved eating and breathing them.  I loved how close we were to one another.  I loved the relationships that the girls formed because of all the togetherness time.  I LOVED that they had no outside forces in their lives..... I was filling their minds, answering their questions.   All of those loves had their opposition....

When we moved to Singapore and I decided to home school it was a very thoughtful choice.  I really wanted to freeze my kids in time... eat them up.  I knew that A is almost to the age where her play would change.... she would transition into a pre teen.  I knew that G was almost to the point where she wouldn't want me to snuggle her all the time and her need for me would decrease.  I knew that ME was growing out of toddler hood into big girl.  All of these pending changes created panic in me.  I was able to really love on them for the past 9 months.  It really did create a sense of closeness in us. 

But.... It really did undo me in a lot of ways.  It was really hard to have their educational progress solely dependent on me and my self discipline.  I am much better at following a formal school schedule.  It puts me in the fetal position from time to time to wake up every day and face a mound of things that will take so much motivation and self discipline.  There were some really sweet moments but I am really happy to have that burden no longer placed upon me totally.  What I have learned is that I will be MUCH more engaged in their learning and that kids are adaptable and you can't really mess them up as much as we think... I hope (still have the therapy fund just in case).

The morning G started I was feeling pretty anxious.  When A started, I couldn't breathe.  When I rode away from the school I felt the burning of my tears, the car exhaust, and curry from the school canteen.  I couldn't see to ride.  I had to get off my bike and walk the rest of the way home as I sobbed.  I was scared the kids wouldn't accept them.  I was worried that it would be way too hard.  I was worried that they would hate it.  I was worried they would get lost.  I was worried that they wouldn't be able to understand their teachers.  The list could go on and on. 

What we found was a very loving, kind, and thoughtful place for the kids.  They do things MUCH differently than the states.  But with most things in Singapore... I just needed to figure out how they do it and realize America doesn't do it better...... just different.  

G seemed to really like school.  Had no major complaints other than she couldn't understand her Chinese teacher and that problem was solved by Friday when they transferred her to a class for children with no exposure to Chinese.  She spends an hour and half every day studying "mother tongue".  We will get her a tutor to supplement her studies.  She has 26 kids in her class!!  She seemed pretty laid back and indifferent to the whole experience.

A has only gone one day but she seems to really like it.  She has 42 (big big gulp)  kids in her class.  The school ranks the kids into classes depending on their grades and test scores. This frightens me but A was put in the second best level....... Her teacher is a lovely young guy.  He seems enthusiastic and able to manage the kids.  They split up several times a day for different subjects like science, math, art, PE, music, social studies, mother tongue etc.  Alice will not be required to take a mother tongue because they don't have support for P3 students that have not had exposure.  She will sit in the Chinese class every day but will not be required to test.  We will also have her in with a tutor as well.  She was really happy when I picked her up and declared that she wanted to join the schools Robotics Club.... whose kid is this?(I thought)...... WONDERFUL (I said)!  She also declared , "this best day of my life".   Hopefully it lasts!

It wasn't even light yet when we set out for school!  Their school hours are perfect: 7:30 - 1:30!

It is such a BIG school!

G was all smiles!!

I was the only person with a big "expat" camera as M likes to call it.  It was kind of embarrassing... They don't seem to get as excited about the first day of school here!  They are on a year round schedule with breaks in June and Dec.  Maybe that's why?  G wanted me to stop taking pictures... but I couldn't help myself!  Her teacher, Madame Pek, is standing at then end of the table with her class room helper to her right.

A sea of black hair to my right.....

And to my left.......

M towering over everyone else!

There goes my baby.....

School "canteen"  They let the parents come in for break for the first three days... G hardly spoke to me but I told myself she was happy I was there :)

The school counselor came up to me very excited that they found a "Caucasian" to be her 5th grade buddy.  When they came down I had to laugh... Sweet Maya helped G the whole week figure out the school canteen and break time.

G has really embraced the school canteen.  Her first meal was these Malaysian noodles.... she has since tried almost everything and loves it! 

The school is just far enough away that it is a pain to walk both ways.... I decided to challenge my my bike man to put a third seat on my bike!  He succeeded... Pictures to come of the three of us on the bike! 

A's first day!  She couldn't even really smile she was so nervous!

My poor baby was so brave... but her nervousness only made my apprehension worse!!

SOOO different than last years photo of the girls on their first day.... what have we done?!

A with her teacher Mr. Vincent Low!!