tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post211306339854146058..comments2024-02-05T05:15:04.759-08:00Comments on Wandering Scientist: Kindergarten Progress ReportCloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-32280044157333237332012-09-20T20:50:59.303-07:002012-09-20T20:50:59.303-07:00@mom2boy- our day care was nut free, too. But luck...@mom2boy- our day care was nut free, too. But luckily, they start providing food from when the kids turn 2. Our school lunches look fairly reasonable- they even have a local produce program. But Pumpkin has so far refused to try them, which did not surprise me. At least the packed lunch we've settled on is reasonably healthy.Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-49424441781383234712012-09-20T20:19:59.232-07:002012-09-20T20:19:59.232-07:00Congrats on kindergarten! I think I would be a ner...Congrats on kindergarten! I think I would be a nervous wreck sending Tate to an immersion school and I'd feel compelled to be learning the language right along with him. I'm excited to see how you all do. Go Pumpkin! :)<br /><br />Oh California, how you are so different. Tate started school this week. (Still pre-k) It's a nut free facility. I couldn't pack Tate a lunch he'd eat beyond grapes so he's stuck (and omg I am being so sarcastic) with the school lunch option. Today it was heaven, pizza - whole wheat crust natch - broccoli, pineapple and cottage cheese. I can't wait until next week when they serve him baked fish and brown rice. I wish I could make this up. But hey, groceries are cheaper! :) mom2boynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-14050547886727295922012-09-12T05:48:14.054-07:002012-09-12T05:48:14.054-07:00We're having a great first couple of weeks, bu...We're having a great first couple of weeks, but it's very simple for us, because the kids go to Montessori, and they're in the same classrooms with the same teachers as before, and in fact little Pooh was in the same room all summer, so he had even less transition. The 4 y.o. is leaving his naps behind, though, which is a big adjustment, since now I have to put them to bed at the same time again (a juggling act for one person). He's doing great, though. Man he loves school.ERinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-24689977572203212582012-09-12T05:42:27.154-07:002012-09-12T05:42:27.154-07:00Don't get me started on sunbutter! (sunflower ...Don't get me started on sunbutter! (sunflower butter) It's repulsive, as it's sister fake nutbutter, soy nut butter. My kids are at a completely nut-free school, and it's hard for us, because they eat few sources of protein besides nuts (and dairy, so they eat cheese every day for lunch). My very picky eldest will actually eat sunbutter, and I think it's hilarious (he won't eat ANYthing), but I think it's because they serve it for snack at school & the other kids eat it too. I'm not sure. But, yuck.Erinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-46613174590901080562012-09-12T05:14:52.018-07:002012-09-12T05:14:52.018-07:00We leave all his work in a big pile on the kitchen...We leave all his work in a big pile on the kitchen counter. At the end of the semester/year it all goes into a big box in the attic. I'd sift through and recycle the worksheets (who cares how many addition problems he can do in a minute), but we're always worried that we will need to prove what he's done for future placement.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-66762371970815728072012-09-12T05:11:40.587-07:002012-09-12T05:11:40.587-07:00I understand that sunflower butter is popular as a...I understand that sunflower butter is popular as a peanut butter substitute in nut-free places. They sell big jars of it at Trader Joe's (or at least, they used to).<br /><br />DC1 is a rules follower too... but he got distracted. We get a post-it note home with the infraction. Just like last year, DC1 is enjoying telling us about the kid who regularly gets in trouble (this time it's a boy instead of a girl). I'm not sure if his awe is a good or bad thing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-56587437751689335952012-09-11T22:20:59.705-07:002012-09-11T22:20:59.705-07:00We have a big art folio we shove papers we want to...We have a big art folio we shove papers we want to keep in. Other papers that Pumpkin wants to keep go into one of her plastic art supply boxes, bought for this purpose. And we "garboflage" a lot.Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-36493271000690370002012-09-11T22:19:55.293-07:002012-09-11T22:19:55.293-07:00Sorry about the comment! And thanks for the compli...Sorry about the comment! And thanks for the compliment on our front yard. It isn't at its prettiest right now. It is much nicer in spring. It also smells awesome in the spring. We have sage and some purple flowers that I swear most be used in potpourri. <br /><br />One of Pumpkin's classmates has a nut allergy, so we're not sending any nuts for lunch or snack. I think we could- they have a nut free table they use for eating at. But it doesn't seem worth the risk. Of course, if Pumpkin's one sandwich she would eat was a normal PB&J instead of our weird jam and gouda thing, I might feel differently! As it is, I just told her no cashews for snack.<br /><br />It turns out that Pumpkin has landed in the yellow zone on behavior too. She can't figure out why- her Spanish isn't up to it, I guess. I am shocked, because she will generally follow any rule a teacher gives her (rules supplied by parents, not so much...) We're guessing it is related to talking. We'll find out more at the open house night, I hope. Or I could email the teacher- she actually sent home her email address, which is pretty awesome, since I can't actually talk to her. But I don't think we need to do that. Yet.<br /><br />Sorry to hear about your school funding issues. I hope it works out. It sounds like such a good place for DC1.Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-39512415604251210662012-09-11T22:13:48.400-07:002012-09-11T22:13:48.400-07:00Huh. Now I'll have to go check and see if the ...Huh. Now I'll have to go check and see if the lunch payment thing has any fees. I didn't see any... but I didn't look very hard.Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-77673053475865012122012-09-11T21:16:24.089-07:002012-09-11T21:16:24.089-07:00We're in the middle of week 4 and so far it...We're in the middle of week 4 and so far it's okay. At first DD1 had the same attitude as GMP's middle boy... not liking having to follow all the rules. But, she does follow all the rules without complaint. 'Course, that's pretty tiring so she takes it out a fair bit on us when she's home. Fortunately, we had an option for half-day (since I'm still home.)<br /><br />As for the paperwork: I mark each piece on the back with her initials and date. Right now it goes chronologically into a pile but eventually the plan is to have one file folder per month to be kept in a document box. At the end of the year, we'll pick key pieces to keep and consolidate the collection into one file folder. Thanks Pinterest!SallyNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01457195241429331445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-46184023953244323762012-09-11T19:56:38.688-07:002012-09-11T19:56:38.688-07:00Relatedly, when my children entered school (and st...Relatedly, when my children entered school (and started activities like sports) it became clear that I'd be writing checks about four times as often as I had been previously. Lots of small payments, mostly only payable in cash or check (the exception is the lunch tabs - they now mostly let you pay for lunches online, with ridiculous fees.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-59385234898915611422012-09-11T17:01:53.823-07:002012-09-11T17:01:53.823-07:00I had a comment, but forgot to hit post or somethi...I had a comment, but forgot to hit post or something before handing my computer over to DH so he could talk to HP for 3 hours about why my relatively new computer shuts itself down in the middle of doing nothing occasionally. (They will get back to us in a week.)<br /><br />I love the backpack picture! Very colorful! (I'm also wishing we were living in California...very pretty.)<br /><br />DC1 loves peanut butter and jam, and sometimes even makes his own sandwiches. <br /><br />He's doing a little too well. We're hoping that this is just review and that he starts learning new things soon. Surely they must though, because at the end of the year they'll be doing all sorts of neat things on their own. (Reading Charlotte's Web is on their list, for example.)<br /><br />He's also gotten a yellow for behavior this year-- talking when the religion teacher was talking. <br /><br />Otherwise things are going pretty well! Well, except that the school is going to run out of money in January or February and needs extra-normal fundraising again, but details...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-59090762913146958582012-09-11T16:10:09.937-07:002012-09-11T16:10:09.937-07:00La la la... I'm not listening... The paperwork...La la la... I'm not listening... The paperwork is going to taper off... La la la. :)<br /><br />As an IT person, I am partly appalled and partly amused at how much redundant data entry they are making me do. I'd never get away with that in the systems I manage!Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-50549023746263785002012-09-11T16:07:40.999-07:002012-09-11T16:07:40.999-07:00Oh, the papers that came home were things she'...Oh, the papers that came home were things she'd done in class. We did get some homework though- to print out one picture per year and make a timeline. I'm curious to see how the homework expectations progress. I don't see the point of a lot of homework in kindergarten, but I may be in the minority of US parents on that!Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-3311946814174088612012-09-11T16:05:50.735-07:002012-09-11T16:05:50.735-07:00Oh, that's classic! Pumpkin is a little rule f...Oh, that's classic! Pumpkin is a little rule follower. I don't think she's realized yet that she could willfully disobey a rule at school. It will be interesting to see when she figures that out! I hope things settle down soon for your son.Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-64552252213495551392012-09-11T16:01:47.669-07:002012-09-11T16:01:47.669-07:00We actually have three language immersion magnets ...We actually have three language immersion magnets in our district, a couple language enrichment magnets, and one bilingual charter school. And lots of other interesting magnets and options, too. I was reasonably impressed with the offerings when we started looking into them. Class sizes are a bit larger than ideal, but so far, they've managed to keep them reasonable. And of course, there is a lot of fundraising for the "extras" that shouldn't be extra (art instruction, science night, etc). We decided that we would give fairly generously, since the cheapest private option we considered was over $10k/year. We haven't figured out how we'll split our donation (which, to be clear, won't be $10k!) between our school and the district at large, though. Our school also has an active grants committee, which I may choose to get involved with.Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-64894805266858575532012-09-11T15:57:29.331-07:002012-09-11T15:57:29.331-07:00Our school seems better than some! As the daughter...Our school seems better than some! As the daughter of a teacher, I'm sympathetic to the need to keep things that require the teachers' presence to quasi-working hours. I was a bit bemused by the fact that the entirely parent-run back to school picnic started so early, but it is better than one of my colleagues' schools, which had a back to school picnic that started at 2:30! At least ours was feasible for working parents.Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-38267335285172363802012-09-11T13:34:48.959-07:002012-09-11T13:34:48.959-07:00As hush noted, the tendency of public schools to s...As hush noted, the tendency of public schools to schedule events at difficult times for WOH parents is universal. I should also warn you that the volume of paperwork is unlikely to decrease - I get 3-5 items a week for each kid, in addition to homework...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-92033040471285836402012-09-11T10:05:25.478-07:002012-09-11T10:05:25.478-07:00E started grade 1 this year, having to bring her o...E started grade 1 this year, having to bring her own lunch and snacks for the first time. So far she's loving it, her best friend sits at the desk next to her. Her favorite lunch is "ham roll-ups" - small wrap spread with cream cheese, a ham slice, ketchup, and rolled up. But then she'll also happily eat cold leftover pasta, so I do realize that I'm spoiled.<br /><br />No homework so far. There was none at all last year in kindergarten. I think the policies about homework are a bit different in Canada.Today Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03583682201977382593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-49562576720456705452012-09-11T07:36:47.982-07:002012-09-11T07:36:47.982-07:00Yey for Pumpkin!
My middle boy started kindergart...Yey for Pumpkin! <br />My middle boy started kindergarten, too, and so far he has been complaining that he doesn't like it and wants to go back to his daycare. He says "I have to do everything that the teacher says!" *pout, arms defiantly crossed*<br />His teacher is not the warmest person around, from what I can tell. Another girl from his daycare goes to his class, so they play together and in afterschool, which I think helps. I am trying to be patient and tell myself he'll eventually get into the swing of things. GMPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17872461021953583473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-30184656286778964822012-09-11T07:15:42.655-07:002012-09-11T07:15:42.655-07:00That school sounds amazing! I hope I can find some...That school sounds amazing! I hope I can find something like it one day when my hypothetical children are school aged!Aletheahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17056863610469196748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-70320736242042971602012-09-11T07:12:00.785-07:002012-09-11T07:12:00.785-07:00Cute kiddos!
"a lot of schools start things ...Cute kiddos!<br /><br />"a lot of schools start things like this at wildly inappropriate times for working families" YES, that. Everyone, everywhere has been telling us this is the case. Ugh.hushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05532820460835325762noreply@blogger.com