First week of school daze

The kids started school this week at Carysfort National School.  It's a very well known school in Dublin and we were very lucky to get places for all three kids there.  It is a very traditional Irish Catholic school.  The kids wear uniforms and say prayers throughout the day.  In fact, it seems the school and the set up of the classroom are quite a bit different from the laid back nature of Edna Maguire elementary.  For the kids, the idea of wearing a uniform was not popular.  However, as you can see below, they fell into the routine without a second thought.  They arrived for their first day smiling and ready.  I was especially proud of their attitude given their arrival to school on Wednesday morning was following a four day travel fiasco, including a 30 hour stay trapped in the "POLAR VORTEX" of Chicago O'hare.  It was so cold there, your eyeballs would freeze*!

 First Day of school in uniform!  I will say, uniforms are actually making the morning routine a bit easier.  There are no more multiple changes of outfits happening or choices such as wearing shorts and t-shirts in 40 degree weather!!

Carysfort National School   

The kids all received a phenomenal welcome from their classmates and their teachers.  Tessa's classmates all made cards to welcome her.  Each day last week, her backpack was filled with new cards.  Watching her interact with the kids, it was amazing to see her feel so comfortable and at ease. Then again, this is Tessa I'm talking about, who is not lacking in the bravery and confidence department.  Carson was invited on a playdate on his first day and claims to have already made loads of new friends.  Anna also has made some nice friends and is going to a birthday party this weekend.   They each came home fairly happy this past week and we are so grateful for that.  It was definitely my number one concern.  

We asked them what observations they had on their new school.  Carson's primary remarks were centered around the size of the play area.  The blacktop and grassy areas are smaller at his new school. I reminded him  how lucky we are are at Edna to have the largest grassy area to play on in all of Mill Valley.  I tried to get more out of him, like what it is like in his classroom.  (By the way, there is no parent involvement inside the classroom.  This is a big change for me, having been very involved in the kids classes...  so I am very curious to hear how things are run.)  He said it was pretty much the same but they don't have as long at recess.  Again, the focus on recess.  Hmmmm.  I next asked Anna her thoughts.  She also mentioned the size of the play yard.  (These kids from Edna are spoiled.  The play yard is the size of a soccer field... so ok, yeah, its not the size of four soccer fields!!)  She mentioned also that at this school the girls play in a big group.  She said she liked that because at Edna, girls pair off or play in small groups of 2-3.  If you're not in one of those groups, you sometimes are out of luck.  I was happy to hear that the girls play in a big group here.  As for Tessa, she was mostly concerned with the prayers that she says in the morning and before lunch.  She has learned to make the sign of the cross.  She has been asking a lot about Jesus and God and I think the religious education will be very interesting to her.  

All in all, we are starting to settle in here.  I won't say we have a routine yet, but we are working towards it.  And, as for routines, we are hoping to keep it simple so that we have the maximum time to enjoy being here in Ireland and seeing Europe.  

That's all for today... time for bed!  

*Steph N. that was for you! :)