Open House

So Tali 1 and I are spending his last day of freedom at home today. His school had an open house for the Kindergarten parents to come and meet their teachers and tour the classrooms this morning. Parents can only drop the kids in the schoolyard and then leave on Monday. They don't want the parents wailing and falling out on the first day. As his new teacher said "The kids will act the way their parents act...so no crying! Be excited and happy for them."

As I toured his new classroom, I didn't have high expectations as far as amenities. While we were looking at private schools, I saw everything from horseback riding to squash courts. His school, although superb academically, is still a public school in Philadelphia. **insert deep sigh here**

As I pulled up to the nondescript brick building, I prepared myself to see the standard industrial greyish green classrooms with bad lighting. Instead, the doors opened to a bright and beautiful space. The floors are in a bright checkerboard pattern. There is gorgeous artwork everywhere. His kindergarten class has it's own computer lab. They have a science lab in the building and an art class. In his classroom, the walls are painted with a gorgeous mural. Heck, my first grade (did we even go to Kindergarten back in the day?) was that industrial green and not overly exciting.

More important, his teacher is young, enthusiastic and excited to teach. She already had the kids names memorized. She has their names up on the board and she made them feel right at home. She showed them their cubbies, their library and where all of their learning activities will take place.

I feel so good about dropping him off on Monday. And I promise not to cry.........

until after he walks through the doors.