Started on Wednesday.
Girls are attending an Arts Based Elementary school, which means (as far as I can get it) small classes, arts integrated into learning, dance, music and art twice a week and - this is the part I liked best - the philosophy that learning should be FUN. Both girls will have a major production at some point in the year, so all that singing and dancing at the International School was a good thing.
Goose is in Kinder again. She's legally too young (November birthday) to go to 1st grade, and we decided she really needs another year of Kinder. She was a bit scared, but nothing like the terror of last year. The Kinder classes are on a staggered start, so she went on Wednesday, but not the rest of the week. Next week, she's full time. There is at least one other wee child from Asia in her classroom, so that's good as well.
Noodle, Oh dear Noodle. Noodle hopped, skipped and jumped over 4th grade proper to 5th grade. Mostly because of available space, but also because she was in a 3/4 class last year. This time she was the terrified one, but reports that it was fun and awesome. The two fifth grade classes are being taught together as "The Country of Fifth" and ironically, the first activity was getting into an "Immigration" line to enter the country. Something Noodle has more experience with than most of the kids in the class - I'm guessing. Her assigned teacher happens to be a "third culture kid" who grew up outside the US, partly in Malaysia. When she returned to the States it was to go to College in my hometown in Ohio. Yeah. Small World strikes again.
And so they are off. Updates as warranted.
