There are many things that stand out about this preschool

I'm not sure who is happier with the new preschool, BOY, GIRL or myself. We are loving it! We had the orientation day last Monday in which we were there for an hour and I ricocheted between GIRL's class and BOY's. BOY jumped right in and made himself at home with the astronaut and space station toys. GIRL clung to me pretty closely, but was enamored with all that was offered in her classroom. Each classroom has a reading loft with a bookshelf and big, plump pillows. On Monday, that was where GIRL gravitated.

I am really impressed with the teachers. They are warm and always offer a friendly greeting to all of us. I felt invisible a lot of the time at the previous school. The greetings were always addressed to the kids. And if I greeted the teachers I felt that I was intruding on their time. It is very different here.

On Tuesday I emailed the Director, as I was a bit nervous about GIRL's transition to the new school. Primarily the drop-off. I knew once she was comfortable, she would have a blast as she loves school. The Director emailed me right back and said that she'd have GIRL's teacher call me. She did, and we had a lovely conversation. Wednesday morning came and GIRL surprised me by giving me a sideways hug good-bye. Her way of saying, "Later Mom!" She was already immersed in the doll house in her classroom. Then, when I picked her up she was literally bouncing.

BOY was on the run as soon as we got to the lower playground. (There are two great playgrounds and they alternate between the two.) He flew across the yard and was on a bicycle going across a bridge within seconds. I had to flag down his vehicle to give him a hug good-bye. BOY's class has 13 boys and 4 girls. Can you say...destiny?

So, perhaps it is me who is feeling a bit anxious with the transition. I am the new mom on the block. The parents have been very welcoming, and I'm looking forward to making new friends, but, I do miss my other mom friends. I do. We went through the trenches together...

The Pre-K class has a science center and they'll be doing a lot of science projects this year. Right now they have a bin full of metal and nonmetal objects. The game is to separate the items that gravitate to the magnets from the ones that do not. I wasn't aware that this was really a game, but indeed BOY assured me IT WAS. And he proceeded to show me how to do it.

There are many things that stand out about this preschool...

Cell phones are not allowed on campus. The Director "feels it is very important that your child feel and know they are the most important person to you. Coming to school and being picked up from school is a time when your child wants and needs your uninterrupted attention." I LOVE that! I couldn't agree more.

They have a reading program to encourage the love of reading. Every time we read a book together we log it onto a sheet. BOY & GIRL each get their own sheets. After 20 books have been read, they get to pick out a special toy from the special surprise basket. To keep. Then a new reading log begins.

It's an Episcopal preschool, so they will have a 15 minute chapel time once a week starting in October. The emphasis is on the children knowing they are all loved. They'll have a simple story and sing songs. At Christmas time they have a concert.

Last Friday, at the end of the first week, I collected the things from BOY's cubby and was surprised to discover 5 photographs that the teachers had taken of BOY over his first couple of days. Each child had photographs in their cubby. It brought tears to my eyes. This is so different from before. So very different... Things could change. Perhaps we're going through the "new school dream phase." But, whatever it is...I just want to take the time to enjoy it. Because it feels like I'm wrapped up in velvet. And I like it.


**Picture courtesy of Google Images

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