Starting at Parkdale Elementary School.

The children have started school and have made us so proud. They have settled into their new classes very calmly and have taken to the work with a great attitude.

 

All of them were very nervous in the days leading up to the first day and on the morning of. There have been a couple of minor bumps along the way, but all have handled the challenges so strongly.

The school uniform is only applicable for Yrs 1-6. They need to wear a white t-shirt and navy pants. You will notice that in this photo - first day photo - that I made Olivia and Lach wear a long sleeved t-shirt underneath. They soon ditched those, as the classrooms are so warm. So they go to school in  a t-shirt and then their ski jacket. Not nearly as many layers as me (read my post about the climated). Sophie is allowed to wear anything comfortable. This is just inside our front door: the stairs lead up to two bedrooms; over Olivia's shoulder is the family room and kitchen.

This next photo shows the children walking to school - the difference between what they get dressed in and then what they wear outside. This again was the first day - we have added more layers. They didn't have scarves on or beanies that covered their ears - so we were asked to wear those. This photo is just outside our house and that is our car, with the pod on the roof. There is plenty of snow around but it is old and very icy. We are very keen for some new fluffy stuff to fall soon!

 

Most children catch the bus to school and all the students stay on the bus until the bell goes at 9am. Then everyone is immediately ushered inside - no outside time at all. As we walk (about 800 metres) there is no point arriving any earlier as you just have to stand in the cold!

 

This is the trudge home from school. Generally very cold but they chat the whole way. The procedure each day is to come in and defrost and straight into hot chocolate!

Sophie has one hour of French a day and Lach and Olivia have about 90 minutes. Their timetables (called schedules) are complicated as Lach's teacher takes Olivia's class once a week during one of the French classes; there is a separate Science teacher who also does art and there are at least two French teachers. Not sure about release time for the class teachers as they are plenty of comings and goings. The Yr 3, 4 & 5 classes seem to join together each morning for a literacy program called Success For All. Olivia and Lach are staying with their class teachers this week and then may move into different groups next week.

Lach is learning about the solar system in Science, which he loves and knows a lot about .... but they are doing it in French! He told me they had to write in French the other day and he just wrote random letters! The teachers are very understanding and are not expecting much from them. Olivia is keen to learn but Lach would prefer to write random stuff!

          

Sophie is very happy and has rarely cried: for those who knew her at school last year, this is a big achievement!

The classrooms are very, very warm and the children just wear t-shirts inside. They change into their shoes once they arrive at school. They did go outside to play on the first day, but haven't been out since. The measure is about -15 degrees. After that, it is is inside for the day. Going outside means dressing in all those layers - can you imaging Kinders managing scarves, beanies, mittens, snow pants, jacket and boots? These kids are well trained, I tell you!

 

This is the school playground. Lach is not impressed. He is desperately hoping some soccer goals appear before spring! On the first day when they went outside, all they had was sliding mats, like toboggans. He was bored and wanted a ball. Since its been indoor weather, he has managed to join the group of boys who play basketball inside at lunch time - he much prefers that. He couldn't believe it when he found out that one of the school rules is no throwing snowballs - that is his favourite activity! For an active little Aussie kid, snow is just asking to be tossed - especially at your sisters!

 

 

I love the buses - it is such an American image, so I just had to include a photo of them. Each school seems to have their own fleet of buses. They line up each morning and afternoon. The buses have these nifty "arrete" signs that come stick out on the drivers side of the bus and flash. Apparently if you drive down past them while their signs are out, you can be reported to police by the bus driver. They also have a long metal bar that extends out the front of the bus, to stop children crossing to close to the front of the bus. The bar extends out about 2 metres then folds back against the bus once it is ready to go.