Jackson is off to first grade! After much searching, we found a school that we liked and we send him off with confidence. He was really excited about going, and hopped out of the car on the first day with no hesitation. The school we selected refers to itself as one of the area's "best kept secrets" and we agree. It is a small Catholic School with only one class per grade. This year's first grade is one of the smallest with only 14 kids! It has all of the traditional school experiences that Jackson was looking for (a gym, an art room and library, a cafeteria, fields and a playground) with the solid spiritual formation that we was so important to us. It is also associated with a Parish that is really beginning to thrive and actively looking to serve the needs of young families and it is in our new neighborhood. Only 1.1 miles from our front door, in fact.
Jackson is really thriving there. His work has improved tremendously. He is such a motivated student and he is so energetic that he loves being at school where he is kept busy all day. His teacher is wonderful. She is like the Mary Poppins of first grade teachers. She never raises her voice, because she never HAS to. She utilizes this perfect blend of accolades and discipline, rewards and responsibility. She keeps him engaged at all times. I wish she would give me lessons....
Knowing what good hands he is in and the fact that the school is so close and encourages so much parental involvement has made the transition from homeschooling easy for all of us.
