Back to School: The First Days and Beyond

After the longest summer, we had the slowest and strangest "back-to-school" weeks around here.  

Will started middle school at Kinkaid way back on August 22, before Harvey was even a hurricane. 

First day of sixth grade!! 

I love this Kinkaid shirt. The back says "Get TUF - Talons Up Falcons!"

Will went to school for three days before Harvey hit, then had about ten days off, and then went back to school for an additional two days before Henry started.  

Henry had 15 weeks of summer vacation this year. You would think after 15 weeks, he would be ready for school, but he was not. He was so sad about going back to school that we made happy face waffles for breakfast one morning to try to cheer him up.

After a two-week delay, Henry finally went back to school on September 11. First day of fourth grade!

Will left for a sixth grade field trip to Mo Ranch before Henry even woke up for his first day of school.

At Mo Ranch, the kids did ropes courses, kayaking, swimming, learned about water ecology and reptiles and so much more. It was an opportunity for the kids to get to know each other outside of the classroom setting and make new friends. Will came back with so many stories to tell!

Will was gone for four days and three nights, so Henry's first week of school was pretty quiet. He helped me walk Ruby after dinner most nights.

After four days at Mo Ranch, the sixth graders were exhausted and didn't have school on Friday. Will's day off was relaxing -- our big outing was a visit to a bookstore and lunch out! 

Back-to-school means back to homework and busy nights. All middle school students at Kinkaid were issued laptops this year, and it has been a really positive experience so far. All the assignments are posted online and Will has several web-based assignments each week in addition to traditional work. He knows exactly what he needs to do and just comes home and does it.

I took these photos on a Friday evening (before Mo Ranch) when he wasn't supposed to have any homework. His French teacher gave two assignment anyway, and he just sat down and got to work! French is one of his favorite classes so far, but I also hear a lot about band (he's going to learn the trumpet), science and math, as well as the cafeteria food, which is apparently delicious. So far, Kinkaid seems to be an excellent fit for Will. He is settling in, making friends, and loving his classes, and best of all, he is truly challenged.

Henry did not love going back to school for the first few days, until he got to art class. We finally have art and music at WUES this year, and it has made a huge difference in Henry's outlook. Instead of dreading a writing or math lab, ancillary time is a true break and creative or physical outlet for the kids. Fourth graders also switch classes, and the first day of "switches" was last Monday. Henry loves switching and getting to visit different teachers! His favorite switch so far is science with Ms. Inman (Will's fourth grade homeroom teacher).

Fourth grade is chock-full of projects, and they have started already. Henry decorated his science journal with a photo of a sea turtle and one of him at the Houston Arboretum with Ruby. He's got a big grin because he actually loves projects! (It lets him be creative!)

Another science project was to make a scientist doll. Henry chose a marine biologist, or course. I helped cut out the felt and do some stapling, but he did the rest by himself.

Henry also had to do a book review; he chose Fablehaven, which is his all-time favorite novel.

And finally, we are doing some ISEE prep.

It's been a memorable start to the school year, but I think we've finally hit our stride! 

The First Day of School

The boys started back to school on Monday. I'm not sure any of us were quite ready to give up sleeping in and starting the day with books, Legos and games. And I know for a fact Gene and I weren't ready to start making lunches or face the piles of paperwork that come home on day 1. But we have made it (almost) through the first week and the year is off to a fantastic, if completely hectic, start!

5th grade 

3rd grade

The kids have phenomenal teachers this year and every day after school the words just spill from their mouths because there is so much to share -- what they did, and where they went, and who they played with.  

The 2016-2017 school year is going to be a good one!

The First Day of School

The boys started back to school on Monday and it was a bittersweet day for all of us. Our summer was so much fun but we were already to get back into the school routine. Will especially was ready to get back to seeing his friends and learning, learning, learning. I think Henry might have been okay with a few more weeks of summer though!

This boy is in FOURTH grade! 

And Henry is in SECOND!

How did these two get so big???

The boys had fantastic first days. Will was excited to have two best friends in his homeroom class, and his teacher is very sweet. Henry has the best second grade teacher. She makes learning fun but still pushes and motivates the kids. Henry is going to have an amazing year! His only worry was that he didn't know anyone from his previous classes on the first day, but by day 2, Henry had made a brand new friend and all was right with the world.

I had a meeting with our librarian after school on Monday and the boys settled in with graphic novels. The school library is one of our favorite places. We spend a lot of time there!

My readers

 We are looking forward to an amazing school year!

The First Day of School: Third and First Grades

The boys started back to school on Monday morning! We had a wonderful summer this year, with two vacations, a few camps, and plenty of down time to play and read and explore, but twelve weeks is a long break and I think we were all ready for the new school year to begin. There's just something about the rhythm and routine of the school year that is comforting and familiar. 

The boys both have great teachers again this year and there were so excited to get back to learning and seeing friends every day at school.

Will is off to third grade 

and Henry is in first grade.

Here's to another fantastic school year!

First Day of Pre-K

Henry's first day of Pre-K was yesterday!  He is in the Honeybees class this year and goes to school five days a week (three half days and two "long" days).  He wore his very favorite Star Wars t-shirt and new Star Wars sneakers.  We packed up a yummy lunch in his new rocket lunchbox and Henry was ready to go!

Henry was just a tad nervous when I dropped him off but he didn't cry and had a great first day at school.  His favorite parts were playing on the playground, "naptime" because he got to read books, and playing with marbles during free play in the classroom.  

I am so proud of my big boy!

The Week in Review

Will's first week of school was a busy one but he is excited to be back at school and is enjoying first grade. He sees all his old buddies at recess and is making new friends in his class. It's been tiring but not quite as exhausting as the start of Kindergarten. (Note Will's Notre Dame shirt for College Colors Day yesterday!)

Meanwhile, Henry and I have been soaking up the last of summer. On Thursday, we took advantage of a beautiful, breezy and relatively cool morning to head up to Kingwood. We took a long bike ride on the trails and then replenished with dried cantaloupe and lots of water at the park.

Then Henry played! We were outside for a good hour and a half and it was surprisingly nice for the end of August.

Friday was Henry's meet-and-greet in his new classroom. He has not been too sure about this going-back-to-school thing (he even told his new teachers that he gets nervous about school!) but he settled right in, played with Play Doh, built tracks with his buddy Noah, and met another Star Wars fan. After spending an hour in the classroom, Noah and Henry wanted to check out the new and improved playground. Playing on the playground did the trick and Henry is now excited about starting school again. Fingers are crossed for a tear-free Tuesday!

After the meet-and-greet, Henry and I crossed the street to his favorite lunch spot, the Cafe Express at the MFAH. Henry actually really loves the art museum, so we took about 40 minutes to look at art too. He was enamored of a video projection of a tree changing through the seasons in the Law Building, and the James Turrell tunnel is always a favorite.

Now we are gearing up for a (hopefully) relaxing Labor Day weekend. The best part is welcoming Daddy home from Nigeria this morning. We have missed him this week!

First Day of First Grade

 Will started first grade this morning!  How did he get so big?  

All ready for grade 1!

Waiting in the garden outside his classroom. 

The verdict?  Thumbs up!  Will had a great day with a fantastic teacher and some friends from his old class. He did mention that he forgot how much work there was.  The worst part, apparently, was all the coloring!  The best part was making a new, silly friend.