Rico’s first school visit today...

The day has come!  Rico had his first school visit.  I've been in denial that my baby's all growed up, but today it hit me.  Seeing him walking into the school yard with his school bag on his back, and him so confident in what was happening, made it all too real & I wanted to cry!!  I never thought ahead to the day he'd go to school, he was suppose to stay my baby forever!  I had to brush that aside really quickly, as we were then in his classroom meeting his teacher.  Even though he was quiet when we first got in (which he usually is in new situations, a quiet observer), it didn't take long for him to decide what he wanted to do, and he'd leave my side & go off to do it.  I was so proud of him.  A few boys instantly said hello & wanted to interact with him (they were probably 6 yr olds and thought he was 6 as well, being that he was their height), and a couple of cute little girls kept looking over & saying "hi".  At morning tea he sat with them all & ate his snack, then ran off (without me, I had to walk fast to see where he was going) to find the playground.  Another boy he sort-of knows (a year older, but 2 feet shorter) gave him a basketball to play with, so he was shooting hoops for a while.  Thing is, a few of the senior girls would come along & ask to have a go and would take the ball & pass between themselves for a bit, before giving it back.  Rico would look a bit lost then, and would stand off to the side.  I was sooo wanting to go & get it off them & say "go & find your own ball!" but knew I wouldn't be there next week to look out for him & tell the other older kids to sod off!  He would look over for me every now & then for reassurance.  I know he'll be fine next week.  He even asked me when we were leaving, why I'd stayed with him. 

 

One boy in his class had snot running down & I was sooo tempted to say "can you go & get a tissue please & wipe your nose", but wasn't sure if it was my place!  Eek, disgusting. 

 

I was surprised to see what foods the kids were eating for their morning tea; potato chips, biscuits etc and I was hoping they'd have something more filling for their lunches.  I had packed Rico an apple, banana & a muesli bar (all which he'd asked for), none of the other kids had any fruit.  When he starts on Tuesday I'll make him some sandwiches as well, and some crackers.  I want to make sure he has plenty to eat, so he's not hungry & looses concentration because of it.

 

Also the teacher was pleasantly surprise how well Rico can write.  She said some new kids have just started & they don't even know how to hold a pen.  She said she'll tell them to take the lid off a pen, and they wouldn't know how to do that!  Never been exposed to pen & paper before.  I was shocked.  I thought even if they hadn't been to kindy before going to school, surely kids would have pen & paper to draw on at home.  Really sad actually. 

 

We go back on Thursday for another short stay, then it's all go next Tuesday!  I think I'll have a few tears then, when I have to leave him.

Sounds like a great visit!! lol at the snotty kid! Keep an eye on his lunchbox coming home, the first few weeks we had a full lunchbox come home as did many other mums cause the kiddies were so busy playing they forgot to eat, or didnt want to lose their friends so they ran off to play before they had finished eating.  Sounds like he will settle in well, I remember that feeling well, all of a sudden its like 5 years have zoomed by and your baby has grown up!!

That's right Kiwimum - it's like you blink & the 5 yrs have gone!  I know having 2 other children makes your time go faster as well.

 

The good thing with the school is, they have one bell which means the kids go & eat their morning tea, or lunch, then after 10 mins another bell goes & the kids (if they've finished eating) can go & play for 20 mins.  They are not allowed to go until their food is all eaten, so I'm glad that that is the case.  Some kids were still eating their snack 10 mins into the playtime!

    i've got tears welling up reading about all these big school kids......jack will be 4 in a couple of weeks and i'm not looking forward to that even

hope paris and rico settle into school, i'm sure they will love it

Haha that is funny about the snot. I relieved yesterday in a yr2/3 class and all day I was telling some of them to go and blow their nose. Then a boy came up to me and asked if he could go to the toilet and when I looked at him, he had snot running into his mouth I nearly gagged.

Sounds like Rico had a good visit though which is awesome. It is always cute seeing a new child come into the new entrant class, and it is amazing how quickly the class are there to help them and asking them to be friends.

I agree with you on the lunchbox front. Yesterday I had to confiscate a packet of Raro from a girl, she was about to eat it as part of her lunch.

Also be prepared for Rico to come home and be fairly tired during the first week. It is a long day for them when they are not use to it.

Yeah Rico was 5 on Saturday. 

 

I am fully expecting Rico to come home exhausted for the first few weeks!  He still has an afternoon sleep (and sleeps for like 2 hrs!) - except for the afternoons he went to kindy.  I find if he misses an afternoon sleep a couple of days in a row - he's a grumpy horrible child!  So I think he'll be coming home from school & still needing a little nap afterwards.  It's a whole new change, and so much more to take in his mind will be buzzing!

 

And  to the girl who bought raro for her morning snack!  That's terrible - her teeth will rot & fall out before she's a teenager! 

aawww i got all teary eyed reading about the big five year olds off to school! I cant wait till Bailey starts school in february!

Thanks girls. 

 

Well tomorrow is the day.  No going back now.  I hope I get some sleep tonight, and not lie awake freaking out about it all.

 

Although, he has a terrible cough at the moment, had it over a week.  So depending on how he sleeps tonight, and is in the morning, as to whether I'll send him or not.  It has been nice not having to take him to & from kindy since Wednesday.  It gets so tiring doing those trips.  School is all of a 30 sec drive away (prob 10-15 min walk with the kids), so it's less of a hassle going there, and it's longer between trips!

Exciting, hope he is all ok to go to school tomorrow.

Awww but more time at home with you