School days

The usual routine of starting back to school was a bit off this year.  Jason, Lucas and my mom were away for the first 2 weeks of September in Scotland so Lucas missed the first week and a half of school.  Sophie and I were here holding down the fort on our own.

I actually managed to get first day of school photos of Sophie amongst all the rush and anxiety that comes with that first day.  She was excited to see her school nurse that morning whom we hadn't seen all summer.   Sophie was pretty tired but once we were at school she seemed happy, I think it took her a little while to realize that school was back in session.

It was raining that morning so the whole school was in the gym and each child was called by name.  Sophie was pretty excited but I think a bit unsure in there because it was quite loud and overwhelming.  But she was very happy when she headed off to her new class with one of her best friends by her side the whole time.  Three of her very best friends are in her class - yay!

 

So far everything has gone fairly well.  We have one year under our belt of Sophie being in an inclusive classroom and that has helped immensely.  I have become a much stronger advocate for what Sophie needs in the last year and I feel more confident about knowing what is right for Sophie at school. There have been some issues and blips but generally I think we got through the first month fairly unscathed.  Sophie has the same wonderful EA from last year so that has also made a huge difference.  We just had our first team meeting and I think there were some good new ideas that came up and hopefully they will come to fruition.  We are going to start providing opportunities to Sophie to communicate expressively, not just answer to yes no choices.  That is very exciting and something that I have wanted to start doing with her AAC devices.

 

When Lucas arrived home in the second week of school he was very excited to see all his friends and get back into the swing of things.  Lucas loves school and this year he is in the itinerant gifted program.  Children in Ontario are identified as gifted in grade four and can then join the gifted program in grade five.  We are very excited for Lucas to have this extra opportunity for learning at a level more suited for him.  His teacher seems fantastic as does his gifted program teacher.

 

 

Lucas was very excited to show me the kilt that he bought in Scotland. The night he arrived home he let me know of his plan for the next day, to wear his kilt and have his hair all slicked back.  He definitely followed through and I hear the playground was all in a commotion when he arrived.  He sure does have an awesome sense of self and style!

 

Grade 2 and grade 5!!  Amazing!  I am excited to see where this year takes us.