The Last Day

I can hardly believe it but today is Hannah's last day of school.

It seems like just yesterday that we were taking her for her orientation to meet her teachers and classmates. And when I look back on that post from August 2010 I can't believe how little she looks. Almost like a baby.

She's a real big girl now. A huge vocabulary, social skills (in the works), friendships, life lessons. Its amazing what a short 10 months can do.

While she'll be attending the camp "daycare" this summer, her days won't be as structured with learning but rather will focus on fun with time in the park, pool and other activities.

I've said it before but teachers really don't get enough credit. This 18 to 26 month period has been a formative one for Hannah and her teachers had so much to do with it. No amount of appreciation is enough to show how grateful we are.

I'm heading off for a school-wide lunch BBQ this afternoon. Will try my best to express my gratitude to them all.

To all of you moms with kids out of school....good luck! Hope your days aren't too hairy and the weather accommodates fun in the sun!

School Yard Junkie

Last week was an affirming week. A week where I finally took complete confidence in Hannah's school.

That's not to say that I shipped her off every morning worried about how her day might progress. No, I knew she was going to a top facility (did I mention its only $7/day?) but I guess I just had to see it for myself to believe it.

Well, before I even got my half hour glimpse into a day at Hebrew Day School I was welcomed upon pick-up with great news. Hannah slept an hour, then an hour and a fifteen and then an hour and a half. She finally got her groove of sleeping in a room with 14 other kids. Yipee! And the best part of it (aside from not having to worry about her teachers hating that she was the one shortening their "break") is that the behaviour has carried over at home. This weekend we had a record breaking two and a half hour nap. I literally didn't know what to do with myself!

So, all this sleep was a welcome introduction to actually joining Hannah's class on Friday morning. She was the "ima" for Shabbat so I got to tag along (with challah and cookies). In just a short half hour, I realized how encouraging her teachers are. Most of my time was spent singing songs around a table.

But no ordinary songs. The teachers' playlist was crafted to include popular kids' tunes that involve actions like Wheels on the Bus and Skinnamarinkydinkydink. Each time a child imitated one of the actions, the main teacher would shout Bravo or Hurray, providing wonderful positive encouragement.

It was really so great to see.

I think about all of the things Hannah has gotten better at in the past two months (her vocabulary, holding hands, not biting) and it makes me realize how great this experience is for her.

I am genuinely thrilled. Now if only I could do something about the school's somewhat unhealthy menu my mind would be completely at ease..until I find something new to worry about...

Hip Hip Chai-ray!

Lucky number 18. It worked its magic tonight.

An unexpected evening telephone call left us jumping for joy as we found out that Hannah has been accepted to Hebrew Day School. This $7/daycare comes highly recommended and has a wonderful Jewish curriculum.

Hannah will be in the 18 month class starting in September 2010.

We put our names on the waiting list back in May and knew that our chances were slim being 18th in line. With a total of 26 spots in two classes, 10 spots were immediately scooped up by children with siblings already in the school. So do the math and that leaves 16 spots.

But oddly enough two families never got back to the school after a week of phone calls, so we were able to snatch up that last coveted spot. Woohoo!

Now to figure out the plan from March (end of my mat leave) to August.