School

The work has begun educating ourselves on the education system here in the states. This time next year Matthew would have started his schooling career. Currently he is in what they call 'preschool'. This is what most of us would know as kindergarten. He is going 3 mornings a week ( 9 to 12 ) and after Xmas will transition to 4 mornings a week. A couple of times a month he is eating his lunch at preschool as well. This is all to get him use to the school environment. Next year he goes to what they call Kindergarten here, which is what I knew as primer-1 back in NZ. After that it is grade1, there is no equivalent to primer-2 here ( if there is still a primer-2 in NZ ).
As far as schools goes here they have 'traditional school', 'year-round school', and some other school that I can remember. Each has different term lengths. There are also what they call magnet schools, which focus more one one thing or another.... for example math, or arts. The magnet school in our area for the elementary school level ( or primary school as we all know it ) differs from the rest because it is a year round school, not because it specializes in something. I think there is also a second magnet school in our area that has a traditional school year but has some emphasis on 'leadership qualities' I think I remember someone telling me they start teaching the kids things like looking someone in the eyes when talking to them, firm handshakes etc etc.

But Margaret is the one who went to a meeting today, not me, so I will become a little more enlightened tonight.

They have a cut off date here for getting into a school year. I think it is around October. So if your child turns 5 before the end of October then they go to school the next year. if they turn 5 after October then they have to wait till next year. This means that Matthew will be on the younger edge of the class being born in June and Adam will miss the cut off and be on the very edge of the oldest kids when he goes to school.

More decisions to be made regarding the kids.... more wondering if we made a right decision or not.