Back to School

I feel like I always say this, but this time it's most definitely true - the summer flew by in a flash and I can't believe it's over!

Yesterday was the first day of school.  Quinn started 5th grade, Keely 3rd.  The start of this school year was very different than last.  The comfort of a school having one year under their belts, friendships already established.  They both have new teachers and we met them at Open House last week.  Keely's drama is having a male teacher for the very first time.  He seems nice, and I think it will be fine but she always has her heart set on a certain teacher, or in this case a certain gender.  Quinn likes his teacher.  She seems very energetic, and he says she tells great stories.  This is his last year in elementary school, and possibly our last year at this school due to boundary adjustments.  So we will enjoy this year of familiarity and cross those bridges when we come to them.

Quinn has mostly the same class as last year minus a few children to the boundary adjustments.  He did get one new student in his class though...and you'll never guess his name.  Another Quinn!  What are the chances?!?!  He doesn't seem bothered by having to go by Quinn D. this year, but it's just one of my pet peeves that my children not have those names that multiply in school.  I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later, but still.  Oh well.

Along with a new school year come the flurry of other activities that start back up.  It's going to be a busy fall for us.  Here's the rundown.  Both kids are taking guitar lessons on Monday nights through the County.  Quinn is going to join band (instrument TBD, but his first choice is alto saxophone).  Both kids are going to join the running program at school - Girls on the Go and Young Men in Motion, and they will run 5Ks later this fall.  Keely has been invited to join her friends' soccer team - she played with them on an indoor team this past winter, and she's thrilled to join them as a permanent member - so that means practice on Thursday evenings and games on Saturdays.  Quinn is playing Flag Football after a two year hiatus and is very excited.  Both kids are doing Scouts...Quinn continuing on with his Den/Pack, and Keely joining a Girl Scout troup through a local church as a follow up to doing Girl Scout camp at the beginning of the summer.  Both kids are enrolled in CCD again on Sunday mornings.  I think that's it - when I type it all up, it seems overwhelming but it's most likely not.

As an aside, Quinn has a new school related responsibility - bus patrol.  He had to apply late last year, and be given a recommendation by his teacher.  He was accepted into the program, and now is responsible for helping to keep order on the bus to and from school.  He gets to wear a patrol belt and is very proud of this new privilege.  He takes it seriously too...on just the 2nd day of school, he reported a child who was misbehaving by disrespecting a classmate (hitting someone) and for using bad language (cussing, as Keely told me). 

 I always get excited at the beginning of a school year, even though I'm not going back to school.  It's the excitement of change, the new-ness and a fresh start.  Like those crisp mornings of fall, it's a crisp new year for the kids and I know it will be a great one for them!