Jump Start

About a month ago Beatrix started a new school. She now goes to Jump start.  It is a full day program to get kids ready for kindergarten.  She rides the bus with Calista and Leon in the morning and then she goes from there onto another bus to her school.  She does the same thing in reverse to come home everyday.  We loved Beatrix going to the Learning Ladybugs school at my friends house, but her going all day like this is really a lot easier for the family.

The shirt that she wore on the first day is a shirt that I used to wear when I was younger.

At first she was nervous but we went to a practice day together and so after that she was just excited.  A friend from church was also in her class and when she realized that she was very happy.  I wonder if part of her was scared that they wouldn't speak English at the new school.  

The next picture is from the practice day.

I love that Beatrix and Calista both use the Japanese backpacks.  I walk with them most mornings to the bus.  The days that I don't I worry a little.  They have to cross our neighborhood road.  It isn't busy, but ever since Calista got hit by a car I've been very cautious.  This walk to the bus is still a million times safer than the one we had in Sasebo.  Here we have a sidewalk and it is only about a quarter of a mile.  Leon is pretty good at keeping an eye on the girls.  I'm trying to train them really well though because Leon will be at a different school next year so these two will need to walk by them selves occasionally.

So far things have been going great.  She hasn't been complaining about school and she told me she likes it.  I have noticed she gets upset extra easily after school and is more on the grumpy side but I think that is just her adjusting to being at new all day school.  It is a long day for someone her age.

I'm glad the school district has a program like this for kids.  I would have loved it when Tucker was little and I even looked for something similar.   Preschools in our area can be more than what many families can afford.  This program is funded by the district.  Beatrix did have to qualify to go so we applied and she took a test.  They want to help the kids who need it the most so the children with the lowest scores got in.  That being said, I think most of the kids who applied got in.  Not many people know about the program.

Anyway we are really happy with it and so far Beatrix has been loving it.