Today PACT classes begin. Normally I would be happy about that, but this year things are just different. For starters our new school which was originally supposed to be up and running for us to use at the beginning of the semester, and then revised for about this time, and then revised for maybe when we get back from Thanksgiving, to probably the start of second semester is now in jeopardy of not happening at all for this school year. I find it very frustrating that the Performing and Fine Arts part of the charter school was allowed to take over our classrooms and space on campus and then not have anywhere for our kids to go.
So the compromise is that some classes will be held in the warehouse where all of our books and furniture and resources are being held until the new home is built. And some classes will be back on the former campus, with a few "minor" hassles. For starters, the regular spaces where these classes normally take place seem to be unavailable. Instead of Julia's music appreciation class (which is very much up out of your seat dancing and making music as well as sitting and talking and listening to music) is not taking place in the dance room as before, it will now be located in a conference room. The small parking lot we PACT parents once occupied is now staff parking. We may not park there to drop off our children or pick them up. We are to try finding a place along the street a block or two away. We must park the car and escort our children to and from class, regardless of the child's age and how familiar they are with the campus (the 8th graders are going to love that!). We are strongly encouraged not remain on campus, even if we are waiting for our child from a one hour class. If we do remain on campus, we have to first check in at the front office and recieve a visitor pass (regardless of whether or not we have our official PACT parent-teacher ID worn around our necks) and then we can only wait for our child in one open outdoor location (should be pleasant when the cold, wet weather arrives).
Tomorrow we set out to navigate this crazy new school world. I drop Karley off first at preschool at 8:30 and then take Julia to the old campus and hope for a place nearby to park so I can escort her to campus for a 9:00 class, then leave, then hope in less than an hour's time that I can find another parking place so I can go get her. Then we will have some alone time before it will be time to retrieve Karley. Followed later in the afternoon by piano. Tomorrow's class is drawing.
Wednesday we go to Tricks in the morning. Eat lunch. Perhaps try to squeeze a couple things in and then I have to navigate that crazy campus again to take Julia to music appreciation class.
On Thursday it is Karley to preschool and then Julia to her first grade class in the warehouse. The only trick with that is that both girls' classes will be ending at 11:30.
But today and Friday we get to remain at home. No waking up early. No rushing out the door. No trying to find a place to park or trying to remember which campus a particular class meets at. Its funny how I used to always want (and NEED) these classes to have some time to myself. Now I'm starting to look at them a whole, new way.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Julia's Art for the Week
The assignment: use watercolor crayons to paint a picture that tells a story. She agonized over this. It is very difficult for her not to draw the cutesy house on the hill with curly smoke coming from the chimney (or a cat). She says this is called "The Sea". When I asked her why she chose for the starfish to be so large and prominent on the page she said it was because it was her favorite sea creature. I believe it is the mermaids birthday. The fish swim around her. There are seashells in the sand. And swimming off the page is the rear flippers of a walrus.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
"Books are like dessert!"
That was one of Julia's quotes from this week. We were discussing books/audiobooks. She says she likes both and she likes any and all kinds of stories. She just LOVES books! Cool, huh?
Other great things from our week include:
1. Karley will be a sugar plum fairy in the production of The Nutcracker that they are doing. She is really excited about the idea of wearing a big, poufy tutu, wings, wand and tiara for her first dance recital. She's over the moon!
2. Julia did 2 consecutive cartwheels and gymnastics this week, landing on her feet! Plus, she learned how to do forward rolls on the beam (2 or 3 feet off the ground!) and a dismount off the bar!
3. We received a thumbs up from our academic advisor. She is happy with Julia's work so far. Can you believe we have completed the first four weeks already???
Other great things from our week include:
1. Karley will be a sugar plum fairy in the production of The Nutcracker that they are doing. She is really excited about the idea of wearing a big, poufy tutu, wings, wand and tiara for her first dance recital. She's over the moon!
2. Julia did 2 consecutive cartwheels and gymnastics this week, landing on her feet! Plus, she learned how to do forward rolls on the beam (2 or 3 feet off the ground!) and a dismount off the bar!
3. We received a thumbs up from our academic advisor. She is happy with Julia's work so far. Can you believe we have completed the first four weeks already???
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Weekly Update
The highlights of our week:
1. The ants finally arrived for our ant farm. It looks like we have 21 alive and one causualty. I was surprised when I placed them in the ant farm container how much they reminded me of cats. All of them sat down on their "behinds" and looked like they groomed themselves to get all the yuck off after being cooped up in the plastic test tube they were mailed in. Also, I've been surprised how some of them are quite inactive while others seem to be busy. I've read that they will tunnel and burrow and make rooms, one of which they will use to store their dead in. So far they just bump into the stiff one, back up, and then keep going.
2. Yesterday was Karley's long-awaited first fieldtrip of the school year. I think the girls had a good time and I remembered how when I did this trip with them last year how awful a certain 5 year-old's behavior was. This time we looked like we had the mature kids and it was someone else's turn to have to do all the discipline and time-outs. I guess I've paid my dues on that one (this time).
3. Julia is still on schedule. She is still loving science and dreading math. The funny thing is that it is almost like she WANTS to hate math. She tries to have problems with it but I really don't see it as being all that difficult for her. Her biggest difficulty is not distracting herself from what she is supposed to be doing.
Well, photos were supposed to go along with this, but they seem to literally be stuck on the camera card. Sometimes I hate technology. Hopefully, photos to come in future posts.
1. The ants finally arrived for our ant farm. It looks like we have 21 alive and one causualty. I was surprised when I placed them in the ant farm container how much they reminded me of cats. All of them sat down on their "behinds" and looked like they groomed themselves to get all the yuck off after being cooped up in the plastic test tube they were mailed in. Also, I've been surprised how some of them are quite inactive while others seem to be busy. I've read that they will tunnel and burrow and make rooms, one of which they will use to store their dead in. So far they just bump into the stiff one, back up, and then keep going.
2. Yesterday was Karley's long-awaited first fieldtrip of the school year. I think the girls had a good time and I remembered how when I did this trip with them last year how awful a certain 5 year-old's behavior was. This time we looked like we had the mature kids and it was someone else's turn to have to do all the discipline and time-outs. I guess I've paid my dues on that one (this time).
3. Julia is still on schedule. She is still loving science and dreading math. The funny thing is that it is almost like she WANTS to hate math. She tries to have problems with it but I really don't see it as being all that difficult for her. Her biggest difficulty is not distracting herself from what she is supposed to be doing.
Well, photos were supposed to go along with this, but they seem to literally be stuck on the camera card. Sometimes I hate technology. Hopefully, photos to come in future posts.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Photos from last week
Julia's art project. Assignment: draw and paint something from memory such as a character you have read about. The result: "Black Beauty resting in her stall."
Effie Yeaw Nature Center. Julia as a California Condor.
Karley as a Condor.
Dad as a Condor.
Our plot study near the nature center on the upper bank ofthe American River. Late August is a difficult time to do a plot study in this neck of the woods!
My latest binder cover. We are still using the two I did last year (I just took the pages out and stored them away).
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