First Week of School

She did it. Thrived in her first week of kindergarten. Mommy and Daddy had a more difficult time than she did, not because we were sad to see her off to school, but because we had initial reservations about her class placement, which have been (mostly) assuaged.

Monday morning was only an orientation, so we were there for just a couple of hours. She bounded out of bed by 6 a.m. and did her chores with nary a complaint. Before we knew it, we were out the door for her first day.





Upon arrival, she marched ahead of us right up to the gate, excited to begin her newest journey.


[note the 2 security guards at the entrance]

We found our way to the lunch tables, where a joyous reunion with pre-school friends Naya and Shira ensued.





Lauren's class consists of 15 students, with main teacher, Mora Caryn, and assistant teacher, Mora Nicki. Mora Caryn began her introduction with the use of a stuffed bear named Doobie.



Needless to say, Norm and I were not exactly impressed with the use of a stuffed animal to greet the children (even Lauren said she felt like it was very "preschool"), but after some lengthy discussion with both the school principal and Mora Caryn, we are not going to judge how much she'll learn this year based on a single example used in the first five minutes of class.

The facilities and environment at the school are really incredible. There are 3 kindergarten classes (46 children total), and each will have an hour of Hebrew/Judaica each day. On the first day, all of the kindergarteners were taken into the Hebrew classroom and taught their first couple of words.



The kindergarteners have their own "village." The main classrooms and Hebrew room surround a central computer learning center.





Every Friday morning, the entire school participates in Kabbalat Shabbat, a ceremony with live music, a little prayer, and inspirational words from the school principal and rabbi. All students must wear their white school shirts. Parents and families are always welcome to attend.



Before the ceremony got underway, we got a chance to visit Lauren's classroom to see what she's been up to her first week.


[It says: "My first day in kindergarten was a little bit scary, but when I came to the classroom, I was happy! I was happy because kindergarten is the best!]

She shares a table with 3 classmates, including Jacob, who used to be one of her boyfriends in pre-school, which was "waaaay back when".





To go along with the community concept, there are no single desks, and each table must work together to earn "table points." Lauren was beaming as she showed us that her table (Table 3) had earned more points this week than any other.



She's already bonding with Mora Caryn.


[and, sigh, Doobie.]

Back out in the courtyard, she latched onto one of her new classmates, Sophie. Hoping this will become one of her new bffs.



Then we sat in the roasting sun (probably the hottest day we've had here all summer - it was 80 degrees by 8 a.m.) to enjoy the proceedings.

The songs this week were sung by the senior and 5th grade classes. Each week different grade levels lead the school.









As it was the first one of the school year, the seniors presented the kindergartners with a special gift - their own little lion (the school mascot).

So proud of our own brave lioness and what we hope will be a year filled with discovery, adventure, knowledge, friendship, and love.