It’s here – the dreaded and much anticipated first day of school! Lauren is starting 6th grade this year at Bala Cynwyd Middle School and Sophie is starting 9th grade at AIM Academy.
First Day of School – 2024-25
Friday Day of School 2023
Well, it finally arrived. The dreaded first day of school. And the year that both girls are in middle school!! Gray hairs to arrive shortly. We’re a few weeks into it as I write this and so far, so good. Both girls are doing sports this year, which is new for us. Lauren is trying cross country and Sophie made the volleyball team. Lauren also decided to be on the theater crew team for BC Applause. We’re excited to get them out there and involved with more activities.
First Day of School!
It’s finally here! After 11 weeks of summer it’s finally time to go back to school.
Sophie started 7th grade and Lauren started 4th.
First Day of School!
It’s finally back to school time! This summer felt like a long one – and it was. School didn’t start until September 9th.
Sophie officially started middle school and so far so good. She’s in a program called Evolve, which is a more hands-on, experiential experience. She seems to really enjoy it so far. The school is big (1200 kids) and she said she’s gotten lost a few times, but didn’t seem to phased by it.
Lauren started 3rd grade and has Ms. D’Orazio, whom she loves (Dave and I do too). She also has gotten off to a great start and seems to really love school. She also made a new friend, Harper Peters, who sits next to her in the classroom.
Middle school starts an hour before elementary, so Sophie leaves the house at 7:40 and then we walk with Lauren at 8:40. Sophie gets out of school at 3 and then picks up Lauren at 3:30, which is super convenient.
First Day of School – Take II
Because the positivity rate of COVID cases around us has gone down, the public schools have started opening on a hybrid schedule. At the elementary school they’ve divided classes in half and half of the students go for three hours in the AM and half of the students go in the PM. The girls are both in the PM cohort, so they’re there from 1-4PM. Lauren started the week of October 6th and Sophie started the week of October 12th. Even though it’s only 3 hours, it’s made such a huge difference for them – especially Lauren, who just can’t work that independently yet.
It’s the first time they’ve gotten to meet their teachers in person and one of the few times they’re interacting with other kids. Half of the desks have been removed from the classrooms and there’s no moving around the classroom – all work has to be done at their desk – and masks have to be worn the whole time. They also have lunch at home so that no kids are eating at the school.
We’ll see how long this lasts, but I’m hoping that we’ll make it at least a few weeks (months?) before cases get bad again, which is what’s predicted. And the best part is Dave and I have three glorious, uninterrupted hours a day, which hasn’t happened in 7 months!
Laurens second week in-person & Sophie’s first. Note the newly dyed hair ; )
First Day of School 2020
The start of school this year was a little (okay, a lot) different that the last few years. School is starting totally virtually this year, so while the girls got dressed in their first day of school best, they settled down at their computers in our house to log in an meet their teacher and classmates – Sophie 5th grade with Mr. Keeler and Lauren 2nd grade with Mrs. Sam-Dorley.
The first day was a little bumpy – some technology issues – a lot of frustration with sitting in front of a computer for six hours – but we made it through.
We’ve got Lauren set up in the living room and Sophie in the dining room. What we learned from home school in the spring is that they need a dedicated “learning place” in the house – rather than just doing work wherever. The school also provided both kids with laptops, and all of their books – which we didn’t have in the spring.
We’re now in week two and things are going a little more smoothly. Neither of the girls love it (in fact, Sophie actively hates it), but they’re both staying as focused as they can. Dave and I are still both working from home and one of us works from the dining room to help with tech issues or answer questions.
Back to School!
The summer has finally ended 🙁
It was a good one so I was sad for it to be over, but we’ve got good stuff in store for the fall.
This summer the girls had a Summer Challenge, where they had a to read, do workbooks, and practice the piano every week day. If they did it they could pick a pet at the end of the summer. I am happy to announce that we are now owners of two parakeets and a marginated tortoise!
Two days later the girls were off to Cynwyd Elementary. Lauren started her first year there for first grade and Sophie is now in fourth grade. We’re three weeks into it and so far it’s going really well. Both kids seem to like their teachers and they’re getting back into a routine.
First Day of School 2018
Summer has finally come to an end (sigh).
Sophie started third grade at Cynwyd Elementary on the Tuesday after Labor Day and Lauren started Kindergarten at Bala House Montessori the following week. Both had really good first weeks.
The first day outfits. Lauren has worn the same combo of shirt and shorts nearly the entire summer. I’m writing this blog post on her 4th day of school and she has so far worn it every day she’s been to school. It does get cleaned, but I’m definitely waiting for one of the teachers to say something to me. I promise, she does own other clothing!
First Day of School 2017
Well, summer is finally over (author sadly wipes tear from eye as writing), and school is back in session. The Tuesday after Labor Day Sophie started 2nd grade at Cynwyd Elementary. This year she has Mrs. Murphy and so far loves her. A few of her classmates were in Ms. Henry’s class last year, and she’s also met some new friends.
The big second grader on her first day! She was the appropriate mixture of excited and nervous. I can remember so well these first day stomach butterflies!
Sophie with her school’s mascot. They make drop-off on the first day really fun, blasting music, balloons, and all teachers standing outside to greet everyone.
And then a week later, on September 11, Lauren started her last year of pre-school. She was much more excited than nervous for the first day. Here’s the big girl ready to get back into Mrs. Kiernan’s class at Bala House Montessori! When we arrived she ran right into the classroom – no time for goodbyes for Mom and Dad.
First day of School 2016
And here we are – in September already! Sophie started at her new school, Cynwyd Elementary, which is about a 4 block walk from our house. She’s in Miss Henry’s 1st grade class and so far loves it. Lauren started at Bala House Montessori School in their primary program. She has two years to go before starting Kindergarten. She’s in Miss Kiernan’s class and also loves it.
The girls on their first day.
Miss Henry’s first grade class – first day of school
Lauren doing counting work in Miss Kiernan’s class.