First Day of Kindergarden Today!
@vera5d (4005)
United States
August 25, 2008 10:16am CST
I am sure there will be a lot of discussions upcoming on kids going back to school. Today was my son's first day of Kindergarden!
I think he will like it, but I have to say I am not impressed with our school district at all, even though it is supposedly one of the best public schools in the state. First of all I have to drive him and pick him up from school because their school bus refuses to pick him up near our house - the bus stop is over a mile away!
I go to the school today and I realize there is only one way in and one way out - which means a lot of traffic and I will have to find a parking spot and walk him in for awhile until he realizes where goes since none of the teachers meet the kids at the doors. (At his preschool, they all came to the door and waited for all of the kids so you could just drop them off without worrying) - to pick him up I have to go into the office, sign in, and then go get him. They do not allow the kids to wait in a designated area for the buses or parents. This does not sound like fun since I will have the baby with me! Hopefully she'll get used to it!
Anyways, that's my first day to school for my son, if your kids are heading back to school today or in the next couple of weeks, tell me about it!
1 person likes this
8 responses
@newtondak (3946)
• United States
26 Aug 08
As inconvenient as some of these rules may be, they are designed to protect our children and to keep them safe. They have to make sure that there is no possibility that someone other than the parent (and the custodial parent in case of divorce) picks up the child.
@vera5d (4005)
• United States
26 Aug 08
It would seem like that is the purpose of the rules, but I learned when picking my son up they did not even check to make sure I was there or who I was! I just signed him out on their sheet and then a few minutes later he came walking out.
@newtondak (3946)
• United States
27 Aug 08
You and the other parents may want to address your concerns to the school's board of education along with any sugestiosnyou have as to what can be done to correct the problems.
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
25 Aug 08
We home school but I know what that's like to send a little one off to school only to have to sign them in and wait for them to find their class. Our school met the students and had them line up behind the teacher. Maybe you could make a suggestion because it doesn't sound like they have it together. The whole point of kindergarten is knowing who your teacher is so you can feel safer at school.
@vera5d (4005)
• United States
26 Aug 08
I think I might have to talk to somebody there about this, it's pretty ridiculous! Someone I talked to suggested finding a nice 5th grader to be in charge of helping him find his class, which isn't a bad idea. Homeschooling though seems so appealing sometimes...
@gitfiddleplayer (10362)
• United States
26 Aug 08
We love it, some days are more stellar than others but its on our time and we get to teach them at their pace. Since we travel its the best method for us.
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
26 Aug 08
[i]HI vera,
wow...quite hassle there! Anyway, I hope there will be some improvement in that way on the part of the administration and they will consider the parents part!
I have no kids but when I was also working in a private institutions, parents are also doing that, they will guide their kids up to the classroom and gate to their building is like 15 meters to it's always not good for those who are a working parents or mom with little babies![/i]
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
26 Aug 08
Yes, the bus issue would make me mad too! The bus comes right to the end of my driveway and picks up my kids...then he goes next door and gets the neighbor kids. I guess we are really lucky! Don't they have teachers outside to get the kids off the buses?
I hope that your child gets use to walking into the school quickly so you don't have to drag the baby with you. I would drive up to the door and let her out and watch her as she walks into the school and then take off. The other parents will have to wait, but your childs safety is most important.
@vera5d (4005)
• United States
26 Aug 08
You are lucky! That is how it was for me growing up, too so for them to say the bus will not come to the house makes me mad! I will see how the dropping off/picking up goes...hopefully by next week I can just drop him off and like you said watch him go to the door.
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
26 Aug 08
My son had his first day of 3rd grade almost 2 weeks ago. I like his school. He gets on the bus at the end of the driveway and gets off in the same spot at the end of the day. If I am picking him up for something I just go wait by the front doors and catch him on his way out. We do have to sign in at the office before going to the classrooms, but that is to be expected.
@vera5d (4005)
• United States
26 Aug 08
That does sound nice....I can understand signing in before visiting, but it is an awful lot of hassle, especially since it is something i'll be doing everyday! Oh well, we will get used to it eventually!
@maryann82 (133)
• Philippines
26 Aug 08
my daughter's just 1 motnh old so i don't have to think about school issues for a couple of years yet but i did experienced what you experienced when i was the one who sends and picks my nephew from school it was such a drag because the school bus wasn't available for him because they want him to wait at the stop which is quite far from our house... the teachers meet us at the front of the school so i hadno issues with that and at the end of the day the teachers wait with the kids for parents to pick them up and of course we had to sign up but it's not a bother for me cause i know they just want the kids to be safe and to prevent outsiders from picking your child other than you right.....
@vera5d (4005)
• United States
26 Aug 08
Aw, congrats on the new baby! The time for school will be here before you know it!
@fwidman (11514)
• United States
25 Aug 08
Mine started school two weeks ago and, thankfully, she is in high school and I don't have the troubles that you are having. That school seems rather dumb, no teachers meeting the students, the signing in at the end of the day, etc. I hope YOU get used to it
@vera5d (4005)
• United States
26 Aug 08
I think my son will like it just fine, it is probably me who will have the hardest time adjusting! I am not one for abiding school policies :)
@queenrhoda (9)
•
26 Aug 08
Don't look at it as a problem or hassel for you look at it as a safe enviorment for your son. At lest you know not just any body can pick him up and take him with them. As for the bus thing I think that is crazy a bus should pull up closer to your house. The upside of that is if you do decide to put your son on the bus it's not going to be a public bus like baltimore city kids catch. Some baltimore city kids have to catch 2 or 3 busses to get to school. Eventhough you don't see it your son have a lot of luxuries.
