Monday, November 01, 2010

New School


So, I don't know what to think of the last two months. It was a struggle for us. Amalie started Pre-K at Hallinan elementary school. It's one of the best schools in the NW, and we paid the highest tuition around here. However, there were only 3 boys and her...and a super lazy teacher. It would have been fine, if she enjoyed it, but in fact, she started to bring home sadness shortly after school started. It's very unusual for Amalie. Now, I am very angry and exhausted. I won't go into details here, but we tried our best, and it didn't go anywhere. So, we moved on. I believe Amalie will be in a way better place now, and in her future somewhere else.

It was eye opening when we started touring other private schools around here. Teachers are watching everything and anything, they are very focused, and they are sweet to the children. The kids are really acting like kids, and they are welcoming Amalie in all of the classes we toured. And, we started a new school today. Luckily, there was an opening in the Junior Kindergarten class. I'm a little worried, because they are super advanced academic-wise, but Amalie came home very happy, and she talked a lot about it. She already played with a few girls. It's great! She is talking at school again! Yay-yay! So far so good. I hope this continues till the end of the school year.
初めての学校。そして、転校。
この2ヶ月なんだったんだろう。苦悩の連続としか言いようがないわ。北米では常に上位の小学校区に住んでいるので、その付属の年中さんに、東京の某有名私立にも劣らない学費を払って通い始めたのに、フタを開けると生徒数なんと4人。それも、女の子は海璃だけ。ちなみに、見た目もやる気のなさもナマケモノにそっくりの先生。男の子は大人も感心するほどの高度ないじめをかましてくるし、先生には何を伝えても返ってこないし、億万長者の母達は、庶民の私だけになのか挨拶もしないし、うんざり。実は、小学校(年長さん以上)とは切り離されたプログラムらしく、先生の質の悪さは一部では有名でした。海璃にも「ママは、海璃にもう少しがんばってほしいのよ。」と言っても「がんばっても、がんばっても、いやになっちゃうの。できないの。」の一言で、止める事を決意し、他の幼稚園を見学して今日から新しい学校です。
たまたま、ジュニア・キンダーテンという、年中と年長さんの間のようなクラスに欠員がでて、とってもいい私立に入る事ができました。でも、ビックリ。みなさん、いきなり文章読んでいました。しかも、宇宙について。海璃はZebraとかUmbrellaをつづれるようになって感激していた親ばかな私達、急にお勉強開始です。また、入学金も払いなおしで家計にも大打撃ですが、海璃はとっても楽しそうに帰ってきました。体育館で三輪車を爆走したのが良かった~!のだそう。それが幸せ。的外れな海璃ちゃん、がんばれ!

1 comment:

sunderlage family said...

Glad you switched her. I think you can tell right off if it is going to be a good experience or not. Seems like the hallinan preschool was mostly a day care. Hope this new school proves to be wonderful!

Good to see you Mu and Luther. Sad to miss Ryan and Amalie. And, sorry to stop in for such a short visit. Didn't see any other friends if that makes it any better?