the new school year

is looking pretty good! we had the annual hot dog roast tonight, and it was a smashing success ..... don't want to jinx us, but the two teachers seemingly are wonderful! and the very best part - oh, the sheer joy! - both kids have good friends WITH them in their classes! something that was missing last year for the two of them! yay!

it's a sigh of relief to say the least ... knowing how often i had come here to vent, release, cry, and just hammer away over some of the 'transition' things that cam was going through, and the teacher from 3rd grade being at the foundation of much of that (or at least we deduced that) is with any luck, a thing of the past ... distant, and gloriously left behind past. don't get me wrong, it was a learning experience for sure, and one that i am sure we'll not soon forget (possibly revisiting as we travel down the school path ...) but it was a very tough year with a less than stellar teacher .... who has no - zip, nada, zilch - personality, and energy. she is so very, very beige.
the new one - Mrs. C - 100 times the personality, and energy level. she's 25 tops, newlywed, happy to be a teacher, comes from a lineage of teachers in her family, and has so much planned for the year, with open arms for parent helpers! cam came to life when he met her, and spoke with her. he was intrigued, and bounced away after he saw which one she was .... as he went to bed tonight, i got an extra big hug with wonderful whispers of 'i can't wait for the shcool year to begin, mom .. it's gonna be a good one!'

oh, my heart sang. he loves school. he loves to learn, and be part of a learning community. he thrives on the good things that school brings to him ~ the breadth and scope of the learning he has there, social atmosphere, the community feel, the resources they provide, the warmth and love that is there, the charged electricity of an elementary school .... he truly adores school, and for that i am most grateful. my greatest fears from last year was the possibility of his teacher zapping his enthusiasm, and he was on that path - he was walking down it, reluctantly walking down, but just the same, going .... and the principal and i talked about it, and she intervened at her level, connecting with this little boy, and ensuring his love continued. she is a terrific woman, and insightful mommy, and a fabulous 'coach' when it comes to parenting. she saved his affection of learning ... for a few more precious moments while he is still in the community he is in. love her.

and kendall's class is the *other* third grade teacher (again, insightful principal that woman is! :) and she is wonderful. she has her bestest friends in her class ~ all 6 of them! (except for one, Ben who is her fabulous and spirited friend that dances, sings, and plays everything she loves to play ... he and she spent the most time together this summer, and i am certain it's something that will continue for years to come. they were both fine about the class this year, they'll be spending some time together i am sure!) the teacher she has is more academic, with an intense amount of expectations, yet, very positive, and growth oriented. i know that she will have yet another great year .... the second half last year was a little more challenging ... her teacher left on maternity, and the sub was rather stern. quite different than the first teacher, and of course, different than first grade, and kindergarten. so, she was over the moon too!! it helps, also that she is jonesing for this friday to get here .... she turns 8 on that day and has a girlfriend party, AND a family party the very same day! :)

a great way to celebrate the start to the new year! good friends, a party or two, and the promise of positive reationships with my children and their teachers!

yahoo!!