New Preschool Joy!

A proud Jonathan stands tall to show off his school supply cubby --3rd orange basket from the top.  I think this will be one of my favorite pictures of all time.

Joshua's interest is caught for an instant by the teacher's lesson about parts of the face. 

      After a very prolonged absence from blogging, without further delay, I share these pictures and stories about Jonathan and Joshua's new preschool. 

      While we did have a few positive experiences at our old neighborhood preschool, in the end we decided to leave that school and go to a new one.  Thank God!  We are having such a much more positive experience at the new school -- like a difference between night and day.  In contrast to the other school, our new school is spacious, organized, populated by mostly-obedient and motivated children, staffed by enthusiastic and caring teachers and aids.   

       Our new school is further away, not in our immediate neighborhood.  To get there, we walk about 4 blocks down to the main road, hop on a mini-bus for about 2 minutes, and then walk another 3 blocks to the school.  However, even though it's farther away, I've reconnected with a previous neighbor whose daughter is in the class above Jonathan.  I'm connecting with other mothers in a way I never did at the other school, because there are sometimes up to 20 moms waiting around in the play yard and bench area during school hours!  I rejoice in this!  

Waiting for our city minibus ride on the way to school.

On our walk to school, we now have time to notice the beauty of the natural world, including our local volcano.

      The boys are in different classrooms now.  Jonathan is in the "little kindergarten" and Joshua is in the playgroup.  Jonathan loves his classroom and can't wait to get inside, sit at his desk, and start learning.  He especially loves doing worksheets and crafts.  The teacher is extremely organized, plans her lessons, and keeps her classroom extremely clean.

Jonathan does well in his classroom and eagerly looks forward to writing in his workbooks and doing crafts.

Snacktime

       Unlike the other school, this school has a play yard and a lots of local style playground equipment.  I try to get to school early.  School starts at 7:30 am and they start with a 15 minute recess.  So by the time class starts, the boys have had a walk to school and a full half hour of outdoor play.  After that, they are ready to go inside and learn.

      Jonathan is in a high learning curve trying to figure out how to relate to the other boys.  At first he would approach them and they would run away from them.  He'd chase them.  Often they'd get into a tussle of smacks and punches.  The next phase -- Jonathan spent a week digging in the dirt.  The boys would sometimes come and watch him and then wander off.   This week -- Jonathan joined the boys in their game of pile-up-on-the-slide.  For whatever reason, one of the bigger boys insisted on hitting Jonathan with a stick for about five minutes before I finally took the stick away.  Wonder of wonders, Jonathan, who does have a temper, DID NOT HIT BACK!  This was a major breakthrough!  At home he told me, "Mom I was trying my hardest to duck!"  Then yesterday, the boys had a big long game of chase-Jonathan-and-try-to-take-his-hat.  Jonathan seemed like he was enjoying it, although when we got home he told me the boys were being mean.  Indeed at the end of the game I saw they collectively picked him up in the air and then he was dropped on the ground (and cried.)   It's always a wisdom-seeking experience for me to watch these dynamics and decide when to intervene or not as Jonathan learns how to relate cross-culturally.  I know I can't always jump in and rescue him and many times I prefer the teacher to be the one to notice and intervene.

      Joshua, on the other hand, has a different style on the playground.  He putters.  He'll play on a swing by himself, then examine the water meter, or play on one side of the teeter totter.  The moms and teachers will often engage him and he's receptive and sweet.  Sometimes he'll play on the playground equipment, but mostly he just quietly makes his rounds.

      There are 6 American kids who attend this school and about 50 local kids.  It's a really nice mix because the boys do have some friends with whom they have a lot in common and don't have to try so hard, but they also are still in a language immersion environment to maximize their language learning.

Rhythm band lesson using buckets, bottles and home-made shakers.

A little after school tutoring on how to hold a crayon properly.

"Mom, take a picture of my picture!"

Making our way home on the minibus, the boys tank up on water before we hike 3 blocks up the hill to our house.

      So we got a new pile of school uniforms.  They are not as cute as the uniforms at the other school, but Jonathan just loves the patches on his uniform shirts.   The patches have the school name and logo on them.   Dave says Jonathan will be sad when he finally has to go to American-style Mountainview and will not get to wear his uniforms any more.

Exercise uniforms for Friday PE day -- yep my boys are dressed in pink and purple.

One last shot to show you Jonathan's blue uniform which he wears on Tuesdays.  He's so proud of his badge, his tie, and his vest.  Can you see he's turning into a big boy?