Last week we learned Clara's teacher had knee replacement surgery and would miss the first eight weeks of school. :-( Of course Clara was pretty bummed. But, Ms. Hewitt made a video and posted it in the Facebook group she created for her class so the kids could watch it.
She read a book that she would normally read to them on the first day of school and showed one of her cats.
She seems super nice and Clara can't wait until she is able to join them in class.
Brynn had gone on that previous Monday to pic up her personal learning device that she'll use for the school year and take her school picture. Middle school does their school pictures early for their school ID.
Last Friday I took Clara to her school to meet the substitute teacher that she'll have until Ms. Hewitt comes back and so she could see her classroom, put her things in her desk and do a little readiness assessment.
All students in elementary through high school in Fargo Public Schools will need to wear masks while in the school buildings. The girls seem really mentally prepared for that and I think will do just fine.
Clara was relieved to see that they included her last name on her desk tag because she's still learning how to spell it. :-)
Mrs. Schneider is the substitute teacher and very nice as well. She showed Clara around the classroom and explained how things would be different due to COVID and what their schedule will be like for the days they're in school. Clara asked to see the gymnasium and she also got a look at where they'll eat lunch.
Clara had made a math worksheet for herself and then completed it. She wanted to bring it to Mrs. Schneider to show her, so that's what the teacher is looking at in the pic below. It was the most precious thing as almost all of the numbers on it were printed backwards. But, all the math problems were indeed correct. ;-)
Ya'll KNOW I am going to bawl my eyes out tomorrow. There's no chance in even fighting it. My baby!
The girls will be in school Mondays and Tuesdays and every other Wednesday. Then the opposite Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, they'll be distance learning from home. After September, Brynn will go completely virtual as they open up the middle and high school buildings for guided practice centers for elementary students who need an extra measure of help with school work or such.
We found out yesterday that they will not be riding the same bus in the mornings. We were all sad about that as I'm sure they'll not be allowed to sit next to other students on the bus, so it might get a little lonely. And, bless her big sister heart, I think Brynn wanted to be able to look after Clara on the bus in the mornings. Clara will get on the bus at around 8:00 and Brynn will get picked up at around 8:20. And then they have shaved an hour off of the school day for all students, so Clara will get dropped off around 2:00 and Brynn just before 3:00.
It doesn't appear that Dana will be going back to work in the office full-time just yet, so he'll be home when here when Clara gets off the bus. And then if he does go back after September, Brynn will be here all the time for when Clara gets home, so that should work pretty well. I will be working from home the days that the girls are here doing distance learning...or that Clara is at least since Brynn will be home all the time after this month, but I will still just be home when Clara is then.
Clara will be asynchronous on her distance learning days, meaning she will not log on into her classroom or need to be live with the class at certain times. Rather they will receive some assignments of worksheets to do or videos to watch on the at home days.
Whew! So much to remember and keep straight, but once things are off and running, they'll do great. They are both so excited for school to start. I know they'll both have an awesome school year, even though it looks different than what we would have expected.
Brynn and I went for a walk last night which turned into walking/scootering. The sunset was so pretty!
Clara started gymnastics last week. She moved up a class now that she's six and is one of the smallest in the group. :-) They are to wear their masks when they arrive and then once they get out onto the mats and doing the different activities, they're allowed to take them off.
She looks so tall in this pic!
Ms. Hewitt posted another video for the kids on Facebook tonight, so Clara watched that quickly while she was having her snack after gymnastics tonight. Brynn successfully got off to bed at a decent time for tomorrow, but Clara was a bit behind since she gets home a bit late from gymnastics..and then, of course, we have to do a snack and all that.
Thank you for everyone's well wishes in starting this school year. I'm glad they are really looking forward to going to school. It was a great summer and now we're ready for the next chapter for this year. The weather even has seemed to start to turn and feel more like fall just this week.
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Oh Brynnie!