Kindergarten Orientation

Today Evan had kindergarten orientation at Davis Hill Elementary School. In some ways, I thought that this shouldn't be a big deal, as he has been going to preschool and day care since he was 3 months old. But, it is still a big deal. Kindergarten definitely had a more academic feel to it than Child Works, and the school is so big. And, the teachers are actually adults.

Evan had been very excited for orientation all week and couldn't wait to leave for our walk to the school. As soon as we walked into the lobby of the school, one of his friends from Child Works, Jasira, ran up to him and gave him a hug. Jasira and Evan walked to the kindergarten rooms hand-in-hand. There are two kindergarten classrooms, and all of the kindergarten students were lined up waiting to be assigned a preschooler to give a tour. Evan immediately saw his good friend, Orion, at the front of the line, and they immediately gave each other a big huge. Evan was paired with a very nice boy who quietly asked Evan to do a puzzle with him, and Evan was off. Eventually he and this boy migrated to Orion and the lego table.

The parents stayed with the children, or in my case were ignored, for the first fifteen minutes. Then, the parents left the room to meet with the principal for a half hour. There was a lot of clinging, tears, and screaming. Some kids could not be left in the classroom and had to come with the parents. I was definitely feeling very grateful for Evan's confidence and adaptability. It was good to get many of my practical questions answered by the principal, and I felt like Evan will be in good hands.

Evan was very positive about the experience, but he seems a little stressed out tonight. He had a very rare temper tantrum that went on for about 15 minutes. Of course, he does not draw the connection between his mood and the day's events.