Due to a bunch of simultaneous events including my new job, we're moving the bug to a new school effective August 29th. She'll be attending a Montessori school in Gunbarrel, a place I used to work in graduate school. It's between Longmont and Boulder so fits tidily into our commuting pattern, and it's a beautiful school built in a few old houses on a few acres of land, so there is lots of space for the kids to play and experience the outdoors.
Originally we were going to wait until her 3rd birthday had passed and then enroll her in January, but a few things made us decide to let her begin at 2 1/2, when she's first eligible to enroll at the school. She's doing pretty well on the potty-training front, which is more than we expected or hoped for originally. (I wasn't sure she'd be secure enough by late August but she's around 90% accident-free at this point which is apparently enough for her to start there.)
Since she moved into the preschool room at her current daycare, there have been a few bumps in the road. She's gone from a room of 7 kids with one teacher to a room of up to 30 kids with 3 teachers. This has meant a lack of individual attention compared to her earlier classes, and while I think she's safe and they take good care of the kids, it's more daycare atmosphere than preschool atmosphere. She's gotten a lot more bumps and cuts since the move, part of which is growing up and playing more roughly, but some of that is also that they spend more time playing outside because it's less work-intensive for the teachers, I suspect. While I would definitely recommend the place we've been through the toddler age groups, we think the bug is ready for new adventures that her current location isn't really able to provide.
The new place has a garden that the kids tend to, a library room, and bigger spaces for all kinds of exploration, so I think she'll find it exciting. Lots of fun toys to manipulate and things to do. Also, this means we'll be becoming school parents instead of daycare parents. We'll be making lunches and getting school supplies and labelling everything and going to parent-teacher conferences and all those crazy things. Those of you who have known me for years will know that my eyes are glowing at the thought of helping the bug pick out a little backpack and lunchbox, and new school supplies...darn, I love fresh crayons and pencils!!!
Watch this space for more news on her new school and how she's adjusting.
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