School Starts!

This week we visited Sophie’s school to register her. Of course, I couldn’t find the kids birth certificates, but we had everything else, and registration was WAY simpler for Round Rock School District compared to Leander. (I had completed registration at a different school when we thought we would be living in another apartment complex.)  This was on Thursday, August 19^th. The very next evening there was a kindergarten orientation. I asked if we could still attend even if the birth certificate hadn’t turned up yet. They said yes. So Kevin ordered an official copy of the birth certificate (supposedly overnight delivery) and we all attended the orientation the next night. It was loud and hot, and hard to hear the principal speaking. What I did hear I liked. Many of the teachers have been at Live Oak Elementary either a long time, or since it opened. They call themselves a “small-town school” with only 5 kindergarten classes. Wow. In fact, half the grades have 5 classes, the other half have 4. Average class size for 5^th graders is 27 kids! Average for the rest is down around 21-22, however. Parents were encouraged to not walk their kids to class past the first few days, and even to avoid that if possible. They want the young ones to experience the responsibility of getting to class.

Classrooms were color coded for kindergarten. We got to go find the classroom and help remind Sophie that her room has the red bear. When we arrived, there was no seat for Sophie because we had only just started registration. We squatted in a corner and listened to the teacher. I looked around and was shocked to see how young the kids looked. For a moment it felt like we had found the wrong class. Sophie was so much bigger and older-looking! I guess she might be nearly a year older than some of the kids, and she has been ready for this for probably two years. Anyhow, she seemed fine, and truly excited to start.

This weekend we got all Sophie’s school supplies and waited for the birth certificate. On Monday we still waited. I faxed the order again, since we weren’t 100% sure Kevin’s fax went through. What would I do if the first day came and there was no certificate? Since she already had a class and teacher, part of me wanted to just show up with her and hope for the best.

Well, the first day came, and I decided to take her, and just go in and beg. I brought the fax transmission with me so they could see that I was trying. I had a little bit of anxiety over the arrival part, because they had tried to warn us about how nasty the traffic is getting in and out. Unfortunately, that was the part I couldn’t hear during the orientation. I left plenty early and hoped for the best. Looking back, I am lucky I left that early, because I waited in line 20 minutes before I got near the front door. As we got closer my fear doubled, however, because I realized the line I was in had no option to park or even stop. Staff members were approaching each car and assisting the kids out! I wasn’t even going to be able to help my baby in on her first day! Ahhhhh! Before I knew it, a man was opening our car door and saying, “Hi sweetie! Ready for your first day?” (Hey, I am supposed to say that!) Sophie jumped down as I stared after her and glanced at the fax transmission on the passenger seat. Crap. “Bye Sophie, I love you!” I yelled after her. Would they turn her out on her ear? The cars were moving again and there was nothing I could do. I would have to hope they wouldn’t realize, then ask themselves, “What kind of mom would just drop her kid on the first day, knowing she is not fully registered? Then drive off?” I know. I didn’t understand I was in THAT line of cars. I certainly would have done it differently if I had known. So Juby and I turned around (easier said than done) and parked at a neighboring business. The walk was short but we were both sweating already on the heat. High of 106 that day.

When we made it to the office I showed the manager the transmission and she said it was fine. Just bring it in as soon as it arrives, she said. Phew! Plus, I think she thought Juby was the kid in question. Lucky for me it looked like I hadn’t sent my kid in there after all! Ha ha. We passed the guy who had helped Sophie out of the car on our way out. I will never forget what he said. “Boy, that little lady practically leaped out of the car! I tried to help her find her class but she told me ‘no thanks, I remember.’ I watched her go anyhow, to be sure. She didn’t bat an eye. I swear she’ll be teaching the class soon!” My baby was not a baby anymore. It was all too much. Juby and I decided we needed a “feel better” breakfast as a reward.

Of course, while we were feeling better and stuffing our faces, the birth certificate arrived at our place. They couldn’t leave it there because it was “sensitive.” Some days you can’t win.

However, Sophie LOVED school and didn’t seem one bit phased by the long day. Go figure. I guess I’d rather she have the smooth day, not me. Maybe this was a winner of a day after all!