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Ali Edwards Design Inc.
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Edwards' Family Field Trip

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We were up and out early this morning for a tour of Simon's kindergarten.


WOW.Kindergarten. Can hardly believe that is coming up next.


Simon will be in a full-day kindergarten program at one of the local elementary schools (full day kindergarten is not the norm in Oregon - there are maybe three schools in our area that offer full day programs).
He will participate in the "regular" room with kids in the morning
(including the bulk of academics, lunch, recess, etc ) and then spend a
couple hours in the afternoon in a classroom focused on language,
social skills, etc. Full day around here is basically 8am to 1:30pm.


Simon was a superstar. He was excited once we got in the door - I think he could sense this was going to be an ok place (as soon as we clarified more than a couple times that he did not have to say "goodbye" to mommy and daddy at this school today). We met his special ed teacher and she showed us all around the school and told us more about the program: the schedule, the teachers, the classrooms, etc. We visited the kindergarten room, said hi to his teacher & the kids, checked out the cubbies, the tables, the globes ("earths"), the "storybooks,"etc. Much of it was set up just like his current classroom which will definitely help with the transition.


Simon was super chatty throughout the tour. He especially loved the blocks of color on the tile floor ("just like a rainbow"), the library, and a big fish tank in the lobby. When the teacher asked him if he wanted to see the lunch room he responded with a very enthusiastic "yeah."


My first impression of this school: it is ALIVE.


It has been years and years since I have been in an elementary school, but man, this place was full of color and kids and numbers and books and windows (and light) and LIFE. There were kids and teachers all over the place but it was not chaotic, nor was it closed off and sterile.


It felt progressive and open and inclusive and happy. And I like that.


As I walked through I was thinking to myself how very thankful I am for the early intervention services that Simon has received over the last few years. They have been instrumental in getting him ready to head to kindergarten. He understands the basics of a classroom and picture schedules and snack/lunch time and play time. And he is working hard everyday on interacting with the other kids (the social and the language are probably his two biggest issues).


I am so excited for him - especially after visiting the school today and seeing his response. I know it will be a big transition, but man, what a ride.


A couple other things on this Monday morning:
1. Have you seen Meet The Robinson's yet? When Paolo was here we took Simon and it was AWESOME. Great movie, great message. All about "keep moving forward." Totally an underrated, delightful gem for adults as well as kids.


2. Daily schedule update. After my post yesterday I worked on making one up for myself on a spreadsheet - talk about a TASK. Have you ever sat down and really written out everything you do every day (or things that come up each week) and tried to organize it into some sort of structured system? I realized just how long it has been since I wrote all my personal tasks (both life & work together on one document) - seeing it on my computer screen was a quite an awakening. I feel a bit more confident as I move forward today that I am setting myself up for success.

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