FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!

My goodness Alex is all grown up and starting pre-school. Unbelievable! He is attending a private school that is (usually) in Cleveland Park (across Rock Creek Park from us). The school is actually right actually across the street from Alex's friend Lila's house. Right now the school is undergoing a lot of construction, adding space to classrooms etc. The playground at NCRC is amazing (pics from the easter egg hunt and a bunch of parties are from that playground).

The school is great- Alex is in the afternoon Beehive class from 1230pm-330pm. His friend Lila is in his class. During consruction, the school is temporarily located in Glen Echo, so instead of a school building, its more of a campus in a former amusement park. Most of the structures are used for the arts now- puppet theatres, art studios, photography, pottery, dance etc. It's actually a great setting- a schlepp from where we live so we actually stay up there while Alex is in class. We bring work/reading with us- its actually incredibly productive!

We started car-pooling with another classmate of Alex's who lives a few blocks away- Melanie (parents Carolyn and Pat) really nice family.

Alex is going through lot of separation anxiety but he really enjoys school a lot. A few times he hasn't wanted to come home- usually what he says is that he wants us to "stay in school with him for a long time" or that he wants to "go to a school that's for parents AND kids". 8) He likes to play the teacher at home and show us how to do things, tell us to share and helps us do things. We're so pleased with it! And of course, the cute art projects... On the 26th is a back to school night where we the parents will get to see from the teachers and staff what is going on etc... we're looking forward to it!
**not all of these pictures are from the first day, though all are from the first week**

Crossing the bridge from the parking lot to the school "campus"alex having lunch before his first day of school!

all of us had a picnic lunch

the building housing alex's classroom

going up the stairs to Alex's classroom

The view from his classroom window
(the building says candy corner... glad he can't read yet!)

Alex's classroom. The bulletin board says welcome beehivers!
There's a little bee with the name of each kid (I thought I took a picture of it but I can't find it) and underneath are all their bags with their names, a picture of a beehive and they hang them up every day in a peg with their name. A plastic bin with a change of clothes for each of them underneath. Sooooo cute.

going to the playground

Alex cried a lot the first few days of school but did well when he walked around with some of the aides/resource people. They would read and play games and walk around with different kids when they were upset. Here he is walking around with another kid in his class- Zane, on the second day of school.

Peter and Rory on the school campus

Beehivers at the playground

Lila and Alex

coming down the hill for the end of day pick-up- alex, lila, miss Cayne, not sure about the other two- Molly and Anya?

Here comes Lila!

Sitting on the bench waiting to sing the goodbye song and going home with parents
lila and alex looks tired

melanie (alex carpools with her) and alex

lila, melanie and alex

At the end of the day, all the beehivers sit on the benches and sing their good-bye song.
Then one of the teachers of aides takes their hand and
"hands them off" to whomever is picking them up.

Alex gets very excited to see us waiting for him at the bridge!

Alex watched Finding Nemo- here he is excitedly saying first day of school!