Thursday, September 18, 2014

More new beginnings


We reluctantly said goodbye to a fab summer - ending on a high note in Minnesota & with a 'grand finale day' at 6 Flags….


The new school year kicked off with mixed enthusiasm & a forced front stoop photo….


One month in, what have we found?…... 


There are some fab schools in this city
All 3 kids consolidated into another new school this fall

The school is FAB & we're super excited to be there:

As a Creative Arts school they often take non-traditional, interesting approaches to typical subjects…shown painting in math class

And no plain, dingy halls in this joint…

They have weekly Community Meetings where X recently read his poem about California

And - even live animals in after care

That said, it did mean they all had to be 'new kids' once again.  


Fur DOES buy happiness
How to offset anxiety?  Soviet style - with fur….
Meet our new Russian dwarf hamster - purchased day 2 of school.    I wanted to name her Putin, but the kids protested - introducing 'Hazel'


Making your own rules is encouraged….
The kids' school subscribes to a "Responsive Classroom" philosophy - where kids are included in creating the rules.  

Some examples from Grade 2….


This 'make your own rules' mentality is contagious
Clearly the message has gotten out beyond the walls of the schools.    My favorite, recent sightings of 'doing it my way'….
A dancer on the corner not far fom us...

A dude casually walking about town on a Sunday afternoon...

(Forgive the photo quality - was so busy processing what we saw, I didn't have time to get the window down)
Uopn closer look…
(Yes - totally naked x-a sock like cover for his willy + sensible shoes & man bag)


New can be exhausting
While the bus comes just 2 blocks away, they are a steep 2 blocks….  
(waiting for the bus)

And by Friday, everyone's pretty limp…



Here's to the 'outside of the box' fostered at school & prevelant in SF - and a special hats off to all the teachers who help lead them there