Is Kindergarten For Her or For Me?
Tue, May 11, 2010
Gracie is going to kindergarten in the fall. I am not emotional about her going to school nor do I want to keep her a baby forever. Quite the opposite. I love my girls and I love to see them grow. Seeing who they are becoming and with such anticipation to see where they end up.
The issue is that we have decided to send her to the local public school instead of the high dollar Christian school she attended for pre-school. Keeping her there would be easy. It is a great school. The teachers are loving and the class sizes are small. It is also more than we want to spend this year on school. Perryann is at a Christian High School (and she is staying) and the monthly tuition is as much as my first house payment. It’s a lot. Public is very attractive.
The dilemma. We live in an area where our local school is under par. It has mediocre test scores and did not pass the Adequate Yearly Progress report..never has. The plus: It is close-walking distance- and has a full day kindergarten. Key word – full day.
My solution was to get a transfer to a public school outside our area. It has great test scores and was one of the only schools to actually pass the AYP report…always has. The minus: It is a short drive and a half day kindergarten this coming year. Thought it was full day when I put in for the transfer.
I am selfish. I want her in a full day kindergarten. Not for the extra learning. Not for more socialization. Not because I can’t adjust my schedule. I want her there so I don’t have to parent from 12:30 on. What on earth are we going to do from lunch till bedtime?
So the real dilemma is: Do I send her to the mediocre school so I can have the day to myself? Or do I send her to the better school and suck it up and work on being a great parent and influence on my baby who before I know it will be 16, driving and spending her time on sports and friends…and eventually boys?
I know the answer. But to be honest it was not an easy one. She is going to the half day kindergarten so she can be at a good school. I will, in the meantime, and by meantime I mean now until August 23th, work on selflessness and brush up on good parenting.
Tags: Gracie, Kindergarten
May 11th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
where is she going? We are at Castleview Elementary. We decided to go public too. Figured we would save the money and go year to year…if something is inadequate and we are not satisfied then we can go private if need be. But I love being able to stay home and don’t want to be put in the place where I have to go to work. I hear ya….was hoping for a full day but not happening. It would be cool if they went to the same school. Alcott is really good too. I think you made a good decision…and we were thinking the kids would go to private high schools as well. Guess we will see where we are and what God’s plan is for us once we get there but thats a while away. Hope all is well, have fun with all the end of the year stuff!
May 12th, 2010 at 9:29 am
Hey Robin. She is going to Alcott. Perryann went to Castleview for 4-6 grade and we loved it there. Mr. Brigandi is the best teacher if you have the option to get him. Perryann’s spirit was crushed at her old school k-3rd so we gave public a try and Mr. Brigandi in 4th grade gave her back her joy for school. I was pretty involved in her class and knew all the kids so she did not run into any trouble but there was a tough element there from East side. I hope you love it.
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May 28th, 2010 at 8:34 am
Good decision. The year will go by so fast. And mom and dad are right down the street. Yeah!