a SCHOOL update

I realized I have not written much about one of our common, daily-ish experiences here in Tokyo - school! In fact, I think the last time I wrote a post on it was Blue's first day back in August.

Blue started out attending Willowbrook on M/W/F in the mornings but he never really settled in. We spent a couple months trying to see if anything improved and working with the teachers and staff to analyze changes we could all make. During the process, I started looking at other options nearby and found a school that I thought would be a better fit for all of us. So in late November we moved Blue to Ohana International School - still three mornings a week but in a block together T/W/Th. At Willowbrook, because of strict birthday cutoffs, Blue was one of the oldest kids in a class of quiet, mild Japanese-speaking kids who were still learning their colors in English. At Ohana, he is back being one of the youngest in a mixed-age class with kids from a variety of backgrounds. The school is younger and smaller which suits us. And the teachers are great.

 

Wasn't too happy about a picture on her first day - it was really cold!

We decided to send Wiley along too after we got back from our Christmas travel and she has really loved it. She is the youngest in her 18m-3y class as well and the teachers and assistants in her class really watch out for her. She is a natural little student. She walks into her room each morning with no fuss carrying her own backpack. She comes home singing songs and knowing her classmates names.

For all of Blue's occasional protesting regarding school, he has made had some great accomplishments over the past few months. He now does a beautiful job writing his first and last name and the school lunches (and his teacher's consistent encouragement) have really expanded his palette. Either that or he is finally hungry enough to want to clean his plate. I think both factors are working together quite nicely.

There are still factors that no school in Tokyo can overcome. Outdoor time is limited and restricted. They walk to the park when it is nice but the experience is light-years away from running around and exploring the amazing outdoor space at our school in Texas. And nothing beats seeing your grandmother each day at school... But we are really happy to have found a place where the kids are growing and thriving.