Back to School

We had been warned that the first week back to school typically involves searingly hot weather of 100 degrees plus F, and this week started out to be no exception. Early Monday morning we drove Katie to her first day at Presbyterian Ladies College Senior School for the beginning of Year 7, and by the time we left around 10am, the mercury was well on its way to the predicted high of 104. We are most grateful for an air conditioning unit in our kitchen, as well as an additional wall unit upstairs. The two of them together manage to keep most rooms in the house fairly comfortable. Tuesday was equally as hot, but fortunately both days we experienced the cool change predicted by evening. Tuesday's drop of nearly 30 degrees F around 3:30pm was especially dramatic.

There are all the expected mixtures of emotions as we have sent three children to school this week. I blogged last spring about sending our firstborn off to school for the first time, but that was a bit different than sending three. Sophie has been so excited, however, that in many ways it was a relief when the big day finally came. Cameron was not quite so sure about the prospect, but came home yesterday full of enthusiasm.

Here is Katie in her summer uniform:

The girls just about to enter the school gates on Tuesday, the first official day of school at Presbyterian Ladies College:

We met Sophie's teacher on Monday, and she was extremely kind to Sophie, telling her several times not to worry about anything at all, but just to ask if she had a question or needed help.

Cameron's uniform is not quite so elaborate, much to his relief, and much to my relief, it was half the price of the girls'. He was supposed to be wearing navy socks, but we both got mixed up. He wears white with his physical education uniform twice a week, but navy with the regular uniform.

He really didn't want me to take the following picture, so I put the camera away and didn't embarrass him inside the classroom. Cameron has a young male teacher, very friendly, who fits my stereotype of an Australian surfer almost exactly. He promised to do all he could to help Cameron adjust to a new school, and in fact, as Cameron entered the classroom for the first time, the other students addressed him by name and began to show him around the school.

If I had any doubts as to whether Cameron enjoyed his first day, they were completely dispelled this morning. I gave him permission to walk ahead of me just to make sure he knew the way, and he started off at a trot before I could even say good-bye. I realized we weren't likely to catch up to him so James and I jumped in the car and followed, but he still made it inside the school gates before we arrived.

Comments

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Great photos! I like the summer dresses. I am so glad they all had such a nice first day. I hope you rediscover lots of hobbies and activities as you enjoy having just James around. Enjoy each day of peace and quiet!

Posted by: Suzanne Pannelle | 02/03/2011 at 11:35 AM