We just moved to a new city - Torrance, CA sometime early September 2014. Torrance is an old city with an oil refinery in it and playing headquarters to Toyota and Honda. Highest Japanese population in US. Lots of beaches and close to LA. Bangalore weather.
Of all the things, Nandan's new school experience was always in the back of my mind. This is because he had a wonderful time in a Montessori school in Plano and coupled with the apartment park, he always had his school friends around 7 days a week. I knew that this can never be recreated anywhere. Hence, the apprehension.
So, found him a school after three weeks. Hickory Tree School. School timing was longer and school was the opposite of Montessori. All the reviews from friends were that it was a great school and kids learn a lot. Comparing to Plano, less space was visible. The classes were diverse though. And the teachers had good experience. Nandan's pre-k teacher is Ms. Marilyn. 44 years of teaching experience.
Three weeks of no friends made Nandan restless and he got all ready for the new school. He entered his class and immediately introduced himself to his teacher. He then went and joined his new class mates (who were sitting in a circle) and went about introducing himself with a "hello, hi...am Nandan". He did all this by himself. Laya went and sat next to him. Nandan introduced her as his sister and gave her a peck. Turned out Laya crying all the way back home saying she wanted to go to school.
I went back to pick him up in the evening. And there were two comments from Ms.Marilyn. He is very talkative. He is not like a kid but like a young adult. The first comment, I knew, was coming. Coming from a Montessori, he is used to doing activities in a group which meant talking a lot. The second comment, I paused and took it in. The teacher went on to say that he asks, explains, talks in a detailed way that kids his age do not do. Ms.Marilyn said that she had never seen a four and half year old kid this way and was adjusting to it.
In his old school, he would come home excited. It was missing here first day. My belief is that he will adapt. His first lessons in life have started not in what his school is teaching, Rather in how he is coping up to change. Every change will add a feather to him and one day he will fly.
