FROM BULLDOGS TO BEARS

The kids are changing schools this year! They've gone from SouthPark Bulldogs to Bowmar Bears!

 Third time's a charm! This was our 3rd year applying to Bowmar Magnet School, and while we didn't make it in (as usual) during the random draw (harder every year due to very few vacancies in the upper grades - your best chance here is always kindergarten, which we missed for James because we didn't want our kids in different schools that year), we got lucky mid-summer when a couple of families left (one moved away, another just moved their kids to private school), leaving a vacancy for a white 2nd grade female and a white 3rd grade male (yes, they must keep this school balanced evenly by race and gender). Every year there are a few vacancies in the upper grades, but they are usually filled by siblings of younger kids who are already Bowmar students. We have used every contact and influence we have to try and squeeze our way in the past few years, and whether or not our efforts made the difference this year or we just got really lucky, who knows. And who cares? We're in, and that means we have at least 4 more years of public school (maybe more, if we can get into the Academy of Innovation junior high). Which means a lot to our finance situation and goal to become debt-free (and stay debt-free)!

When we arrived at orientation, we checked the lists at the doors to find out which classes we were in, signed up for our Car Rider number (they're trying out a new system this year where you text your number as you get into the pick-up line so that kids can stay in their classrooms and work on homework, rather than sit around in the auditorium waiting on their parents), and were escorted up to the 3rd grade classrooms (yes, James is upstairs this year, and Cora is jealous - though her classroom is right below his, so they'll be close throughout the day, not that they'll likely see each other much).

 They both have a few kids they know in their classes from Daycamp, soccer, dance, and Scouts. Living in a small town means you're always going to know someone, no matter where you go. We often tease that the kids know more people in town than we do, since they're so social. If only they introduced themselves and asked for their "new best friends" names... They were both bummed to find out their best friends at Bowmar are not in their classes (Coltin for James, Cara Beth for Cora), but we're not too bummed - hopefully they will be that much more focused during class. Besides, they'll see them at recess and lunch and special areas anyway.

James' homeroom teacher, Mrs. Smith, has been teaching at Bowmar for 20 years. She is the 3rd Grade ELA teacher. James will spend a little over half his day with her, and a couple hours with the Math and Science teacher, Mrs. Sorrels. Both 3rd Grade teachers are happily not assigning much homework. (I hear there was a LOT last year, so perhaps backlash against it has provoked the changes for this year?) He will only have 10 minutes of ELA review each day, and similar "optional" Math homework (it is not required or graded, but will be reviewed, and if completed will earn him points towards an ice cream party and other prizes). Mrs. Smith's room is cozy and welcoming, and her favorite color is purple (which James thinks is great since that's my favorite color). Her first impression showed me a calm, caring personality that I think will be a perfect match for James. Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Sorrels each have 23 students. James had to get real binders this year, one for each classroom, and he'll have to learn to pack up and take his belongings with him as he changes classrooms each day (and try not to lose things). He'll have a computer to use in each classroom (where they will play games, do reviews, take tests, and complete all their Leader in Me lessons), so Computer is not a special area at Bowmar. We are feeling really excited about the changes he'll have this year, the organization of the teachers (they gave PowerPoint presentations to the parents, and included all their contact information and some fun tidbits about themselves so we could get to know them better), and honestly, even the fact that their classrooms have entire walls of windows to let in natural light! (SouthPark Elementary is in a really weird old building where half the classrooms are interior with zero windows, and the rest of them only had a few little windows way up near the ceiling.)

 Cora's teacher, Mrs. Njiti, has been teaching at Bowmar for 12 years. She has a Carribbean accent and a fun loving attitude, and I loved her immediately! She has both a Bachelor's and Master's, and is National Board certified. Her classroom is bright and cheerful! Cora has 26 students in her class. She will only have 5-8 minutes of homework each day, assigned on Monday and not due until Friday (which is perfect for her busy soccer, Scouts, and 5-class dance schedule).

The thing that the kids are most excited about this year is that Bowmar has a STEM lab (Science Technology Engineering and Math). When we told them about it last month, James asked incredulously "I can do Science EVERY DAY?!" It's a special area, so it will actually be once per week, but he will have Science lessons every day in Mrs. Sorrels class. They are both excited about having a gymnasium for PE classes when it's raining (and so are we - no more dancing to videos next to their desks on inclement weather days). Cora is excited to get to go straight to Girl Scout meetings after school and not have to be 20-30 minutes late (always missing snack time). As parents, we're most excited about the school's reputation and "grade" (Bowmar always scores at the top of the Vicksburg public schools), the STEM lab, the well established Leader in Me program (we noticed immediately the wall displays in each classroom where students are assigned different tasks to be in charge of each week - responsibility is a great thing to instill in young kids), the availability of a gymnasium AND auditorium, the art and music teachers (who we know to be especially talented and creative - they are classes that both James and Cora really enjoy), the amount of parent involvement freely given (both through the PTO and just in general - school hasn't even started and I've already seen an enormous amount of positive involvement by parents on the school's Facebook page), the security measures in place for the building and the students' safety, and the organization that is so on-point. We have a great feeling about this year and literally can't wait to get it started next week!

 (It was late by the time we left orientation - we were there from 5-6pm for James and 6-7pm for Cora, so we stopped by Martin's for dinner on the way home and enjoyed a fun game of Scrabble while we waited on our sandwiches.)