School Starts

Today is the start of the school new academic year. Chloe is in Year 1 and Lucas is in Year 3. Things are easy today because classes start at 10am. The teachers were giving orientation to the new students.
Tomorrow, it will be 7.40am. Early morning for all of us now.

Lucas is in Year 3 and is considered independent enough to buy his own food from the canteen. In the last 4 years, the parents paid for the meal plan and the kids got fed for breakfast and dinner. No fuss on what food to pack or how much the kids should take to school. So, yesterday, we had to strategize what to do with his meals. We tried to find a hidden pocket inside his school bag so that he can keep some emergency cash. In case he lose his wallet, he still have some cash stashed. Then we talked about when he wants to bring food and when he wants to buy from the canteen. The school has cash card system. Parents can buy pre-loaded value card and the kids just swipe it in the canteen. Cashless. We thought he should handle cash so that he knows how much he spent and the value of the food he buys. Today, I packed him cheese sandwich and gave him RM10 (US$3.30). I told him he can only buy 100 plus once a week, french fries once a week. He can't buy those food everyday. When he came back from school, he said he can't find the cheese sandwich in his school bag (??). So he bought a sandwich from the canteen and a packet of juice. He said he waited 20 mins for pay for his food and spent RM5.50. We told him he can keep the change in his piggy bank and that would be his savings. Tomorrow, I will pack him some fish ball and rice and will give him RM4. I do not want him to buy packet drinks or soft drink everyday. Such are the extra work I have to do - think of what to pack for him for his meal. If he has his way, he will buy french fries and 100 plus everyday.
Then I asked what did you do in school today? He said he spent 4 hours unpacking his stuff to the locker and drawers. On the first day of school, the kids bring ALL the books and stationary. All these will be left in the classroom and never brought home until the last day of school. The only book the children bring home is the planner i.e. the communication between the teachers and parents, and homework in folder.

Chloe is in Year 1. It is a 'big' building and the kids are no longer be cuddly molly by the teachers. My only reservation is the toilet is outside the classroom. In early years, the toilet is inside the classroom and the teachers can keep an eye on them all the time. She said she went to the toilet once today and she forgot to tuck her shirt in. Other than the toilet, I have no reservation. They are escorted everywhere by the teacher - to canteen, to library, to computer room, to PE, to pick-up points. When I asked her what did she do today, she said she was putting all her stationary in the cubby hole. Oh..she said all the children had to go to the auditorium and was welcome by the principal.

At the end of every year, the teacher asked them to write 5 friends whom they would like to be together for next year. This girl is the one of the 5 names Chloe chose.

In Year 1, Lucas chose these 3 friends of his to be with him but none was selected. Skip a year. these 4 good friends are together in Year 3. Lucas is very happy.

Waiting for 10am and had a snack in the canteen. I showed Lucas how to buy food just to make sure he knows what to do. Actually, it was unnecessary worry. The teacher queued with them and guide them when buying food.