Paddle To The Sea....

Seb's class have been reading the book "Paddle to The Sea" over the last few weeks. It's about the adventures of a little carved wooden canoe called Paddle who journeys along a river from central Canada making his way towards the sea.  To accompany the story and help bring it to life in their imaginations each child carved their own little cottonwood canoe. Last week to celebrate finishing their reading of the story the class decided to have a celebration during which they would each launch their canoes into the Bow River and let them head off on their own adventures and perhaps even make it all the way to sea! The class made colourful felted flags for the parade to the river's edge where Isobel and I and a few other parents joined them for the ceremony. Seb's teacher read an excerpt from the book and Seb and a few others played their recorders while we sang a special song the class had written for the grand occasion. Then one by one, each child launched their boat out into the river and we waved each one off on it's journey. Oh and each canoe had been given a name (Seb named his Sandy) which was written on the bottom of the boat along with the words "please put me back in the water", just to help them along their way. It was all so sweet! Now Seb and I keep talking about where we think Sandy might be now.

First Day of School...

Last week Seb and Bel both started school. They're both at a new school together which is great! Seb started grade 2 and Bel started kindergarten. I cannot get over how grown up Seb looks in these photos! What the heck! Where's my wee little boy gone! 

I am beyond happy that so far they both seem to love their new school. I've been working myself into quite a state about whether or not we are making the right choice in moving Seb from the school he's been at for the past two years. In my heart I feel that the new school will fit him better and hopefully  encourage him to enjoy the experience of learning rather than being stressed and worried as he so often seemed to be before. On his first day I asked him what his favourite part of his day had been and he answered "everything!" You can't get much better than that can you! 

His first day also meant his first proper trip on the school bus, Neil rode with him on the way there and he made the trip home all by himself. Since then he's been riding the bus everyday and has been happy as a sand boy :) ( Getting to the bus on time in the morning is proving to be quite the challenge for me though!)

Miss Bel's first day at Kindergarten couldn't have gone any smoother. She's with many friends from her Shooting Stars Pre-school group and the rhythm of their days are very similar too so she felt at home right away. So much so that she barely looked back at me when I dropped her off! She will be riding the bus with Seb every morning starting later this week and I'll be collecting her from the school as she finishes a little earlier than he does. 

I was so nervous about everything changing and how they'd both react, I can't tell you how much of a relief it is for things to have started off so well for both of them!