Bye Bye Hope Preschool!

Last Wednesday was Benjamin's last day as a Cardinal at Hope Preschool. It was highlighted with an ice cream social that parents and siblings were invited to so Samuel and I joined him in his classroom that day. He was excited about two things that day more than anything... he got to bring in the "Surprise Bag" (which meant he got to choose something from home and bring it in so the other kids could guess what was in the bag by giving clues as to what it smells like, tastes like, sounds like, etc.). And he also got to be the weather person that day! It was a great way for him to wind up his school year.

This was his second year at Hope and he enjoyed just about every minute. The week before school was out this year he cried a little bit one day on the ride home. He was upset that the school year was coming to an end and that he wouldn't see his Cardinal friends any more.

Benjamin enjoyed his class routine this year and learned so much more than I could have ever imagined! I can remember back to the first day of school when he came home excited that he learned how to write the letter "B". And he could. So, I was impressed with his teachers (Mrs. Nickles and Mrs. Snegosky) this year from day 1! Now, he can write his name like a champ (well, the letter "J" is usually backwards but we're working on it!) and he can write just about all the letters of the alphabet as well as many numbers. He has learned quite a bit of Spanish... numbers, calendar, etc. He even learned how to say a prayer in sign language. (As I sit here now, he is writing a math problem on a chalk board... "1+2=3"). Some days he was coming home from school teaching me a thing or two!

So, where does Benjamin go from here? Well, Benjamin's birthday is September 28 and if we were staying here, in the state of Virginia, we would have to decide if he would go onto kindergarten or enjoy another year of preschool (the VA school cutoff is September 30 so he just makes it). A few months ago at the parent teacher conference, his teacher evaluated him and recommended that he would benefit from another year of preschool. (Although, since that conference I feel as though he's made leaps and bounds of progress! She did say he exhibited some of the youngest behavior in his class... well, he was, indeed, the youngest.)

So, onto Germany... the cut off date there for kindergarten on post schools is September 1. Decision made. He will not be able to attend kindergarten for another year. When Don was in Heidelberg a couple of months ago he stopped by the child development center and picked up some information regarding the on post preschool programs. Registration doesn't start until July and we hope to get him into a 5 day program there. We shall see.

We are looking forward to many great things from Benjamin. He is such a witty, kind and caring boy whose memory always amazes me. We are so proud of him in so many ways and are thankful for the foundation that Hope Preschool has help lay for him academically and socially.