school – David & LaReita Berky

Samuel’s first day of “preschool”

Well, it really isn’t preschool, just a playgroup between 5 moms on Tues/Thursdays. We’ll take a turn hosting at each of our houses. Anthony is really excited that I’m going to be a preschool teacher (as he always talks about how this is what he wants to do).

The first “official” day of the playgroup (August 25th), I wasn’t even able to be there (I was at another funeral). But my sister Lynette dropped him off for me. He did really well! Marched right into the house with no shyness. He knew at least one of the other kids there, so it was no problem. This picture was taken the 2nd week, at another house. But same friends! This 2nd week, he even wrote some of his name! That was VERY exciting, and he was quite pleased with himself too!

We are calling this his preschool because he has just been so lonely for his brothers when they are all of at their school. Last year he would run crying after James and Anthony when they would leave in the morning for school. One time Samuel even got his backpack on and started going out the door as well. That time I indulged him and we went and sat in the back of James’ class for about 15 minutes and read stories. When I told him it was time to go, he began to get very distressed. He wanted to be with his brothers! Fortunately the teacher intervened and gave him some crayons and paper to put in his backpack for ‘homework’. But it didn’t appease him enough. I still had to carry Samuel out of the school, nearly kicking and screaming.

Oh how I hope that he will continue to want to be in school once he gets there! Though it really is his love of his brothers. He wakes up in the morning saying, “where’s guys?” or “Where are my brothers?” Today in the store he began freaking out because dad went down another aisle, and Samuel couldn’t see him. Oh, how he loves his dad and brothers!

Benjamin’s 1st day of Kindergarten

Here's Benjamin going into his classroom!

Benjamin was a little nervous the 2 days before going to Kindergarten. But the morning before he kept asking over and over, “Is it time yet?” “How much longer?” “Now is it time?” I almost didn’t get him there on time because our district has different schedules on Wednesdays. But we made it in time, and he was not at all nervous. Most all of his pre-school class is in his afternoon Kindergarten class. So he already knows about half of the kids in there. He has the same teacher that Anthony had, so that also makes it easier as well.

He came running out of his class, with big smiles! He is definitely excited to be in school!

Anthony’s last day of 1st grade

Anthony really wanted to wear his Tiger Scout uniform on his last day of school. Sure, Why Not?

In Anthony’s last day of 1st grade, he got the “Bionicle Builder” Award because he was always talking about his Bionicle creations that he does at home. And even brought a few too to show his class.

Dad’s & Donuts

Reading at Larsen Elementary for "Dad's and Donuts."

The school has a program every semester (I think) where the dad’s are invited to come and read to their children in the classroom. Children seeing their father read is supposed to greatly increase the odds that children will also be readers, and continued learners. Having the boys see dad reading isn’t a problem at all. Though we could probably improve on spending time reading with them. Sometimes at night during story time, one of us (the parents) fall asleep mid-story. Then in the morning the child who was jipped with the story, insists that their book is finished that very morning.

At this particular Dad’s and Donuts we arrived a bit late (goodness, that’s something else we need to work on). So by the time it was time to get a donut, they were all gone. And when they were reading, they were kicked out of the room. Well, not literally, but were encouraged to leave to go get some donuts. Which had run out.