Aussie Fridays: First Day of School in Australia

I should really be writing today about how I've been having mixed emotions with back to school today. Sunshine is off to her second year of high school, not a week after she returned from her month long overseas holiday and only really recovered from jet lag yesterday.

Today though was a big day in our household, because after 5 and a half years of having him with me everyday, talking a hind leg off a donkey...the little man has officially started primary school. And I wasn't a sobbing mess...

Running to school...well he hardly really walks anyway

Why? Because I was far too excited for him! The hardest part for me? Getting up early.

He has been patiently waiting for this day forever. He has been so ready for this day for months now and today was finally the day that we have all been preparing for. As with all kids he's brain is like a sponge wanting to absorb as much info as possible. Constantly asking questions...some of which I have to do internet searches to find the answer (what we we do without Google??)...and telling me about how ants know if another ant is from the same nest. 

If the little man had started school in September 2011 as he would have had we stayed in the UK, for the first few weeks it would have been a staggered intake. A few hours here and there either morning or afternoon for the first few weeks and only by about wk 4 would it be everyday for the full school day.

There was a slight staggered intake this morning. New preps who already have a sibling at school started at 9am. Those, like the little man, started at 9:30am. All finished at 2pm. For Monday and Tuesday next week, they all start at 9am and finish at 2pm.

Bag in cubicle and all ready to learn...

For the month of February there is no school for the preps on a Wednesday. This is because each child needs to do maths and literacy testing to see what program best suits them individually. 

Then from next Thursday 9th, it's school everyday (apart from Wednesday's in Feb) for the full school day.

I had fully intended to come home today and wallow in the silence...little man doesn't stop talking...but then I got a text inviting all us mum's to Sheridan's house to celebrate the 1st day. There was champagne and strawberries (yeah I know...drinking at 10am...a shocker!!)...pikelets with jam and cream, fruit platters, jaffa cake, chocolates...where would you rather be?

So all in all a fantastic first day to the start of the school year. When asked if he enjoyed it and wanted to go again on Monday, he said yes. Right answer my boy!! However, his friend said no, and could they go to the museum instead! 

BTW...ants smell each other with their antenna to see if they belong to the same nest. You learn something new every day. Unless you already knew that and didn't actually learn anything from that. 

Did you know then that deer flies flap their wings 200 times per second? Did you even know that there was a thing called a deer fly?

Have a fantastic weekend!

Robyn x