Yes, that's right, the boys are starting Kindergarten in a couple of weeks. Even cooler? The teen is entering high school. It's going to be a fun year, I can tell already. And I am saying that only half sarcastically. I got the first taste of what the year will be like today, when we went to the high school to pick up schedules and fill out the requisite pile of paperwork generated by my daughter's peanut/shellfish/tetanus allergies.
First, it took threats of banishment from the computer to get Bobby to get dressed and ready to go out the door. The rest of us were actually looking forward to going out and getting the school stuff done, but not him. He was, variously, "too tired to get dressed", "hungry", "thirsty", and "too tired to do anything except play on the computer." His exact words, not mine. Eventually, we got him out the door, and the adventure officially began.
Upon arrival at the high school, you first have to show that you have your "fast pass", which proves that you went online and registered your child in the district for the year. OK, done. Great, we get to go down the hallway directly to the health office check in. And here we encounter hitch #1. The boys do not appear on the list held by the ladies at the check in, so we are diverted to the conference room off to the side along with other parents/kids that have medical issues to resolve. Once inside, we go up to the first desk, and are asked if any child has a medical condition. Well, yes. Those dang allergies. A packet of about 10 pages of information magically appears in front of me, and we are ushered off to a table so that I can fill out paperwork about Grace's allergies until my eyes cross, my hand goes numb, and Bobby nearly goes ballistic with boredom. Who would have thought Bobby to be a "two-percenter" already at Kindergarten? At least Carl was able to self-entertain by adhering all five of his "I'm a Registered Hippo" stickers to the front of his shirt, then to the table, then wad them up and stuff them under the table when I wasn't looking. Grace was bored, but she is used to the process, and bears it well.
Paperwork done, back to the desk. Please, lady, sign off on the fast passes so we can go to the next step. Nope, of course not. We have to go to another desk to confirm immunization records have been received and are up to date. At least all the lines have been short. Grace? Yep, she's covered, and her fast pass is initialed. Woo-hoo! But, ho? What is this? Neither boy appears on this list, either!!! I inform the lady with the list that I emailed their immunizations to the health office over the summer, and received confirmation emails in return. "Oh, ok. Probably just a printing error, let me check." The wait for this is longer than the wait in any line so far, but yes! Success! The boys' passes are initialed, and we are on our way.
Next challenge - fee management. So, the boys are brand new to the district, no prob. They are initialed, and ready to proceed. Grace, however, needs to be checked. Not sure what for, as they said library fines won't show up in the system. Whatever. She's clean. We're moving at lightspeed now! ;)
Passing through the doors to the cafeteria, we reach the real excitement - lines for each school where schedules can be picked up. Hurray!! But first we are intercepted by a nice young man (Grace tells me he's a teacher from her school last year), who informs us that we need to go to the opposite end of the cafeteria to turn in the fast passes and provide proof of residency. Yeah, I've got this covered. A polite conversation about twins while the lady makes three copies - one to attach to each pass - and records in her computer that we are legit, and we are through with all the requirements.
Onward to the schedules!!! As we cross the hallway, a nice young lady hands me an application to volunteer/donate/register our household for Orange Santa. That's this town's big charitable Christmas thing where needy families are provided with winter coats, turkey dinners, and gifts for the kiddos. Nice to see them start on this early, actually. I never seem to hear about it until Thanksgiving, after everything is in full swing.
Ah, yes, the schedules. There were tables set up for each school. None had much of a backlog, so we went to the high school table first. (Personal note: Grace wishes it to be known that what was already a bleak experience for her was about to become even bleaker.) We walked up, stated her name, and were given a piece of paper listing all her classes. We also picked up a copy of the dress code, cell phone policy, and a flyer for the Freshman Orientation. As we turned to walk away, Grace notices there is no lunch period. Then we see there are no times or teacher names. Turning back, we ask about this. Oh, no, this isn't the schedule. She won't get that until the first day of school.
Can anyone tell us the point of this???
Deep breath, and onward to the elementary school table. This is where my burning question of the summer will be answered. Will the boys have the same teacher, or not? If so, what hoops will I have to jump through to get this changed? The anticipation is killing me!!
Bobby's form is pulled, and he has been assigned to a teacher that has been teaching Kindergarten in the district for at least 12 years - a friend's daughter, now a Senior, had her for Kindergarten. This is good news, as far as teacher selection is concerned. Even if they both end up with the same teacher, she's undoubtedly experienced at handling twins in a classroom.
Carl's turn. Huzzah!! The form has a blank where the teacher's name belongs, and the lady at the desk states that he is assigned to a new teacher that just came on, and writes the new teacher's name in on the form. RELIEF. I can feel the tension flowing out of my body as I thank the lady.
Now then, one last thing. But first, no, Bobby, we CAN'T go home yet, and if you ask me again, you are going down for a nap as soon as we do get home. This is really, really getting old. Back to that one thing. Food services (with a quick side-trip to the YMCA table to ask about being able to add in the twins mid-year if I get a job). Each child is assigned a code in Kindergarten, and it goes with them all the way through high school graduation. I've had Grace's memorized for years now. Time to get the codes for the boys. At the food services table, we pick up the elementary menu for August/Sept, as well as the high school menu options for the first week of school. Hey, the high schools kids have LOTS of options! Not that that matters for Grace; she's a picky eater and will likely have pizza or chicken tenders every day.
But I digress. While I'm at the table, they offer me an application for free/reduced lunches. Well, I am still unemployed. Let's see. We have 5 members of the household. He makes this much, I'm pulling that much in unemployment. Nope, we make too much money. One of the ladies tells me, you just need one more kid. YIKES!! No, thank you!!! So, I say that maybe we'll qualify if my unemployment runs out. The other lady says, yes, come back then. I sincerely hope I don't need to do so, but thanks, I'll keep that in mind.
As we are walking away, Grace reminds me that I haven't gotten the boys' codes. Oops. Back to the table. Get the codes. Ah, done. Finally. Yes, Bobby, we can go.
On the way out, we see the high school principal. He was Grace's principal at middle school last year. He greets us, Grace by name, asking if we're ready for school. Grace answers "no," and moves on. I just shrug my shoulders apologetically to him and say "I think that's about all you're going to get out of her this year," then we're gone.
This is done, and Bobby did go down for a nap, though he didn't actually sleep. In two weeks, we have Meet the Teacher night for the boys at 6 pm, and Freshman Orientation at 6:30 pm - same night. Three kids, three different sets of teachers in two different buildings, two parents (assuming Raymond can be home in time to take Grace separately). Anyone have a cloning machine I can borrow?
This year is going to be fun.
