It is official! The first week of Kindergarten has come to a successful end! Whew!

It was a week of many "firsts", but we made it. The first week in the cafeteria we had our "Big Buddies" from 5th grade help us. Fun times for them and less nerves for the Kinder crowd. Breakfast in the classroom is always fun too! (Ha)

At this time we have 16 new friends, but our school has not had the after Labor Day crowd arrive yet, so there is always the possibility of more to come. Friday was our first spirit day and this year all the students had the advantage of purchasing the new Grizzly t-shirt (we call it the year of the happy motorcycle motif). We all looked really "cool dude"! Friday is fun hat day and Kinder dance club on the patio. So to end the week with some fun activities is always a plus. Next week....Teddy Bear picnic. Each child, each day, success!

BACK TO SCHOOL

Have you seen the Staples commercial? The Dad is dancing in the aisles and the children are dragging along so very sad, they can't even look at the school supplies. Guess what? I can relate to those children! It is the cutest commercial, but O, O, O, O, O no more late night movies---I've got to get up early. I can already hear those new grizzlies growling to come to Kindergarten. We have staff development Wednesday and Thursday with "Sneak A Peak" on Friday (that's where you come see your teacher scrambling around to make your classroom the best one on the block) while greeting you and your grown-up. The school has been a buzz for quite some time with all those dedicated teachers sweating in the Texas heat. That would be me as the air conditioner decided today was the day to say, "no way, you can't make me"! Lucky for me all my hall friends left their doors open so a fan could push their cool air my way. Whew what a way to start the new year. This too shall pass. Decorations, disinfecting, and table washing must go on! So as I have the picture of that Dad sailing across the aisle on his shopping cart with a HUGE smile on his face ---- I have got to go to bed!

continued Kinder cuties

Three days of district staff development - check

Now ready to go to Grizzly land and sort books, get name tags, student "tool boxes" loaded and see new Grizzly t-shirts - tomorrow a check

Saw an excited ready to be a Kindergarten student in the teacher's store today and heard the cutest conversation when she saw a teacher that her Mom teaches with..."Guess what? I'm ready for school, I get to go 'cause now I'm tall!" Once again a heart warmer! I so needed that after three days of information.

Soon there will be Grizzly Growlings from the Class of 2009/10.

I am feeling like an expectant mother with that "nesting" feeling--you know got to clean it up, get it ready, sort it out. I have been elbow deep in listening to some neglected cd's and making big books to go along with them. Rodney and I made a trip to Grizzly land to shampoo my circle rug, unstack furniture, move tables, and see the new painting. The school looks amazing. However, who thought WHITE WALLS would be a good idea for an elementary school?! I guess zip ties would be out of the question for all those inquisitive hands. (really I'm kidding) Seems like all that packed up stuff swells and there is no place to put it and of course schools do not have storage for teachers. Monday begins three days of teacher inservice so I guess the rest of the week I'll begin room preparation in earnest and then the next week all the "magic" happens--campus inservice and classroom readiness. As an old friend once told me, "they're coming, ready or not"! I'm thinking it's time to get ready!