You might think if someone comes in the second day of school to register a child, that things would be expedited in order to facilitate the child entering the class as soon as possible, but getting school registration completed hasn’t been quick or easy around here! Dd10 has been the quickest and easiest of everyone so far, though.
On Sunday I took dd10 to the local school to register her. I assumed they’d want to meet her first, and my experience so far trying to contact principals on the phone led me to believe trying to call first and hope for a call back was a waste of time. 🙂 The principal was a lovely woman who speaks some English, which was good for dd since she really doesn’t speak Hebrew at all.
Our meeting went well. One of the first questions was about where she studied previously, and so I told her she was homeschooled. ” What?!” she exclaimed. This is where I briefly explained that we had a private school in our house and I was the teacher for all the kids, for all the subjects. Not my typical explanation but then again, trying to explain the subtleties of a very nuanced decision in Hebrew isn’t something I can do yet, and in any case, this wasn’t the time or place for it.
I’ve repeatedly squashed questions from the many people around here who want to know about it. I’m happy to talk about homeschooling, but not to people who have met me for the first time. My lifestyle isn’t a curiousity or oddity for people to talk about together afterwards in the park, and without knowing who I am, a person can’t really understand what our homeschooling has been about. To those who want to know because they really care, are looking into it, or some other positive reason more than idle curiousity I’ll usually speak more to.
Anyway, the principal told me that usually she likes to see records and transcripts to see what the teachers say about a girl, but now she gets to speak to the girl’s teacher in person so that’s the best thing! I was pleasantly surprised by how positive she was. There are two sixth grade classes, and I requested a particular class where there’s another English speaker that dd10 is already friendly with (the only one in either of the two classes). The principal told me that class was already bigger than the second class, and generally they’d put dd in the smaller class, but in light of the situation would put her in the class we requested.
Then she told me the teacher was giving an interactive getting-to-know-you type class that morning, and asked if dd would want to sit in on it. With some hesitation, dd agreed, after I assured her she could go home after that and wouldn’t have to stay for the day. The principal took us into the class after showing us around the school, and then told the class that although they were the larger class, she decided to have my dd join that class – and the entire class spontaneously broke out into cheers! Dd didn’t have any idea what was happening since she doesn’t understand any Hebrew and didn’t realize they were excited she would be their classmate, but I felt choked up at how warmly she was welcomed.
She was seated next to her English speaking friend, while I went back to the office to complete the paperwork and buy her uniform shirts. When the class ended, I was still there, and she excitedly asked me if she could stay for the rest of the day. This was due in large part to the encouragement and strong request from her friend and new seatmate, who added her plea and told me that dd could walk home with her and then eat lunch at her house.
And so despite our plan to give dd a chance to get used to the idea of school before putting her in for the entire day (since I had first told her she’d be going late Friday afternoon, and then we were there Sunday morning!), Sunday became her first day of school ever.
Avivah
