the bus

This is Rose's first time taking a bus to school. I had visions of the bus from the book Eleanor & Park--just think torture chamber. The bus had been just dandy. She knows half the people on it including her cousin and one of her best friends. It's not that far from the house. It's really just fine.

the lock on the locker

We had been warned by two different school principals that combination locks were a major break down point for kids. It was vital that we have the kids practice before school started. We kind of forgot. So, the night before the first day, we found a lock and gave Rose a lesson. She's had no problem. We've heard no panic attacks about opening, closing, getting to the lock and the locker.

changing classes

It is a big change to go from one teacher and a few specialists to five different teachers all with their own style, rules, and homework. She seems to be weathering that change fine. She did mention to me that three of the teachers now seem to know her name. But she didn't seem nonplussed by her relative anonymity.