Which way do I go? Which way do I go?
I felt a little like a character from “Alice in Wonderland” as I drove my kids to their new school for the first time last week.
As I pulled up to the drop-off lanes, I panicked. Where do the kids get out? What do they do once they get out of the car?
A very nice aide signaled me to pull up to the curb and open the door. My kids popped out with their backpacks, looking all nice and shiny and clean for their first day of school. Then they looked at me. And I looked at her.
“What do they do?” I asked.
She pointed them to the gate and off they went, without even saying goodbye.
I pulled up to the next aide down the line, who wasn’t busy shuttling parents’ cars out of the way.
“Um, it’s our first day here. I just dropped them off back there. Where are they going?”
Supplies had been purchased. We survived meet-the-teacher night. We knew where their classrooms were.
But we had no idea what to do once we got there.
Kids being kids, they figured it out pretty quickly. By the third day, they were experts and could explain it to anyone.
I’m sure many parents in Chandler felt the same way as classes began there this week. And I’m sure many more East Valley parents are going to go through similar experiences as their schools begin.
Note to self: On the list of questions to ask when attending a new school, add “How does drop-off/pick-up work here?”
Jenny Weldon Locklin of Chandler’s Bright Beginnings charter school has made a humorous video about the perilous adventures of moms in the drop-off/pick-up lane. Watch it here: http://evtnow.com/naggatator.
STEP UP opens in Mesa
After a flurry of summer remodeling, STEP UP Schools opened its doors to students Tuesday.
The school came about under an agreement with the City of Mesa and the founders of EDUPRIZE, one of the oldest and well-known charter schools in Arizona. The new campus uses EDUPRIZE curriculum, with an emphasis on science, technology, economics and philosophy.
Between 80 and 85 children started at the school this week, with plans to bring a few more in future years, but keeping the campus small.
With the opening, there are now three schools in the EDUPRIZE family; the original Gilbert campus and the Queen Creek campus round out the group.
Hamilton students make great “buddies”
Congratulations go out to the Best Buddies chapter at Chandler’s Hamilton High School. The group was presented this month with the 2011-2012 “Outstanding Chapter of the Year” award at Best Buddies International’s 23rd annual leadership conference.
Hamilton was selected from more than 706 Best Buddies high school programs throughout the world and 20 high school chapter applicants.
Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to “one-to-one friendships, employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.”
School Notes are compiled by education reporter Michelle Reese. Read more school news at eastvalleytribune.com/local/education/, and follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/eastvalleyednews), Twitter (@EVEdnews), and on Pinterest (pinterest.com/evednews).
Contact writer: (480) 898-6549 or mreese@evtrib.com
