One of the biggest changes we are adjusting to in Australia is the schooling. It is very different from what we are used to in the US and I have a feeling we haven't even experienced all of those differences yet. In the US, the boys would have been starting summer break. In Australia, the terms and years are set up much differently. Instead of starting their years in August and ending in June (like the US), Australia starts their school years in January and ends in December. They do 4 terms of usually 10 weeks each with two weeks off in between each term. Then their longer break is in December-January which is summer here in Australia. This posed a bit of a timing issue for us given when we moved so Gavin finished 2nd grade in the US in May and began half way through year 3 here in Australia. Brady had just finished kindergarten in the US and began half way into year 1 when we moved here. Only time will tell if there is a gap between them and their peers academically but so far they both are adjusting well. In the school curriculum, the boys both have a Mandarin class where they learn Chinese one day a week. They haven't loved it yet and really only can say "nihau" which means "hello".
Every day they wear uniforms. This is their formal uniform and they also have a uniform for sport (PE). The hats are a requirement at school with a "no hat, no play" rule. The sun is very powerful here in Australia so the schools are very careful with the kids sun exposure. As a mom I do have to say I do not miss the arguments about what to wear each day, however now there is added pressure to keep up the laundry!
We live about 2 blocks away from the school so most days we walk. I have enjoyed the time especially on the way home as they chat about their day. Plus its good exercise for me to make the round trip twice a day-there are hills involved! I usually carry Brady's backpack so I don't have to hear the constant whining!
This is one of the "lollipop ladies". We have a busy road to cross to get to the school and these ladies help us get across traffic. They are very serious about their rules! Toes must be behind the yellow line and you must wait for two whistle blows before you can cross. We found the rules out the hard way the first day when we did not wait for the two whistle blows......
The school is divided into two campuses. Brady is on the infants side which is prep or kindergarten-to year 2. Gavin is on the Senior campus side which is year 3-6. The two campuses are divided by a big sports field called The Oval and that is where we give Gavin a hug every morning and send him on his way to class while Brady and I continue on to his room.
The classrooms are all open to outside and a lot of the play areas are shaded to help protect from the sun.
I really like that in the younger grades they invite the parents to come into the class for drop off in the morning to get the kids settled. Brady likes showing me things in his desk and things he is working on and it gives me a chance to ask the teacher one of the million questions I have:)
They also do not serve lunch at the school. I used to love the days in the US that both kids wanted hot lunch for the day-it was like a morning off! Not so much here.....every day they bring a snack for "Munch and Crunch". this needs to be a healthy fruit or vegetable that they sit on their desk and eat mid-morning for "brain food". They have first break around 11 or sometimes called "morning tea". They eat most of their food in their lunch box during this break. The second break is in the afternoon and they can eat some chips or cookies (biscuits), or crackers. So between all of this food and a water bottle, my morning routine got quite a bit more complicated. A check list was in order for all this business!They do have a food facility located on the school campus called The Tuckshop. I can order food online to be delivered to the kids for morning break or afternoon break. I haven't tried this yet, one thing at a time!
Their school day runs from 8:50-3:00 so my day here at home goes by pretty fast before I am walking back up to get them. And on the way home, a nice view of the city:)
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