School!

We did it.  THEY did it.  First days of school are conquered.  There may yet be rocky days ahead, but to have these first uncertain steps behind us is just a huge accomplishment.  I can tell you now that they are much braver than I am.  Walking into a room filled not only with people you don't know, but also filled with words in a language you don't understand.  I can't even imagine the anxiety these two have overcome.

But here we are, at the end of Millie's first day in German schule.  I'll try to capture these amazing memories:

Ahh.  The Schultute (shool-too-ta).  A German tradition especially for children entering first grade.  It's a cone filled with treats.  Millie's had chocolate, pencils, hair gear, cookies.  We made the tute together.

Millie with her teacher (Frau Schroeder is on the right in the black sweater.  She is WUNDERBAR!) and her classmates.  They all gathered together in preparation for the special worship service in the village kirche.  Parents dropped them here and headed across the street to the church.  Frau Schroeder herded them into their classroom to drop their gear before joining us in the church.

We should take note here of the schulranzens.  These are some SERIOUS backpacks.  I had no idea what we were in for here. Thankfully we were forewarned that ALL the kids would have them so we should make the investment for Millie as well (an investment it is...these things run from 100-200 Euro!  WHAT?).  Take a good look.  This thing is lasting her for years.

The worship service was breathtaking.  The church is over five hundred years old with a lovely recent renovation.  We were up in the balcony with both kids on laps.  The kindest German gentleman took it upon himself to translate all the songs in the bulletin for me.  Soon we had the two rows in front of us joining in to aid in the translation!  What an awesome memory.  

In Germany, it's a very big deal for kids to enter first grade.  Here it is the transition from playschool (which is what Kindergarten is here) to real work.  The community really invests in making this transition special for the kids.  Our sweet landlady even dropped by with a gift and some homemade cookies for Millie for her big day!

Outside of the church.

Hands down my favorite photo of the day.  Look at the light in her eyes!  This was the first time we saw her after leaving her on the street with her classmates.  She had just spent two hours on her own with her new friends.  My heart leaps at this.  She is not broken and afraid.  She is happy, confident, hopeful.  What a brave child.

This is today, Monday morning, on our way to school.  

Daddy stayed home from work for the big event.

First we drop Si at the Kindergarten.

And then we walk next door to Millie's school.  Which is also the firehouse.  And also the town hall.  Did I mention that we live in a very small village?

Her classroom.  Kids up front, moms in the back for a little pep talk.  There are 11 kids in Millie's class!  YAHOO!  Other items of note: we have figured out that she will have lessons in religion, math, english, german, art, music and gym.  Once a week they will meet at the school at 7:15am and take the bus to the indoor pool for swimming.  She keeps a special pair of "hausschue" (house shoes) at school and changes into them each morning once she gets inside.  For these first two weeks, her school day runs from 8:45 - 11:45.  After that it will be slightly longer, but will still end around lunchtime.  She will always eat lunch at home.  We haven't figured out yet if there is an afternoon component to this whole thing.  Details, details.  

Here we go!