School dilemma

[Hannabanana]

Background: Hanna goes to a daycare which is in the building where she goes to school. Last year she was in the AM class for JK.

At the end of the year we received a letter saying that she would be in the AM class for SK. I knew that one of her friends from daycare was going to be in PM class but I wasn't worried because a little girl on our street was also going to be in the AM class.

Today: When I was picking up Hanna from daycare this afternoon, they told me that the kindergarten teacher asked them to tell me that it might be a good idea to put Hanna in the afternoon class this year because a lot of her friends were already registered for the PM class. I got a look at the class list and sure enough, of all the girls that Hanna has mentioned (and she's played with at the park), only she & Shilpa (up the street) are in the AM class.

The daycare manager thinks that it's a good idea for Hanna to be in the PM class because they have a fuller morning program for the daycare kids (afternoon kids end up having rest/nap time that takes up to 2hrs out of the day - which Hanna doesn't need).

So everything is pointing to make the change but it would leave Shilpa in the AM class "alone". I mentioned it to her mom tonight when I went over and I don't think that she really understood what I was saying.

So I know that it's not my responsibility to care about anyone elses kid but I like this little girl and she even said tonight that she was excited about being in the same class as Hanna again.

What do I do? Do I move Hanna over to the PM and then try to explain to Judi (the mother) again? I don't know if there's room for more than one child to move over either so what if Judi calls first and gets Shilpa moved and Hanna is left behind??

[Clare]

I would move Hanna first. I agree with the daycare teacher that she will do better in daycare in the morning and school in the afternoon. The social aspect of school is really important so I would do all possible to get her in a class with all of her friends.

When you switch her to the PM class, maybe ask if there's room for one more and then speak to the other girls mother again.

[sarahc]

It sounds like she would do well in the PM class if she has several friends there already. I would feel bad for the other girl too, but maybe there is a way that she can move as well.

[Bev]

I agree with Clare. Move Hanna first and then try to talk to Judi again if they have more room.

The programming is precisely why I put Mason in the afternoon JK class. He will be the absolute oldest in the class and I could not see having him in the morning class (with the resulting bedlam in the morning! :lol: ) with a bunch of 3 year olds who nap every afternoon.

By putting him in the PM class, he is getting a smaller class with more individual attention and when he starts back at daycare at the Montessori in January he'll be in a smaller class there too (if I'm not mistaken) because he'll only be there a half day. Either way, he'll be more productive at Montessori with the structure in the AM and have more individual attention in the smaller PM JK class.

[MrsPeacefrog]

I agree with Clare.

Good luck! I hope you can move her across.

[Hannabanana]

Thanks everyone. Judi mentioned it last night when she came to pick up the girls from their play time with Hanna and she said that she can't change Shilpa into the PM class -- something about her father-in-law having to go back & forth to the school for both girls (doesn't make sense to me honestly) but at least it's all ok. We both agreed that the girls can all play after school as much as they want.
So, my baby starts SK tomorrow afternoon :( It's a good thing right?! :lol: