One step closer

Yesterday we did it.  We completed forms for Caitlyn to start big school next year when she turns 5.  Now I could probably wait until the start of Term 1 next year because Caitlyn will only turn 5 on the 22nd of Feb, but I may as well get it over and done with.  And then we're all ready and I can start working through the list of school supply items she will need. 

Hard to believe that Caitlyn is so close to starting her primary school journey, but I think she is very much ready.  She loves it when we ask her to do simple math like "what is 3 and 3?" or "what is 2 and 2?" or "what is 5 and 5?" and she gets so excited when she gets it right.  She is getting good at writing her own name and has even started writing other letters of the alphabet.  And she is especially proud that she can spell cat.  I think she is going to love school!

Hard to believe that Bianca is also nearly done with another year of school.  It feels like yesterday that she started Year 3.  We weren't too sure what to expect, but looking back we know Bianca had a fantastic year so far with many great opportunities. 

When I came to Wellington looking for a new rental home because Terence's boss wanted him to move back, it was much more complicated than all our previous moves. Not only did I have to look for a rental home, but I also had to look for a good school for Bianca.  And of course when we moved from Wellington to Auckland Bianca wasn't in school yet, so I really had no idea which schools would be good for Bianca and which not so good.  So I came to Wellington for about a week looking for a new rental home and armed with a map where I highlighted the areas we were happy to consider and I circled the school in each of those areas and marked the school zones (because most schools are zoned in New Zealand) and the schools I marked were the ones recommended to me by friends and where I was happy with what was on their website and their ERO report. 

So when, by chance, I found a rental home in the Waikanae School zone I really had no idea what it was all about.  It wasn't a school that was on my list because I didn't have friends with kids in the school and I was more focused on another school here in Waikanae.  So I had to make a few quick decisions and in the end after meeting the headmaster thought that the school would be right for Bianca.

And it was...  Especially this year I felt we made the right choice.  Looking at it now I don't think the other school was going to be right for us, but this one at the moment is just right.

With the end of the school year not all that far away, we are in the process of making a few important decisions for Bianca for next year.  And I think it will be interesting to see what next year for Bianca will bring.