Fourth Grade Begins

School started again on September 6.  This year, Ian is at a new school.  This is the third school he has attended since starting the pre-K program in 2005.  The good news is that he has the same teacher and now he is so much closer to home....literally across the street, and a few blocks down!

We went for the Open House the week before school started.  Ian had some initial resistance at the front door, but we worked through it.  We were very nicely met by one of the staff who walked us all the way to Ian's new classroom.  Along the way we met the principal, who was very cordial and welcoming.  Once Ian got in the classroom, he made a bee-line for all of his favorite books and made himself at home.  The room itself has undergone a remodeling and is very light and roomy.  There are two other classrooms for autism in the same hall, and at the end of the hall is a huge sensory/cool down room.  Mrs. Penrod told us they will even be bringing in a Wii for the kids to use in there.  As I was talking with other parents and the teacher, Ian made himself at home with some classmates and the aide.  I'm so happy that he is in a much better physical environment than the last few years.  Third grade was really tough for him (and everyone else) because they were doing construction right outside his classroom.  The teacher has already remarked that he is a totally different kid.

The first day of school was very rainy and wet and, as usual, all the buses ran late.   I always try to get pictures of him getting on the bus, etc. but that didn't happen this year.  I took a bunch of pictures inside and this was the best of the bunch.

This picture cracks me up because it is not a typical pose for him at all.  Usually he is very shy around the camera.  But maybe, just maybe, my little man is starting to come into his own and get some confidence.  We'll see how it goes.