This school year has been one of adaptation to a new language, culture and schooling for the girls. I can relate to the girls in the sense that when I came here, I had been to Puerto Rican schools and some things are definetely different. To me the biggest difference is the emphasis on individual performance and assessment in U.S. schools. In my experience, things were done much more 'as a group', and it did not seem as competitive as here. The girls have learned about the expectations regarding homework (in their eyes a lot less than in Colombia, and I would have to agree), classroom behavior and friends. The girls have had to learn some lessons the hard way, and some by experience. The English is coming along, and there are some learning gaps. One of our challenges is the fact they are lumped together with other ELL students who might not have assistance at home and whose parents are not as involved in school as we are.
Because of this sometimes I feel expectations are low and I've had to convince some teachers to push them a little bit harder.
Regardless of all the challenges, the tears, arguments, refusals and the commute, I think the girls are developing some nice working habits. We have incentives for everything in our house, including reading minutes, just like they have at school. We are developing some routines so it is easier on all of us. This has taken sometime. Everything will be easier, regarding school, next year.
We try getting organized with projects, when they are due and all the activities at school. We have missed some deadlines and sometimes don't have time to read all the weekly newsletters that teachers send. We are not able to attend very many except for the ones at Kromrey that I am forced to be at, such as dances and Spirit night. It is a shame we miss so much of 'school outside of school'. We've made some sacrifices so that the oldest two can participate in sports. Mirellen participated in Cross Country and Basketball, and Milena in Gymnastics and Track. She has her first track meet this week. We count our blessings when I think of all the students at school that are not a bit interested in sports or school involvement. Our girls are athletic, motivated and have a hunger for learning new things.
So.. here are some pictures of school life, of some of those activities that we have attended: Yesica's Colombia project, Sucena's 'Wax Museum' (She was Annie Sullivan) and Milena and Mirellen's Spirit Night. The girls are having fun with new friends as you can see in the pictures.
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