Kindergarten!

Dear Oliver,

The time has come! Tomorrow is your first day of Kindergarten! I am so excited for you. I think you are going to love it. You are so ready to soak it all in: the learning, the social aspect, the added independence and privileges that come with getting older. I think you will love PE, library time, computer lab and recess. I think learning Spanish will be a bit of a challenge but I think that challenge will be good for you and you will enjoy it. (You're going to Los Lagos Elementary in Ahwatukee and you're in a Dual Language Program where you will be taught the first half of the day in English and the second half in Spanish so by the time you're done with Elementary School, you will be fluent in Spanish. We think this is a wonderful opportunity for you and we're so excited about it.) I will miss you during the day, as will Josh, I'm sure. We will be excited to hear about your adventures.

Dad is happy for you, too, but he's also very emotional. You are his bud. You two are so close and have such a great relationship. He is worried about letting you go, that things won't be the same. I remember last summer when we rented a trailer and took it to Utah with us, one night dad and I were talking outside the trailer while you and Josh were asleep inside. Dad started crying and told me he was sad because he only had one year left with you before you went to Kindergarten. Now that time has come and it's difficult for him, just as he knew it would be. We went to your Meet the Teacher night the other night and you met your English and Spanish teachers. We took you out to Baskin Robbins after and let you get two scoops in a chocolate-dipped sugar cone. You were thrilled. Dad had tears in his eyes the whole evening as he watched you interacting with new friends in your new classroom and talk excitedly about learning Spanish. Tonight he gave you a Father's Blessing for the upcoming school year. He blessed you to be a good example to those around you and to stay close to your family. That was emotional, too, for both dad and me. This is such a big milestone in your life!

I love you, Buddy. I'm excited for you. It's going to be a great year!

Love, Mom

With your Spanish teacher, Mrs. Rivera, at Meet the Teacher the other night.

With your English teacher, Mrs. Gurule, at Meet the Teacher the other night. You have her for the first part of the day and then move to Spanish after lunch.