Many of you will know that I have been deliberating over the school starting age decision, and whether he should start Grade 1 next year (as he turns 6) or the year after (as he turns 7). At his parent teacher interview the teacher gushed about him, saying he was wonderful in the class, and had settled in as a new child at the beginning of the year brilliantly. She says his social skills are very good and she enjoys him a lot. We got into the school debate, and she said although she thinks he is coping wonderfully, she is reluctant to recommend sending him early. In her opinion he is 'still very playful'. She didn't had any really compelling reason to hold him back other than if he does wait another full year he would probably end up at the top of the class, and really excel.
We had already applied for Grade 1 next year at several schools at the time the debate started, and had received invites to attend interviews. I decided to go along to the interviews for the experience, and to check the schools out and see how Quinn dealt with being there. So we went to
interviews and Wynberg Boys and Rondebosch Boys. With Rondebosch being our preferred school.
Rondebosch had however already told us that they would really prefer him to wait until 7 before starting, so I was quite surprised to get an interview, but we kept our mouths shut and went along. I like the teacher Quinn has this year a lot. So I decided if he was accepted at Wynberg we would probably decline, and it was unlikely we'd get into Rondebosch as I had already argued the point with them, and with 400 applications for 100 positions, it's not easy to get in...
Quinn was all primed and everything, and was telling us about how he was going to be the biggest boy at Keurboom next year and will be the teacher's helper etc... Well yesterday in the mail we got acceptance letters for him from both Wynberg AND Rondebosch!!! Based on this I don't feel it's justified to say he is not ready, because clearly based on 2 separate interviews he's been considered ready.
I spoke to him about it today on the way to the airport and given the choice between staying at Keurboom, or going to Wynberg or Rondebosch he was adamant that he wanted to go to Rondebosch. So I have decided to accept the position and pay the deposit and see how he gets on for the rest of the year. I feel a bit weird about it, because it's what I 'wanted', but I just hope it really is right for him... plus Grade 1 will mean way more work and input will be required from us! Are WE ready for Grade 1!? *LOL*
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment