She Will Be Wearing School Uniform

In two weeks, school is going to open. My daughter’s first day of school is on Sept 2nd which is a Friday for only half of a day! I do not know why they decided to start the school on a Friday, the day before Labor Day weekend and for only four hours. If you are away that time, most likely you will not cut your vacation or I will not be surprised if not a lot of kids will show up that day. In the past, they always start school after Labor Day but this year turns out to be different.

Another thing that is new for this school year is they will start wearing uniforms. High School and Middle school have started wearing uniforms two years ago and they decided to include the elementary this year. I have no complaints about it. Actually, I like the idea that kids wear uniform to school. The top will be anything maroon and the bottom is khaki pants, skirt, skorts, or shorts. For the footwear, no specifications were given but of course no flip flops or slippers to school! With regards to my daughter, she does not really care (for now) whether she wears uniform or not but she requests for skirts not shorts or pants.

Cotton Candy at the Family Fun Day

Saturday was the family fun day at my daughter's school. Here is a picture taken during one of her breaks munching a cotton candy - a blue cotton which she personally pick to match her shirt!

Back To Work

After a five day break from work, now it is back to reality. My daughter also went back to school today and she was so happy about it. She missed school so much. The only good thing is, I am still on a break from my online courses but I have other classes to attend to at school every Tuesdays and Thursdays. Right now, I am looking into getting more credits this summer. Online degree programs in healthcare are taken at your own pace so the more credits you get each time you enroll the faster you are going to finish your degree. If only I have enough money saved for the whole program, I will be done with school ahead of time. Although, I get all these tuition fees loan programs and there is this Free Application For Federal Student Aid too but I have not made up my mind on getting these student loans. To me, I would rather work myself to finish school than be indebted when I graduate.

Hope everybody had a nice Easter weekend. I am just thankful for the beautiful weekend weather we had and also for a sunny day today. It is perfect for walking at the park after work before the sun sets at 7:30 pm. I'll try to get out of work early to enjoy the sun. We will be expecting more rain but that is ok. I like April showers than snow.

Sold Out!

On the third day of my daughter's fundraiser, the box of chocolates (45 bars, 5 bars were for me) is sold out! My workers love these chocolates. They want more but I said just wait for next year again.

I just want to thank everybody who supported my daughter's fundraiser. 'till next year.

Daughter's Fundraiser

I brought a box of chocolates at my job today for my daughter's fundraiser for her school. The bars of chocolates are a dollar each. The flavors are almond, dark almond, milk chocolate, crispy and caramel. After I opened the box, the dark chocolates were gone right away. Of course, I made sure I got mine too.

Now, the box of chocolates is now on a desk here at my job. Whoever wants, he or she can leave a dollar/dollars in the envelope and get the chocolate. Some who does not to eat still puts money without taking a bar. My co-workers are really supportive of school fund raising like this. Thank you guys.

Spring Break

My online class is ending next week. My professor already posted our last batch of assignment, case studies and quizzes online to be submitted on the last day of the class on or before 11:59 pm. After this class, we are going to have our spring break for about two weeks but while on break I have to do my readings on medical management course in preparation for my next class this summer. As my professor is always saying, you do not stop learning. Just like him, he will also enroll into medical teaching course and teach the teacher course starting this summer.

So what are my plans for my spring break from school? I cannot take off from work for the whole week but I will think of something to do with my daughter. It is also her spring break and I am hoping that hubby can takes a few days from work so that he can join us. I just hope the whether will cooperate during this week so that we can go down the shore even for a day or two but we will be back for Easter.

She Lost Her Wallet

When I pick up my daughter from school last Friday, right away when I saw her face, I know there was something wrong. I saw a worried face, like “I hope mommy will not get mad at me,” face. As soon as she got into the car, she told me that she lost her wallet. My instant reaction, “was she able to eat lunch?” because that’s her lunch money. She said, yes, the lady at the cafeteria knew that she lost her wallet. My daughter does not know where she dropped it, either at the cafeteria, her classroom or at the kids lockers. The school has no lockers for kids like the first graders yet but the childrens lockers are just at the corridor so she still goes there. Hope somebody finds it and return the wallet to her class. Her name is in there but no teacher’s name.

So I bought her another wallet yesterday. It is a bigger one and has a zip closure and I put her name in bold letters with my phone number. So far she has been responsible for all her school stuffs and this is the first time that happens. Let’s see how long this new wallet lasts.

Am I Getting A Student Loan?

It has been a very busy two weeks for me since I started school again. So far everything is going fine; just wishing for more hours in a day sometimes. I liked my student life a lot. Actually, I am ready to enroll for more credits starting next month.

Being in school is not cheap at all. This is the reason why student loans are being offered by a lot of institutions. I have plans of applying for a student loan but I still have to check what my credit score is. If there is a free interest student loan, that would be great but there is nothing like that.

I can still afford my school expenses now but I get a lot of student loan applications in the mail with free credit score report but I am not decided yet. I do not want to be in debt by the time I finish school. If i decide to get one in the future, hopefully i can find a loan with the lowest interest rate available.

Student Mom

Maybe I forgot to mention that this mommy here has gone back to school. Yes, I did. It has been decades since I left school and now I am back to the thing I used to love. I’ve been wanting to go back long before but my life got busy with work and building a family. It was a promise to myself that one day I will go back to school same time that my daughter starts her full day at school.

So I met my professor last Monday. He is a surgeon. He was not wearing a men lab coat but he introduced himself to us as a surgeon who likes to teach. I am not working in a medical field but I could tell from the medical uniforms worn by some of my classmates that they work in hospitals. I like those peaches uniforms they have on.

The first part of my course is online but we have to meet our professor at least once every two weeks. By next month, the online course is over and I will be attending my classes two or three times a week. I will be busier but i like it and i'm so happy to be in school again.

The Baby Is Now a Lady

My good friend from high school sent me pictures of my god daughter taken during her recent Junior and Senior prom. Oh my God! The little girl I used to babysit when I was still in the Philippines is now a lady. I cannot believe seeing her so grown and beautiful on her prom night. Sarah (that’s my god daughter’s name) and her friends look so stunning in their group picture wearing their prom dresses. All of a sudden, I had a reality check. How old are these girls now? My friend says that most of them are only sixteen but what a transformation evening dresses can make to these kids! Sarah does not have any boyfriend yet but she goes out on dates with her male friends sometimes. Mommy and Daddy are a little bit strict on this matter.

I have a long way to go. My daughter is still in first grade. I started late but I am not rushing her to grow. Sometimes I wish that she can just be a kid forever because I tell you, they grow fast. For now, just enjoy and cherish each precious mommy moment with your kids.

Going Back To School

I have been trying to go back to school. It is a promise to me that once my daughter starts her full day regular school, mommy will start thinking of going back to school. I already did my first step by submitting my registration and payment but the class was re-scheduled to September so I went to another college to register this spring and I did it today. Mommy is a student now. It is only an online education but it is the way to start it.

Next thing I will be doing is find college scholarships available. Education is expensive so if we can get a scholarship it will be a big savings in our pocket. Lucky are those who get scholarships for medical students because tuition fees in medical schools are way too high. This is the profession that is worth spending that money anyway. Being a doctor or surgeon is one of the highest paid professions we have. And here is another thing about scholarships; do you know that there is an organization that offers scholarships for left handed students? My friend just mentioned it to me. How I wish I am a lefty.

I will be starting my online school this end of the month. I am excited. After decades of being out of school, this mom is going to be a student again.

Snow Again!

So it did snow a lot last night. I was waiting for a phone call from the school canceling classes for today but they did not call all night until around 5:30 in the morning. At first, they were informing us that school will be on a delayed opening, meaning it starts 9:45 am instead of 8:40 am to give them time to clean up the snow. Then I got another phone call around 6:30 am declaring the school will be closed for the day. I was already surprised when they said delayed opening at first because when I looked at the window, the roads were not plowed yet and even if you wear your tallest old gringo boots, the snow will still get into your feet. We probably got around 12 inches last night.

Now that school is closed, we have to do plan B which bring Isabella to work with me. First, I have to dig my car out of the snow and I hope by that time the streets will be cleared and plowed. I took my time in cleaning my car. I tell you, shoveling is the best exercise. I was sweating inside my thick jacket. After two hours, we are all set to leave the house. My town did a good job in clearing all the main and secondary roads. There was no problem driving. I just have to slip on to my tory burch shoes i bought from Shoe Inn as soon as I get into my car because my snow boots was dripping wet then put it back on when I have to be on the streets again. You may call me an OCD but a wet shoe is not safe for driving.

I am already tired. My body is starting to hurt because of shoveling. I need to take a nap before I start cooking dinner.

School Lunch For Thursday

twin chicken sliders on buns or

chicken salad with lettuce on a roll

potatoe wedges

mixed fruit

choice of milk offered with lunch: skim, 2%, low fat chocolate

This is what's on the school lunch menu for tomorrow but my daughter wants to bring her own lunch. That if she has school otherwise she will have bacon and eggs for breakfast with mommy :)

Today's Lunch

My daughter's lunch to school today. I made her a chicken sandwich plus a some grapes. At least twice or three times a week, she brings her own lunch now which is good. So, I have to pack two sets of food in the morning - one for snack and one for lunch, each in a labeled individually in a brown bag. For her drinks, she a juice and a bottled water.

Birthday Treats

It is a school policy that when you bring some food to school as part of your child's birthday celebration, they should be store bought and sealed plus no more goodie bags. Thus, no more cupcakes or birthday cakes and ice cream to school. Last year, I ordered cupcakes but because of this new policy, I just bought oreo cookies and candy canes then taped them together plus boxed juice. Just bring your treats to school and leave them with the teacher. When are they going to have their snack, is up to the teacher. My daughter has 24 classmates so I made 4 extra but she ended up taking the 4 home.

PTA Night

I went to my daughter’s school last for PTA night. It is a one on one dialogue between the teacher and parents regarding your child progress for the first grading period. My schedule time was between 7:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. but I arrived at the school early hoping that we can start right away. I guess the parent ahead of me was late so I got the chance to read the school bulletin boards while waiting for my turn. Each grade has their own bulletin board, displaying all their activities, pictures and who the student of the month is. So my daughter’s face was on one of these bulletin boards last year.

So far my daughter is doing great in school with only one comment on her report card – being talkative at times. Somewhat I already expected this because she also tells me that she is chatty in school. I always remind her that there is time for chatting but if the teacher says that you have to pay attention you have to stop talking, I know this is hard for some kids but they will learn.

My next PTA meeting is next month. I will see how make with her science and social studies. They only started with these two subjects this second marking period.

For School

I am going through my daughter’s tests and exercises from her English, Science and Social Studies. She normally leaves them inside her locker at school but I requested that she brings them home for the weekend. The school lockers are safe for her books and school supplies to keep but during Fridays I want her to take them home for study. At least now, she has mastered how to do the combination locks for both her school and gym lockers. We made the same code for both that is easy for her to remember.

What I do with all her school tests and exercises is make copies then I use them as her reviewer for her exams. I made a folder for every grading period and file her papers according to dates. I have to be organized and be on top of everything. It makes my life easier when she needs to study a particular subject or chapter.

I have been showing to my daughter how to be organized with her things. I am happy that when there was an open house in school, I got to see her desk and it was neat and clean. I told myself, that is a good sign.

Mommy Is Going Back To School

When my daughter was still in Kindergarten, I told myself that I will start going back to school when she goes to first grade. Obviously, her schedule that time does not allow me to go back to pursue my education but now that my daughter goes full day in school, I guess I could. I may start by enrolling in health administration program at the local community college this coming

spring. I think it is never too late for a 44 year old mom with a full time job to get a second career. Who knows one day I see myself enrolling at Walden University. I am interested in their in B.S. in Healthcare Management or Healthcare Informatics course.

If you are trying to go back to school and wants news and information about education, get a subscription of The chronicle of higher education. You can also create a free account online so that you can participate in discussions, make comments and join forums. This is also helpful to people looking for jobs or pursuing a new career, like me.

Fancy Dress For Graduation

The school is almost over. Last Friday, the teachers had a short talk with the parents regarding the kid’s commencement exercises this coming June. They also showed us the fancy dress that they need for the presentation pre-k students are preparing. It has been agreed upon that they will just order online all the costumes for the kids.

This graduation is the last time that all of them will be together. Although all students live at the same town, not everybody is going to the same school for kindergarten. There are three schools in my town that offers kindergarten and the kids will be assigned to the school based on where you live. My daughter will be transferring to the school closer to our house together with almost half of her classmates. This will be another adjustment for her being full day in school this time but I am happy that she will still be with some of her friends from the other school.

Delayed Opening Today

Schools in my town have a delayed opening today for 90 minutes because of the snow. Instead of 8:45 opening for Pre-k, it was moved to 9:55. The snow stopped when I was on my way to work but the roads were slushy with icy rain. The school's alert system works pretty well, they will call all the phone listed on your school's record informing you about school's closing and delayed opening. They also have a website to check the updates.