Ehlana and Ethan:
We’ve had our first day of in-person school since March – and our first as Grade Four students; and we’ve had a blast!
The highlights from this morning included being there for Brianna’s first day of Kindergarten and starting our school year out with a one-day-belated birthday ‘party’ for Miles Sheldon. He loved that; though it was weird to do that for the first time where we were also wearing masks and socially-distanced. Speaking of that; the new rules and back-to-school plans include half-classes; we spend most of our time in one class; and our breaks are staggered so that we don’t over-crowd either the common areas of the school or the playground and yard outside. It’s a bit different for the teens at school, but they’re expected to take more, personal responsibility for their health-safety; and if that doesn’t work out for our school; we do have contingency plans ranging from closing again to a full return to normal.
The half-class changes include half-full bussing for the ‘farm kids’ and our half of the class includes Miles and Joshua because we’re a good influence on them – and that isn’t really a joke. Our teachers have tried to keep friends together, so that’s part of it too, but we’ll have to wait and see whether this will affect our friendships with the kids around our age that we won’t see every day because they’re on the opposite schedule. We’ve heard that there are lots of schools around the country with so many restrictions on their students that they aren’t having any fun at all, but we really did have an awesome day; and we’ll get to find out what our home-school days will be like tomorrow.
That is going to be different than it was in the spring – and not just because Naomi’s Dad will be at work. Our house will be study-central for the days we’re at home; and we’ll have cousins and other friends here on a regular basis too. That’s also because Mom will be one of the few aunts, uncles, and grandparents available to help out with the home days; but we’ll let you know how that goes too as we go along.
In other news, it felt like fall by comparison today; so Mother Nature might have been sending a message as we went from summer-hot on the weekend to a high that didn’t get to seventy with a dash or three of rain today. That made for a chilly start to our day, but we were still at the river and outdoors for Tai Chi; and then had a hot breakfast ahead of our first day of school. The cool weather didn’t keep us from going for a bike ride after school, but that was more about visiting parents and talking with friends than about the exercise; and we were only out for about an hour before coming home and doing our homework before dinner. Naomi and Aiden were with us for all of that; and then they went to their own homes in time for dinner.
We’ve had a quiet night since then that definitely felt like a return to normal as we worked or studied in the office with Mom and Dad after dinner; and we just wrapped up our day with a music practice. That’s enough for this update; and we should wrap it up and go get some sleep anyway. Our home school days will still include getting started on our lessons and assignments by nine o’clock; so we’ll want to be rested up and ready for that – and having other cousins and friends here too. Lab work might happen on our home days too, but we’re still working that out; so we’ll let you know what we end up doing; since other factors like weather might end up being more-important. We do want to get back to spending more time at the lab, though; so that is going to happen.
Okay, that’s all for tonight; we’re out of here; and back to the real world and our bedtime!
This is Ehlana and Ethan Proctor; live from the hidden home of the Magi of the Light – and May the Magi Force be with you!
