First day of school- for real this time

Today is the first real day of school with classes. We all decided as a family to walk Abigail to school. The teacher asked that parents bring children to the front door of the school from 8:30. It took a while to gather the class together before they left for the classroom at 8:50. For the time being, Abigail's class is in the big school with the older kids. At that school there is a security entrance and parents are not encouraged to enter the school (although we can do so by showing our passport and registering).

Abigail's classes will run from 9 am to 1 pm. There are four 35 minute lessons. In the second half of the year there are four 45 minute classes. There is a ten minute break between classes, plus a 35 minute break for playing in the middle of the morning.

The first class is Russian literature reading. In first grade this will be nursery rhymes and traditional Russian children's stories. The second class is Russian language. The third class is Phys Ed (called Physical Culture). The fourth class for today is called "The World Around Us" (which we would call Social Studies in Australia, a mix of science, geography and history etc.)

Over a week this works out to be:

Russian Language- 5 classes

Literature- 4 classes

Mathematics- 4 classes

Phys Ed- 2 classes

Social studies- 2 classes

Music- 1 class

Art- 1 class

Technology- 1 class  (not sure what this will be yet, perhaps computers?).

Abigail in her regular school uniform. She wore her blouse today, but can easily wear skivvies underneath her dress other days.

Abigail was a little nervous. Surprisingly, not so much about fitting in, as much as about being away from us for so long (four hours).

Abigail responded confidently to the teacher:

Teacher- Avigeya?

Abigial: Zdes! (here).

And they disappeared up the steps to their classroom. We will pick her up at 1pm.

First Bell (or School Time)

Russians really know how to make an occasion out of something. The first of September is a big day in Russian. It is known as "First Bell" or "Day of Knowledge". It's the first day of school. Really it's a day to celebrate starting school and to welcome the children.

Melody and I have been a little more nervous than Abigail has, but we have kept those nerves to ourselves, so we could help her overcome any that she had herself.

Abigail does have a school uniform that she will wear from Monday. But for today the clothing was the traditional uniform of white and black.

Here is Abigail all dressed up in her black skirt, white blouse, and big hair bows. Abigail and PJ are standing on the front steps of our apartment building.

Abigail: This is the day that I'm on my way to school.

Abigail is holding flowers that she will give to her teacher later.

Abigail: This is the photo when I'm inside my school.

Abigail: This is me with PJ in the entrance.

Abigail and the other kids are putting on their inside shoes in the cloak room. The boy in front is Arseny who was in Abigail's class at the Children's centre last year. (Aussies, the school year starts in September and ends in May.)

All ready to go out and join her teacher and class group.

Abigail: This is me with my teacher Vera Vasilevna.

We couldn't miss taking a photo as a family with Abigail on her first day of school.

Abigail: That's me in my line. (With her class group.)

Oh so excited to be starting school!

Abigail: That's all of the other kids in different groups.

This is only a fraction of the school. The first assembly was for the first grade and some of the older grades were there (at least 10th grade was anyway). Abigail's class is one of 11 first grade classes. Six are on one campus, the other five are on a different campus. (Both are walking distance from home.)

Abigail's class, standing in the front row.

The day started with the Russian national anthem, followed by some speeches.

There were then ballerinas dancing...

And a circus clown performing...

After the assembly we made our way to Abigail's classroom for her "first class" of school. It was a little symbolic, but the teacher did teach a few things. I don't know about schools back home, but this one is high tech, with a video projector for the teacher to hook up her computer.

Abigail, enjoying learning.

Abigail: That's my teacher.

(It's Vera Vasilevna's first year out of university, so Melody and I are happy that she will likely be a keen teacher, and relate well to the kids.)

"Hello School!"

There are 28 kids in Abigail's class, 1E. But there only appeared to be 24 present.

Abigail: There are 19 girls and 9 boys.

Abigail: That's me with my new school book and flag and balloon.