We had kindergarten orientation for Logan today. He has been so ready for summer to be over and get back to school (he loved preschool and loves to learn). I have been ready for him to go back to school (summer has been particularly trying this year).
We got up all excited and anticipating a fun morning. Getting to meet the teachers and see the school. Gearing up for the first day. That is not what happened.
Logan had a great time with a group of kindergarten teachers and a small group of kids while the parents had a meeting with another one of the teachers. And I use the word “meeting” loosely. It really felt very unwelcoming and much more like a lecture.
More than once I wanted to raise my hand (were were in school after all. I might be in trouble for talking out of turn) and remind the woman (who also didn’t bother to introduce herself) that we are all parents, most of multiple children and have raised them thus far without any of their help and didn’t need to be spoken to in such a condescending tone. But I kept my mouth shut because I don’t like confrontation.
As it turns out, we aren’t allowed to walk our child to his kindergarten class on the first day. Instead we drop him off at the curb where the teachers will “collect” the kids and sort them into the proper classroom based on their color coded ID badge.
I am not allowed ever passed the front office unless I am a volunteer, but volunteers aren’t allowed to bring other children, so since I still have a 2 year old at home I likely won’t ever be able to volunteer without getting a babysitter.
I can’t visit and observe the classroom not can I eat lunch with him except on designated days such as Thanksgiving feast. I’ll try not to rant too much, but the whole vibe I got was not warm and community oriented. Eric said he felt like it was a “child factory.” Say goodbye to your parental rights once your child steps out of the car.
It was definitely an emotionally draining meeting. And I am no longer excited about kindergarten. We had an amazing experience for 2 1/2 years at our school district run preschool and at the Montessori school Logan went to for summer camp this year.
And now I’m just stunned. I was never a parent who thought kindergarten would be a hard transition. We are both ready. But I’m not ready for this school and their rigidity.
I am so torn on what we should do. I loved the Montessori school, felt safe their, and Logan was happy. I would love to send him there, but it is expensive.
I wish I had the ingredients for this recipe, because it’s a no-brainer. No over thinking. No exhausting steps or big mess. The perfect meal for a day like today where I just want to curl up on the couch and watch TV or read a book (right now I’m reading Georgia’s Kitchen) and forget all about how much I don’t like this school.
I tweeted a mention of this recipe a few weeks ago, not really intending to blog about it because it was just something we through together on a crazy, busy day…kind of like the day we are having today. Except then, several of you asked when I’d post it.
So here we go. I did happen to take pictures, but just in case. The final image isn’t the best because we are in monsoon season, so every day around dinner time the big bad clouds start rolling in and it gets very dark. A quick drive by post with a recipe for Flatbread Pizza with Sausage and Zucchini (among other things).
Please excuse the estimation of measurements. I definitely wasn’t taking notes during this recipe. I had also planned to grill these, but remember it’s monsoon season. We baked them instead.
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Flatbread Pizza with Sausage and Zucchini
Using raw vegetables and storebought pita make these flatbread pizzas a quick, easy meal!
Ingredients
- 4 pocketless pitas
- olive oil
- a handful of fresh basil, sliced into strips
- bite sized fresh marinated mozzarella balls (about 6-8 per pita)
- fresh grated Parmesan cheese
- crumbled Italian sausage, about 1 cup
- 1 small zucchini, diced
- 1 small yellow crooked neck squash, diced
- 1/4 of a red onion, diced
- 1/2 of a red bell pepper, diced
Instructions
- Brush the tops of each pita bread with olive oil. Top with basil. Sprinkle the pita bread with sausage, zucchini, yellow squash, red onion, and bell pepper.
- Cut the mozzarella balls in half and sprinkle on top of the other toppings.
- Bake at 400 degrees, or grill, until the pita is slightly crispy and the cheese is bubbly. Sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, cut into wedges and serve.
Notes
You could probably saute the vegetables first if you wanted to, but I didn't bother. Quick, easy meal was what the doctor ordered. I might add some mushrooms next time. It's an easy recipe to customize to your liking. Just add extra vegetables for a no-meat version.
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Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 427Total Fat 21gSaturated Fat 7gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 15gCholesterol 35mgSodium 779mgCarbohydrates 41gFiber 3gSugar 5gProtein 19g
GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.
Melanie
Friday 6th of May 2011
I've just found your website (love the multi-coloured piping technique!) and this post caught my eye. My son will be starting kindergarten in September, and even finding a spot in a public school has been an absolute nightmare. (Short version: public schools in our area are wildly oversubscribed, board changed the boundaries a few weeks after kindergarten applications were due, and now it looks like our son will be going to a non-existent school housed in a handful of portables unless his position on the waitlist for a French Immersion programme comes up in time.) My son too loves preschool, and all I hope is that kindergarten builds on that excitement and fosters his curiosity. I'm glad your son is now in a school you all love. I hope my child will get a place in a school we'll all love, too!
Great blog, I think I'll be spending a lot of time reading it :-)
Style, She Wrote
Wednesday 18th of August 2010
This looks amazing! I can't wait to try it. xo style, she wrote
Jenniebites
Monday 16th of August 2010
the rule about walking your kids to the classroom sounds like it is in place because sometimes it's the parents, not the students, who have the hardest time transitioning and they don't make mornings any easier for their kids. the rule about going through the office is absolutely for safety and also (if you have really involved parents at the school) so that parents don't catch teachers off-guard and unexpectedly before, in the middle of, or after the school day. you'd be surprised at how many parents want to come in and chat about how their child is doing without setting up an appointment. the school will give you more politically-correct reasons for the rules, but that's why they're really there. they're pretty typical rules for an elementary school, and i truly hope you have a positive experience there. kindergarten is a difficult grade to teach because a lot of parents are super worried about sending us their babies for the first time. and i totally agree with the comment about sending the teacher an email after about two weeks. you might be surprised, she might email you first.
Homedotmade
Saturday 14th of August 2010
As the wife of a teacher who also works in a school, let me offer you another perspective. We have the same rules in our school, but it's done for the safety of the children in most cases. They don't let just anyone walk in, if you have a legitimate reason to be there, you are required to be signed in and in some schools they do a background check based on your driver's license. Scary sounding, but true.The reason for most schools not allowing siblings is not necessarily safety, but the 'distraction' factor. I have two of my own and how easy is it to get sidetracked my the needs of the other child when the school is counting on you to be a productive volunteer.I wish they had approached it with the parents in a less harsh way, but there are reasons for it that have nothing to do with not wanting to be in partnership with the parents.
Tiffany
Wednesday 11th of August 2010
You have no idea how happy I am to find this via Mint. I recently moved into a new (old) house and the oven doesn't work. So even though it's so hot outside, we've been grilling a lot this summer & we're running out of ideas. Can't wait to make this! Thank you.