First day of School

Ben and Alex had their first day of school yesterday. They both came home smiling and made friends. 

They rode their bikes to school...

Here's Ben...

Here's Alex. Right after he locked up his bike, Samuel his neighbor and an acquaintance Issac met him and they took off toward the school to wait for the bell...

Ben let me walk him to the entrance door where at his age they change into inside shoes, then said goodbye. 

I was told Ben would be getting out of school at 1:40 except on Fridays it would be 12:30, and that Alex's school day would shift daily...I thought he would be out at 1:40 also on the first day, but I got there at 1:20 and Alex was headed out of the building. I guess there wasn't a lot going on and the teachers said if they didn't want more recess time they could leave. 

That is the same three that walked in together:) Alex then Samuel in the middle then Issac. The boys ended up coming over for awhile after school and played basketball...

So all I know about school is what they have told me (and remember they don't get the whole story, just what gets translated to them:)).

Alex says he is friends now with all the boys in both classrooms of 6th grade. He thinks they are all super friendly! Even in 6th grade he gets two 45 minute recesses/day. 

Ben has met a cool boy Matt who is from England and has been learning Swedish for a year now. Also a soccer buddy Nils can speak some English and his neighbor Anton too, but I don't think too many others can or feel comfortable talking to him yet. He seems very happy though and loves many things about the school. 

For instance, all children eat the school provided nutritious hot lunches (one choice) daily. Nobody brings in a lunch from home. 

There is plenty of recess at school in addition to the two 60 minutes of PE per week. Ben and Alex have to shower after PE.

They also have sewing, cooking, workshop, art and music where they play instruments. 

Alex gets out a different time each day, anywhere from 1:10-3:00 and next Monday, they get out at 12:30 because the teachers are playing a field trip. (They will be hiking 12 kilometers to camp ground and spending the night).

All field trips are free, they are not allowed to ask parents for money in case they don't have it it could make them feel bad.

So where do kids go after school?

Up to 9 years old they can go to an afterschool program only if their parents are working. Even at 9 though and all children after the age of 9 go home without parents there.

Alex says that starting in 7 th grade he will be allowed to leave the school during recess time and lunch if he wishes. That explains all the kids I see outside the grocery shop area where there is a convience store. 

PE could be a number of different places, including an indoor swimming pool downtown. The kids Bens age will be escorted by the teacher and even get a bus when it's at the pool, but Alex's age must get there on their own. Bike is the easiest way there and there are tons of bikes outside the school because that is the most common way to get to school. 

Alex and Ben will have about 1hr 15 min per day learning Swedish, not sure about Ben, but Alex has math 50/day only 4 days /week.

I'll keep posting more interesting things I find out along the way:)