I met with my daughter’s teacher last week and she had great things to say about my 6-year-old.
She has adjusted very well to her new school and environment, made lots of friends and is well beyond where she needs to be, academically.
She’s pretty much a star student.
I know I‘m biased, but those were the teacher’s words, not mine.
I do back them 100 percent however.

I won’t bore you with all of the other compliments, because they just won’t mean to you what they do to me.
But given the fact that she said goodbye to her Florida friends on February 1st, started school in a new state on February 7th, tracked out five days later and then attended the YMCA for three weeks, this is fabulous news.

Toward the end of our conversation I inquired about her placement for next year and asked if teachers were allowed to make recommendations for the following school year.
She informed me that Track 2 would be splitting into two classes and they’re not sure who the second teacher would be yet, but she also said her principal values the teachers’ opinions and that she would make a few recommendations that would serve my daughter well.

Lastly, I told her I’d been studying the schedule and expressed concern about the very short (one-week) break between this school year and the next.
She understood my point but quickly pointed out that by coming back after only one week off, the students will not skip a beat and will pretty much retain all that they’ve learned.
And you know what? She’s right, and I think that’s a good thing.

So, my new attitude about year-round schools is this:
Year-round school equals Year-round learning.

And though I can reminisce about my long, lazy fun-filled summers and feel a little sad that my kids won't have the same... it's also important to remember those first few weeks of getting reacquainted with old math formulas, struggling to recall facts from last years history class and trying to develop good study habits all over again.

With year-round, this is a plight neither of my girls will have to endure.
And I think that's a good thing.