First Day of Grade 2

Today was Anneka's first day of school. I think I was more nervous than she was! (However, she tends to keep her feelings inside, while I spill mine all over the floor)

The bus came, and she got on with the neighbor's little boy. I drove to the school so that I'd be there when she came off the bus. She asked me to do this just in case she wasn't sure where to go. Luckily, there were enough teachers out there to guide everyone along, but it was good that I was there. She was a bit hesitant.

She came bounding off the bus at 4:00, and the little neighbor-boy looked at me and said "Boy...she makes friends FAST!!" That's our girl!

After school, she had a couple things to say about her day:

• First, I had neglected to pack 2 extra snacks for her. (they never told me this bit of info!) Apparently, they have 2 snack times during the day. I had only packed a lunch, so when the other kids got out their snack, Anneka just opened her lunch. At lunch time, she had nothing left to eat but a bottle of water I had sent along. Poor thing. For the second snack time, some kids gave her some of their snack because she was hungry. Ack! My heart was so sad. Tonight I made sure to pack a nice snack, and clearly mark it for her!
• She said that she made 3 friends, but couldn't remember their names.
• Then, she mentioned to Jason that during the day, a couple girls had told Anneka that she couldn't play with them. As Anneka told Jason this, she began to cry, saying "I miss my school in Winnipeg! I miss my Oma, and I miss my friends!" My heart was breaking for her. I think my Mom's visit tomorrow is JUST what Anneka needs right now. I thought about it though......she has it harder than I do. I can stay home all day. My job is the same, nothing really changes for me. She, on the other hand, has to start all over again in a new environment. I know she'll learn the ropes soon enough....but it still made me want to pummel those mean spirited girls!
• Lastly, French. Her classes are mostly English, but she has 75 minutes of French each day. (Social Studies is also in French) The other kids have had 3 years of French before this. (Jr K, and K are 50/50 French/English, while grade one and up is 75%eng/25%fr) These other kids know how to count in French, they know their colours, days of the week, months, basic phrases. Anneka knows NONE of this. She told us that she was completely lost during that portion of school. She didn't know what the teacher was saying at all. My heart was broken for her. I know she'll catch on, but still.....she's experiencing SO many NEW and overwhelming things right now....this is only adding to her anxiety. I wonder if they will give her a tutor? That would certainly help!
  

If you think of her, would you please pray for Anneka? Pray that her God would help her to learn French quickly. That she would have a supernatural understanding of what is being said. That the French would not be an obstacle in her day, but a fun new thing that she would embrace and learn swiftly.

Thanks...