The school year has begun for the Bardwell boys! Since Australia is in the southern hemisphere, they start school in late January/early February, which is the end of their summer. They do 4 terms, with a 2 week break in between each term, before ending the year in December before Christmas. Today started the first day of Term 3 at Brompton Primary School!
As you can see, everyone wears uniforms at this school - taking out the conundrum of what to wear each day.
Micah has started Year 5 - as they call 5th Grade here. The classes at Brompton Primary are 'composite classes' - or mixed grade classes. So Micah is in the Year 5/6 room, and has kids in both Years 5 and 6 in the same room. These types of classrooms seem to be pretty common here. He made 2 new friends on the first day, both of whom I met after school today, who share his love of Minecraft! But don't worry, friends at home, you'll never be replaced :)
Eli started Year 4, and is in the 4/5 classroom. He has a male teacher this year, which is a first for him! His teacher's name is Leo, and in Australia, students refer to teachers (including the principal) by just their first names. I'm not sure this is something we'll ever get used to! Eli has suddenly decided he'd like to try liking soccer again, and joined a group of students playing as soon as he arrived. Kids start and end the day in the "yard" (the playground) which is where parents pick them up and drop them off.
So - the boys will start school in the 2nd half of their grades here, and when we return to the States in December, will do the 2nd halves of the same grade again. Also, while it will technically be their longest year (since they're starting in July and not ending until June), they will actually probably attend the least amount of days ever, between planned school breaks and our travel/vacation schedule. It will be a very unusual (and, if today was any indication, also a great) year for them.
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