WildOlive
07-08-2006, 11:25 AM
We will be starting K in the fall with Lydia. I've heard for years about this 'Friday School' for homeschoolers. It alwasy sounded really fun, but I do know of several families whose children went for a year and they decided not to continue, citing money issues. It costs around $140 per child.
From what I've heard, they do art, music, choir, drama club, gym, and even downhill skiing in the winter, if the child wants to.
Anyway. I fully intended to enroll Lydia, as I thought it sounded really neat, and would give her a chance to be with other children, as we are pretty isolated here.
Today I got the application and information packet in the mail. They don't take just anyone. Per the enclosed letter:
"Please understand that families that apply must be approved and that entrance is not automatic. Important factors include bu are not limited to; husband and wife in agreement about home-schooling, the children do not have any major behavior problems, and your pastor is supportive of your involvement with (name of program)."
I've also learned that the church this program is associated with has held Ted Tripp conferences.
The kids also have to wear a uniform.
They sent me last years' schedule, and for K it looks like this:
8:30-9:20 Toddler Nursery
9:25-10:15 Choir
10:20-11:10 Toddler nursery
11:15-12:05 lunch adn story time
12:10-1:10 (dismissal time) Toddler nursery
So it looks like all the K's do is choir, and play around. I'm not sure I want to drive 40 minutes and pay $140 for that. In 1st grade they can do art, gym, choir and 'character class'.
The problem is, I've really, really talked this up to Lydia. But all these above things add up to a major disappointment to me, and I really don't want to enroll her in this program. It sounds way too uptight for me. I was anticipating something much more laid back, and I don't think what my pastor thinks about homeschooling should matter at all. (He is supportive, but that isn't the point. It just irks me that it could even be a consideration)
Lydia has a really good friend who is going into 1st grade and is also HS'd, I am now thinking maybe I can get together with her mom and come up with a weekly activity getting the kids together. She has 7 other siblings, and they are all HS'd. We're both doing FIAR and SOTW, so we could really coordinate some activities if we got our act together and pl;anned them out. It might take some of the sting out of not doing friday school for Lydia.
Am I being unreasonable? Should I at least try it, or should I go with my gut feeling?
From what I've heard, they do art, music, choir, drama club, gym, and even downhill skiing in the winter, if the child wants to.
Anyway. I fully intended to enroll Lydia, as I thought it sounded really neat, and would give her a chance to be with other children, as we are pretty isolated here.
Today I got the application and information packet in the mail. They don't take just anyone. Per the enclosed letter:
"Please understand that families that apply must be approved and that entrance is not automatic. Important factors include bu are not limited to; husband and wife in agreement about home-schooling, the children do not have any major behavior problems, and your pastor is supportive of your involvement with (name of program)."
I've also learned that the church this program is associated with has held Ted Tripp conferences.
The kids also have to wear a uniform.
They sent me last years' schedule, and for K it looks like this:
8:30-9:20 Toddler Nursery
9:25-10:15 Choir
10:20-11:10 Toddler nursery
11:15-12:05 lunch adn story time
12:10-1:10 (dismissal time) Toddler nursery
So it looks like all the K's do is choir, and play around. I'm not sure I want to drive 40 minutes and pay $140 for that. In 1st grade they can do art, gym, choir and 'character class'.
The problem is, I've really, really talked this up to Lydia. But all these above things add up to a major disappointment to me, and I really don't want to enroll her in this program. It sounds way too uptight for me. I was anticipating something much more laid back, and I don't think what my pastor thinks about homeschooling should matter at all. (He is supportive, but that isn't the point. It just irks me that it could even be a consideration)
Lydia has a really good friend who is going into 1st grade and is also HS'd, I am now thinking maybe I can get together with her mom and come up with a weekly activity getting the kids together. She has 7 other siblings, and they are all HS'd. We're both doing FIAR and SOTW, so we could really coordinate some activities if we got our act together and pl;anned them out. It might take some of the sting out of not doing friday school for Lydia.
Am I being unreasonable? Should I at least try it, or should I go with my gut feeling?