La Rentree

All the posted signs around town, all the flyers and advertisements in the papers, all the talk for the last two weeks are about “La Rentree”  - the re-entry into the school year and the fall, and the exit of summer.  The end of vacations, but with lots of new beginnings. 

The first thing I noticed was the change of all the clothing store displays.  Everything went from the light bright colours of summer (the pinks, light greens, aquas) to the subtles hues of autumn (the browns, the golds, the burnt oranges).  And I had to giggle a bit when I saw the “pulls”(sweaters) on half of the mannequins.  It is still over 30 degrees every day, folks!

Then came the last week of summer.  With it came the last opportunity to read unimpeded by responsibilities, the last dip in the swimming pool, the last trip to the beach.  The last week was a sort of grand summary of our summer.

The week was also devoted to letting the schools know that we are here.  Although our proprietaire had helped us to enroll the boys in school, there was still the final step of confirming that we really were planning for the boys to attend.  I had a meeting with Noah’s principal scheduled for Monday morning, that was then cancelled.  I was so proud of myself for calling and rescheduling in a short concise phone call.  The phone is still quite intimidating for me.  There are no facial expressions to read, and you never know if the person you reach will be a sympathetic listener, or simply annoyed that someone who does not know the system cannot even explain her basic request. 

Anyways, the rendez-vous was successful.  Most of Noah’s paperwork was completed, and I think I have followed up on most of the necessary things that were lacking.  The schools here require scholar’s insurance, a mere pittance of a fee, but still strikingly different from what I have experienced in both the U.S. and Canada.  Luckily I discovered that our renter’s insurance covers all three boys in the case of an accident on school property, or more likely, Noah socking another child on the play-yard. 

As to the doctor for the year, well, we are right around the corner from the hospital.  I keep thinking that the emergency room may just be our doctor for the year.  Although I am still trying to figure out if the required doctor’s note for communicable illnesses is only for the biggies like head lice or chicken pox, or necessary even for the more minor illnesses like colds and/or flu. 

Micah was the only one who had a definitively assigned teacher in the days leading up the Rentree, so he was the only one to receive a school supply list.  I have a newly boosted vocabulary which now includes such things as “a folder with flaps and an elastic” and “fountain pen.”  The fountain pen is definitely the biggest hit around here.  We made our best guesses as to what Julian and Noah will need. 

Another interesting aspect of the older boys’ education this year will be the foreign language requirement.  There are two languages offered, English and German.  The principal made it imminently clear that choosing English, although it would allow the boys a bit of “down time,” could very quickly lead to boredom.  So it now looks as if, in their first foreign language, French, both Julian and Micah will also be learning a second foreign language, German. 

The final preparation for the school year was the big “Salon Des Sports” that they held for all of the sporty day-off activities.  Most activities are offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with some of the activities for older children held in the late afternoon of school days.  Another major vocabulary boosting activity for me!  I can now effectively ask for and understand the information about class dates and times, at which level each child should enroll, etc.  The understanding the responses is a BIG STEP!  It is easy to smile and nod, but I find that more and more I can catch enough of the snippets to actually make sense.  That, coupled with my lack of embarrassment in asking many questions, has made a world of difference in my comprehension!

So, the last itches of summer gone, the supplies tucked neatly into the backpacks, and the class lists finally posted, the three boys headed off to their respective schools this morning.  Bon chance, enfants!