Getting into Preschool

So we have begun the process of getting Danny into the American school here that is down the block. He will start preschool there in the fall. The school can be summarized as just down right amazing. Think your closest ivy league private school near you and the school here is probably very similar. (Of course the price tag is as well. Yet as all the schools here are private so there is little choice in this matter). The fascinating part in this all of course is the application process. Back home, unless trying to get into some ivy league preschool--which we would not be trying to do, you simply choose the one you want and they begin at the beginning of the school year. Here there is a booklet application. Plus referrals from Danny's current preschool teacher. They also wanted to see his performance review from the school (yes, I had a parent teacher conference this past fall--it said things like--can spell his name, colors within the lines most of the time, has trouble jumping over a six inch Kleenex box--we hope the Kleenex box jumping won't be black mark against him :) ). After this process was completed, Danny and I (Dustin had to work) were invited to attend a performance by current elementary school children and then take a tour of the school. I signed us up (already trying to appear interested and involved) and Danny and I went this past Thursday.

They had a nice little buffet breakfast before the performance for the perspective students, their parents and the parents of the children in the assembly. The admission staff were really nice to Danny and gave him an interesting coloring book about making the transition to Shanghai. Danny and I watched the performance and then he began to color as it was a little longer than we expected. After the performance we traveled around with two other families to look at the school. The staff was extremely informative and kind.

I did find it funny though that the one lady coming with us (turned out to be the head of the admissions department) kept taking notes throughout the tour. I did not take note of it until we saw a board, towards the end of our tour that advertised getting involved in cub scouts. Danny went over to it excitedly and I talked to him about how Dustin had been a part of this group as was his Uncle Jeff and that he could do it as well. I notice the lady began writing when Danny had gone over to the board, but did not think much of it until later I just happened to see her clipboard. Sure enough she had written down cub scouts. Thank goodness Danny had been well behaved as he and probably myself were being graded as we went along.

The good news in it all is we found out just the other day that he has been accepted, and we just await him being given a seat, as they call it, and doing his interview--yes they actually schedule a time for even the preschoolers. In all fairness at the preschool level they just invite them to the classroom and they play and they are observed while they do this. Apparently for the purpose of making sure they are ready to be in school. Whew!!! Pretty amazing stuff.