Finishing Another School Year BRITISH style.

We all already know how I feel a very long school year in England:). Yes, it's nice to have all those breaks throughout the year but also how painful it is to keep sending the boys to school when the weather is sunny, in the 70s, days are long and especially when we see all our kids' neighbors play outside all day long. But that's all right. We are just not sure how we'll do it next summer with moving--maybe we'll have to withdraw them from school early.

Every school year, the school organizes a few discos (that's really what they call them) for the kids. The boys love them! They have two different ones for younger and older kids. Next school year I will try to participate in the PTA more so that I could "revise" their list of kid-appropriate songs for these dances. I have voiced my concern with a few song choices to the headmistress, who agrees with me, but the PTA  members (a few parents on the committee) are the ones who put the list together and maybe never get the message. I am passionate about these things and cannot just stand by:)

Here are the boys before the disco on July 17. 

And finally! The end of the school year! Mark finished Year 1 with Ms. Machen. 

He has learnt SO much this year, it's incredible to me. He reads so fast, it amazes me. He has been flying through "Magic Tree House" books, reading them everywhere. And he loves math, it fascinates him. This is basically his second year of school, but age-wise, he finished Kindergarten. He definitely knows a lot more of math/science/reading than the other two kids did at his age. I am glad he loves learning.

Alex finished Year 5 with Mrs. Landeryou (ha! It took me 10 months to learn how to spell her name). This is the last but one year in Primary School. Next school year he will be in Year 6, the oldest grade in his school. He is very excited about that as he will get a chance to apply to be a House Captain (like in Harry Potter). 

Alex is a terrific student! He has so much knowledge of various subjects and retains information so easily that teachers really enjoy having him in class. His teacher always tells me how great it is to have students like Alex who have very good attitude about learning and eagerness to always try to do the best they can. Alex has many friends in his class, although his best friend is actually the only other American kid at his school. I know it's still tricky for him to fit in perfectly and that's why every once in a while he keeps wondering if he should switch to the American school on base. We talk about it with him often and all the "pros" of staying at the village school outweigh the cons... for now.

He wasn't feeling well at all days before the last day of school and even missed the last but one day of school, but he managed to survive the last day. He doesn't look quite like himself here because he (as it turned out a day later) had a horrible ear infection...poor guy.

Two British lads:) 

I know they are ready for summer holidays!!! And so am I.

Lyana.