Michelle Smiles

Teaching my children to question authority, except mine.

Saving graces

December15

Anyone who knows me in real life, knows that I am not enamored with Sabrina’s pre-school.  I mentioned here once my initial frustrations in a vague way.  I continue to have mixed feelings about her school.  They set such high expectations when I toured the facility and I just don’t fee like they lived up to their own brochure.  They treat Sabrina well and she is happy there so that is what is really important.  For a variety of reasons (cost, distance, logistics, my disenchantment), Tessa will not attend the same pre-school when the time comes but it has been a good first school experience for Sabrina.

All of that said, the school has recently done 2 things that makes me almost give up my slightly hostile disgruntled feelings toward them.

1. They didn’t force me to sit through a cheesy, crowded, chaotic, melt-down filled holiday program.  THANK YOU.

2. They didn’t take the traditional school photos.  The art teacher did the photos.  They are gorgeous and interesting and not a small kid sitting against a blue-ish gray background with hands folded in her lap.  LOVE.

If they don’t make me sit through a cheesy, chaotic, crowded, melt-down filled “graduation” with silly caps and gowns AND do more cool photos in the spring, I might just end our year there with warm-ish, fuzzy-ish feelings toward them.

posted under family
13 Comments to

“Saving graces”

  1. On December 15th, 2010 at 10:42 am Angie Says:

    Oh my gosh I love the holiday programs! Gabbie is doing 3 songs and practicing already. Her voice is so cute! I can’t wait! I think you are missing out there.

    I must say the photo is beautiful though! Gabbie’s school does slightly different photos too but Sabrina’s turned out wonderful!

  2. On December 15th, 2010 at 2:14 pm Kim Says:

    We got the regular photos and I am jealous of yours. Lilly and Emerson have a Christmas program tomorrow so we’ll see how that goes. We will also be skipping the graduation in the spring since my kids will have to repeat preschool thanks to Ohio changing the birthday requirement for kindergarten. My two are almost the exact same age as Sabrina (one shares her birthday and one is a few days older), but they won’t be allowed to enter kindergarten next year. =(

  3. On December 15th, 2010 at 3:25 pm Sonia in MO Says:

    Now that is a darling school pic of Sabrina! Love how colorful and bright it is – and the subject couldn’t be cuter! We get the boring photos at Hannah’s school – and we will have “graduation” complete with cap and gown. But Hannah’s first pre-school, which was double the cost of her current one and supposedly so much more advanced, was a miserable experience for both of us. At her current school, she ADORES her teachers, is learning SO much, and I’m actually sad at the thought of her leaving it in August for kindergarten. So I live with the cheesy graduation and boring photos!

  4. On December 15th, 2010 at 7:11 pm heather Says:

    that is a gorgeous photo of sabrina! i wish our school did stuff like that! (we don’t even get pics for preschool) ðŸ™

  5. On December 15th, 2010 at 7:20 pm Gibb Says:

    Most schools are not going to measure up to their brochure or even to your initial tour/meeting. They will always paint a picture that would be hard for anyone to actually live up to. But if she is happy and learning and likes her teachers, that is huge. Hang in there.

  6. On December 15th, 2010 at 9:09 pm TJ Says:

    Our preschool is a bit on the hippy side and we do nice photos too. One of the moms in our class is a photographer and did all of the photos. They are very artsy and nice like yours. She framed them for us as well. We paid $25 and the money went to the school. I totally agree that I would rather have a nice artistic photo than the cruddy school portraits. BTW, the photo of Sabrina is beautiful!

    I hope you find a school for Tessa that you enjoy all the way around.

  7. On December 15th, 2010 at 10:28 pm Bobbi Says:

    That picture sure could melt anyone’s heart!!!
    You will have plenty of those concerts to attend when school starts……I went to five the past week…..just saying..

  8. On December 16th, 2010 at 2:01 am Stephanie Says:

    Wow – that is the best school photo I’ve ever seen. It’s vivid, interesting, artistic, and crisp. [She looks adorable!].

  9. On December 16th, 2010 at 11:03 am Jordana Says:

    That is a great picture of Sabrina. What a cutie.

  10. On December 17th, 2010 at 12:57 pm Burgh Baby Says:

    That photo is AMAZING! If you were to see Alexis’ school photos, you would laugh. Pink background. Yes. Pink. It’s pretty bad.

  11. On December 17th, 2010 at 5:47 pm Alleen Says:

    I’m certainly jealous of those for school pics! We got the oh-so-lovely, choose your background and pose cheesy, cruddy ones. At least Miss G was cute in it!

    I guess I’m in the minority and look forward to the holiday program. And I must say, what a difference in this year’s age group vs. years past.

  12. On December 19th, 2010 at 11:10 pm Martha Says:

    Love my girls christmas programs too, though they sure are overcrowded, been begging the director to stagger teh performance times so not all parents come at the same time but she didn’t listen again

  13. On December 20th, 2010 at 6:52 am Ani Says:

    Oh my word, Sabrina looks so grown up in that picture! Its just beautiful! I must admit, I love the school programs – I’m the nerdy mom with the video cam documenting the debacle 🙂