Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Wistful Wednesday : First Day of School 1981 and now

Guess that makes it 34 years ago.  We were living in North Moorhead and the girls were going to George Washington Elementary School a block and a half from our home.

Trica was beginning 4th grade and Jennifer was beginning Kindergarten.

1981 first day of school

Looks like Trica had a Strawberry Shortcake Satchel…and Jennifer probably had a Strawberry Shortcake book bag.  It must have been a chilly first day of school.

Kindergarten was difficult for Jennifer. She didn’t like leaving me alone/being away from me.  She walked with her sister to school in the morning.  I was to pick her up at her classroom…over a few weeks I met her across the street from the school…then at the end of the block and finally I waited on the front step…and before it got cold I got to wait inside the house!  Kindergarten was only half days back then.

Trica is finally through with school unless she decides to take more classes.  Jennifer goes to school everyday to teach and she is taking a Graduate Class this year….not sure why…maybe she misses being a student… she has her MFA already.

The Grands went back to school yesterday, we have an 8th grader (Adam), Junior (Paige), Post-Secondary Options Program Student(Noah) and a Senior(Maddie)…and Savannah is taking classes at Northwest Technical College.

Noah should graduate with a two year degree the same time as he graduates from High School.  Paige is also taking some College Level Classes that her High School offers.

Seems like only yesterday that they were trudging off to school with their backpacks almost bigger than they were.

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19 comments:

Henny Penny said...

The girls are so cute! I have a picture of Andee and Lynn that looks a lot like this one except they are wearing red shawls that mama had crocheted for them. Those shawls were popular back then.

Marty said...

How wonderful that everyone in the family is so academic. And graduating high school with college credits already under your belt!

DJan said...

That is really a cool program, to get college half done before you even finish high school. He must be academically talented. :-)

thecrazysheeplady said...

I love first day of school pics :-).

Tired Teacher said...

Nothing matches the excitement and anticipation of a new school year - the smells, the sounds, and the possibilities.

As a retired high school teacher, who taught dual credit classes, I have mixed feelings about college credit for high school students. While it helps with tuition and college expenses I'm not sure how appropriate it is for most of the students. Many struggle when they get to the college campus for classes, not academically but socially. They are in classes with older students and their level of maturity for the assignments does not match those of the older students.

Mac n' Janet said...

It does go quickly, I can remember mine starting school, we were in Darmstadt, Germany. Now she lives in Japan.

Red said...

The grands are okay trotting off to school. It's your own kids trotting off to school that really packs a punch. How soon will it be before your great grand kids start school?

Linda Kay said...

Great report on the grandkids and how they are all doing in school. I've noticed that there are more and more opportunities to take higher level courses in high school now, cutting out some of that expensive college time and giving kids a bit of a leg up. Good for them!

Ryker said...

Great memories!!! School has been in session for over two weeks now in Alaska. Flu season is here already keeping this school nurse busy!

lisa said...

I bet they just love this picture ;=)

Cynthia said...

First days of school memories are unforgettable! Happy to be back in Minnesota to be with my grandboys on their first day of first grade yesterday.

Sam I Am...... said...

Aren't they just the cutest! It does seem just like yesterday for me too. Amy had Strawberry Shortcake but she hates it now...go figure. I did her whole room in it....maybe it was a bit much? LOL! Teachers have to do a certain amount of continuing education I think to stay current and after so many credits I think they might get more money too. Amy is a teacher in Iowa and she's always taking classes.

Linda Reeder said...

We measure our lives by our children's milestones, and then our grandchildren's.

Country Gal said...

Lovely photo ! I remember our kids going back to school after the summer vacation . Heck I have photos of me from the farm getting on the bus lol yes they grow up fast that's for sure ! Thanks for sharing , Have a good day !

Anonymous said...

Great photos. Great memories. I should be out of school at my age, but I liked it enough to work in education all these years. Yea for everyone back at school!

Anonymous said...

I have enjoyed getting to know your children and grands thru your blog. I appreciate that you share their lives with us. Time seems to go too fast! Larry is with his grands in CA. They'll be transferring to TX in the near future.

Granny Marigold said...

Such wonderful memories. This year one grandson starts grade one and another grade 12.

Jacqi Stevens said...

What a treasure to have those landmark moments captured in photos...but then, of course you would!

Rita said...

They grow so quickly! I loved school. Cute picture of the girls. :)