29 June 2007

School update and Connor photo

First off, here's a shot of Connor as requested by his nursery school for September. It's from earlier today.

Now, here's Claire with a few words...

The nursery school also wanted a short list of things he likes doing. Along with the photo this goes into a book sent to all the kids before they start in September. I wrote 'pulling faces, doing animal imitations, singing, riding my balance bike and playing with cars and trucks. I could have added 'destroying things made by my brother', as he confessed to me tonight before going to sleep; 'Eoin build a tower and I knock it down.' This took place this morning at the Washington Heights Academy, which will most likely be Eoin's school in September, a new development since we returned from holiday on Tuesday. Paul found an email from them with the offer of a place the night we got back and took the chaps there this morning to register. It's another of the public schools that uses a lottery; they had wait listed us and we had discounted the possibility of getting in because everyone likes it and there are very few spots for kids outside the immediate catchment area, of which Eoin is one. It is a bit further away than the other school we thought he would go to, but is a new school on a temporary site and may move closer to us as it grows to a brand new school building that they have applied for. There are just 3 years ahead of Eoin, so will grow with him. The aim is that it will go up to age 14, rather than 11 as at where he was set to go. It also has other advantages- class sizes of 22 rather than 25, better organisation, and a more even ethic composition. Anywhere else he could have gone he would have been in a minority, but his class will be 50:50 Hispanic and nonHispanic).

We are so delighted that we'll be a bit sad if he gets into the UN school in some ways, but would accept such an offer anyway because if we turned it down that would close off the option for the future. So we'll let you know what the fates decide at the end of July.

27 June 2007

We're home. Safe and sound.

We're back in Manhattan in one piece though the boys were not at all well but fine now the morning after. Posts to follow.
Paul.