La escuela

In Spain, school registration happens in March. We couldn’t register the boys for school until we had our Spanish Foreigner Identity numbers (NIE: número de identidad de extranjero) which we didn’t receive until July and our Empadronamiento (a census registration that everyone has to apply for any time you move in Spain), which we couldn’t apply for until we arrived in Spain in August. So when we went to register the boys for school September 2nd (the first day the school offices were open), we were told at both boys’ schools that there were no spaces for them.

As residents, we are guaranteed a spot in one of the local schools, just not necessarily the school we live next to. So we filled out an application at each of the boy’s schools and waited nearly a week to find out which school they would be accepted into.

In Spain, Leo is in the 4th year of colegio (4th grade), based on his birth year. This means that he is put a grade higher than he would have been at home. Leo is ecstatic (he’s been asking to skip a year since he started kindergarten). We think he’ll do just fine since he is ahead academically, and he is still the tallest kid in class.

Luckily, Leo got in to our neighborhood school. It is literally next door. I can look out our front window and kitchen window and see the play ground and watch him exit school and walk home by himself. After driving the kids 15 minutes each way to their magnet Spanish Immersion school, which is not our neighborhood school, for 7 years, this is a real treat.

Oliver is going into 1st year of ESO (seventh grade), the first year of what is basically Junior High, including grades 7-10. Oliver was not placed in the neighborhood school, which would have been a 4 block commute. Instead he is at a school on the other side of town. Initially we were disappointed. But in this town, across town means 0.6 miles, or a 10 minute bike ride. Additionally, from appearances only, this school seems much nicer.

Just like any new year of school, families are given a list of school supplies to get, including books.

There are a couple of differences in how the supplies and books are attained however. To get the supplies, you go to any neighborhood book/paper store (Librería/Papelería). You wait in a very slow moving line for your turn to get up to the counter. Once at the counter, you read the items on your list, one by one, and the person behind the counter gets the things on your list. “One pencil.” The woman reaches back to the shelf and grabs one pencil. “One pencil sharpener.” “Would you like red, blue or green?” “Blue please.” She reaches back and gets the pencil sharpener. And on and on and on. That is why the line is so slow moving.

Then, there are the books. All of the books are provided by the government, but you have to bring your stamped and signed document listing your child’s name, NIE number, school, level and the list of books to the Librería/Papelería pick them up.

Leo loved getting his supplies and didn’t mind the long wait.

Leo’s school started 4 days before Oliver’s and runs 9-2. They have a recess and snack at 11:30, but have lunch at home after 2. Oliver’s school runs 8:15-2:45 (also with a recess and snack around 11:30) but no lunch until he gets home around 3. This schedule will be tough for him, since he has get up so early and wait so long for lunch.

The safest route to school delightfully includes riding along the beach boardwalk and a pedestrian only street.

Oliver’s schedule includes PE, música, art, and French (more electives than he gets at home)! Leo’s schedule also includes PE, música and French.

Both of their schools are bilingual centers so they have some English during the day. Leo’s science class is taught in English and he has an additional English as a second language class twice a week. Leo says his teacher’s English isn’t so great. He had to slow down so she could understand him. Today they were supposed to write their favorite English word. He chose supercalifragilisticexialidocious. Just like Leo, Oliver says his English his English teacher’s English isn’t very good.

They also are required to take a religion class. They were offered Catholic or Ethics and Social Values. The boys chose Ethics and Social Values.

Oliver’s first day of school didn’t work out great. A teacher mistakenly directed him with the wrong group, so he spent the entire day going to the wrong classes, with the wrong kids. He was pretty discouraged. The second day, we went early, got everything figured out and he had a great day. Turns out, he wasn’t the only kid to go with the wrong group. Additionally, we were told when we registered that his teachers would tell him what supplies he would need on the first day of school. Everyone else showed up with supplies however. So, again, he felt discouraged.

He’s made friends with one of the other kids who went to the wrong class. He also played soccer at recess with one of the kids from his soccer team. Now that he is making friends, he’ll be a lot happier.

I’m proud of the boys. Starting at a new school in a new country is hard, and they really are being troopers.