Who knew how difficult this would be?
The first conundrum is trying to decide where The Gaffer will go to kindergarten next year. There’s a great public school almost directly across the road. They have a daycare. But the daycare opens after I have to be at work. And they do not have part-time rates so I would be paying full fair for partial days and have to find somewhere else to drop her off before school. And I’m having a little trouble giving up Jesus.
I went to an RC school, as did Mr. Husband. We go to church regularly, we celebrate the sacraments. It shoud be a no brainer, but after sending 2 1/2 kids through the neighbourhood separate school (Sir Talksalot left after Grade 4), I am disappointed by a lot of what I did and did not see in the curriculum and throughout the extra-curricular programs. No after care here and rumour is the nursery school across the street that sometimes provides care does not open until 8:30 – too late for work again. I don’t know for sure because they have not returned my phone calls.
There’s another public school, still within walking distance, but out of our jurisdiction. They are waiting to see what happens with registration next week before they decide if they will take out of district kids. Our favourite caregiver, in fact she’s so good, I’m going to give her first name props "JANET" lives in this district and may be able to help, depending on working things out with all her other little charges (referred by me!!!) but I am not even sure that we can commit to that. Thank goodness she’s not advers to these regular "what if…" conversations with me.
There’s also another private nursery school not far from us who apparently offers JK on an alternate day/full day basis, but since I work M W F one week and T Th the next, it may not work.
I think the best plan will be to go with the Catholic school and try and find a part-time nanny/housekeeper, but never having hired this kind of assistance or even looked for it, I may be too naive.
Our next problem, was finding all the documentation. I am an already admitted clutter hound who drowns in disorganized paper so locating the baptismal certificate was a bit of a challenge and we have never even gotten an immunization card, but they let me sign up without it. Phew!
Then there was the threat of the long line and first come first serve preference for mornings. Fortunately the storm seemed to circumvent that.
In the end, I have decided to apply everywhere and then pick when everything else falls into place. Don;t worry you parents who worry about staffing issues, I will withdraw from the schools who will not be lucky enough to have this wacky family in plenty of time to ensure their numbers are accurate.
I hope JK proves to be a bit more like university. Brutal to get into, but fun once you’re there.
You will be indundated with advice about this, but here’s mine: find another mom in the ‘hood who is taking kids to school (whichever one you choose) in the mornings where you could drop the Gaffer on your way to work. The mom can walk her to school with the other kidlets and then she could go to the daycare after school. Depending on timing in the morning, you could even strike a breakfast deal or something. The Gaffer shows up dressed and backpacked but unfed and the mom feeds her with her own kids before setting out.
We’re going through the same debate right now. Kind of. We decided on the school, but it’s the child care. I’ll be on mat leave for the first while, but we’ll have to figure out childcare. It’s not a fun prospect.
We’re thinking a nanny. Who knows.
What’s the point of having a daycare centre that opens at 8:30? I’ve never heard such a thing. Right now, I have three kids on three different schedules (one in school full days, one half-days and one not yet in school). We had a nanny until December, but we’re now juggling out of the home childcare arrangements. No solution is perfect, I’ll tell you that. Best of luck with it all.
wow – that is so complicated! it doesn’t sound like the schools you mentioned know much about the schedules of working parents. I’m currently going through the debate of French Immersion or not for my son, who’s currently in SK at Montessori. He has to make a decision by this March or he’ll lose his chance at Immersion. I’m hearing so many mixed views that I don’t know what to do! Good luck with finding something great for your baby.
Wow. I can’t imagine a daycare opening at 8:30? I thought they pretty much all opened at 6 or 7??? If I were you, I’d pick the SCHOOL you want…that will be with the Gaffer for 6? 8? more years and will be her main source of friends, etc. Then find a caregiver to work around that. A nanny who will come to your house is great, because it eliminates the morning rush and allows her to remain in her own environment. Just my .02, though.
I hope it all works out for the Gaffer, and for you! There are a lot of people in your situation in the ‘hood. The before and after school care is a huge issue, and is a big reason why I didn’t return to work before now. I wonder why these daycare/nursery schools don’t capitalize on this and just charge an extra fee for early drop-off?