School: Christmas disco and Olivia's graduation!

This year was Olivia's last year in her Infant School here in Australia. Her school is unique, as it only has three grades: Kindy, Year 1 & Year 2. The school is fitted with little toilets and sinks, and a big grassy play ground. The school facilitates pretend play and only provides props on the playground that encourage this kind of play. NO swing set or playground equipment (which I thought would be useful for fine motor skills since my kids still can't pump on a swing) are on the premises. My kids have gone from being handed tools to play to having to make tools to play or use their imagination; which in hindsight I am grateful for. They are hardly ever bored, and I think it is because of this school's perspective on play. For example, there is a giant stage nestled among some trees, with stage seating for people to watch. One day Olivia told me all the year 2 kids had made-up a play which they put on during recess for the other grades. Olivia charged everyone a $2.00 coin and one kindy kid told me he wasn't allowed to watch the play because he forgot his money that day.... O-gosh--she takes after me... I would have thought of doing something like that as a kid.

The school has picnic tables outside which the kids eat on everyday, a sand pit, and lots of trees to climb on. The kids are required to learn how to jump rope by kindergarten and play the recorder in year 2. It was a good little school, and I will miss it!

On the last week of school the parents were invited in to see their child graduate. Below are some pictures of the graduation ceremony! Olivia was BEAMING when she got her diploma! Way to go OLIVIA! We are so proud of you!

The graduation ceremony ended with the National Anthem which I have always wanted to tape. Here was the best I could do!

After the graduation ceremony (at the beginning of the week) the school also hosted an end of the year "disco" for all the parents and teachers and kids at the end of the week. During the last quarter of school all the kids took dance lessons so they would know how to dance at the disco. They preformed for the parents and then danced the rest of the night. Here are some pictures of the event. I am always so surprised how dressed up everyone gets!

Can't wait for Christmas!!