1st Klasse

Tuesday was Adeline's first day of school. Another day of drizzle and cool weather, so the girls had their rain gear along with their backpacks, while Eric and I carried the cameras and Adeline's schultüte as we set out for school. We dropped Emmie off at kindergarten with no issues. We then went to Adeline's school which is directly behind Emmie's school. We were early for the ceremony, so we just waited, and then went to make sure the office had our correct phone numbers as we did not have these when we first registered Adeline. 

When the secretary pulled out her school file, a  conversation about her religious upbringing came about as the school also teaches religion class and they needed to understand what class she should attend. (There is no separation of church and state here.) Once we settled this and updated our phone numbers, the secretary then informed us, the first ceremony was at the church, not the school. She also informed us of the 2 churches that where having the ceremony and the evangelical church we would desire did not have very good parking, so it would be better to walk. We had 10 minutes to get to the church service which was about 10 minutes walking distance through the park. So off we set quickly to the church. 

As we are briskly walking through town, we hear the church bells ringing. We make it in time to the Johannesgemeinde Lutheran church to hear the church's kindergarten class sing their last song. After a few songs, the pastor then talked about how the children are like eagles leaving the nest and learning to fly and us parents are going to help them on their journey. The service also includes a nice prayer for the children, parents, and teacher. When the final song is over, the children are given eagle ornaments to remind them of this special day before they return to school. 

Eric and I notice as we are walking back to the school, we are the only ones walking. It is interesting though, as everyone else is almost parking back by our apartment, since there is no parking near the school. We arrive to the gymnasium and Adeline is escorted to the front bench marked 1A. This is her seat with her class for the ceremony that is going to be put on by the current students. 

We watch and listen to the various songs and skits put on by the classes. Then they call each child up in Adeline's class to come to the front and meet the teacher. Eric quickly goes over to instruct Adeline what to do and she nods. Her name is called so she proceeds to the front of the room, shakes Frau Kühner's hand, and stands in line with her backpack and fellow classmates. After they have called all 25 children up to the front, the kids get in a line and follow Frau Kühner out the gymnasium door and to their classroom which is in the school next door. (Here is where the tears start for me.) We are then invited to the school's foyer for coffee and cake. Eric is happy to pick out a slice of blackberry cake and I select a mandarin piece.

While Adeline is in class, Eric retrieves Emmie from kindergarten and I peek in on Adeline's class from the outside. I can see she is sitting at a desk and coloring with her new school supplies. A few other mothers also come over and introduce themselves to me and so kindly inform me that if I have any questions or would like to set up a playtime with their daughters, they would be happy to. 

Adeline's class is dismissed 45 minutes later, so we have Adeline show us her classroom and where she sits. She informed us how she first sat in a circle and then at her desk, but she had to move a few times. She also stated she knew how to do some things by watching the other students.

Upon returning home, Adeline is anxious to open her schultüte. She is delighted in the variety of treats, school supplies, and other items that are contained within. She then shows us the paper schultüte they started decorating in class.  Our celebration lunch menu of cheeseburgers and chips was selected by Adeline for this special day. She decorates her dessert cake with sprinkles and flowers for when Melanie and the girls come over to celebrate.

While we are relaxing in the afternoon, I receive a phone call from the school. It is from another teacher who speaks clearer English, asking if Adeline had a schultüte, as they did not see her carrying one. I informed her she did have one and she was thrilled that I did know about the tradition because their homework was to draw the items they received in it. Upon hanging up the phone, I inform Adeline about her first homework assignment. She sits down and starts drawing out her jewelry, bubbles, and candy. Her first assignment takes a few hours to complete as we have cake and visit with Melanie, Hanna, and Marie. By dinnertime it is complete and packed in her bag, ready for school tomorrow.