First day of high school and 8th grade. Oh my!

The kids started back to school on Wednesday. Neither the,kids or I were ready for summer vacation to be over but what can you do?

 Peter is a 9th grader (my baby is a freshman!) at Bishop McGuinness High School and Sarah is an 8th grader at Our Lady of Mercy.

 Every year, the kids make me take a silly shot.  This year, they did not.  So, I did what any good mother would do and I requested that we do a silly shot.  (I'm a little sad that they feel too grown up for this tradition but they started it, so I'm going to finish it!)

Don't worry - those are shorts.  Sarah never wears a skirt without a pair of shorts underneath it! 

Since Peter's high school is 30 minutes away and in another town, we are doing a carpool with 4 other families.  The carpool leaves from Sarah's school so it is perfect for us since we will be going there anyway.

Here is the carpool crew!

This is a fine looking group of Our Lady of Mercy graduates if I do say so myself!

The first day for these guys was for 9th graders only.  It was a day long orientation.

When they got out of the car a large group of upper classmen where waiting on them with horns and bells and were cheering for them.  Peter said it was "awkward" but I think it sounds pretty cute.  The mom that was driving carpool on Wednesday said the looks on their faces were priceless. 

They started the day with a prayer service.  After that they met Big Brothers/Big Sisters (upper classmen) who showed them where all their classes were.  And they had games/icebreakers/getting to know you type activiteis in the gym.  They went briefly to each of their classes and basically got a feel for the school without the rest of the school being there.

Peter said he had a good first day but still seemed a little hesitant.  BUT - yesterday which was more of a normal day since all the students were there - he said was a really good day.

Sarah, who is a seasoned 8th grader, said her first two days were fine.  Nothing too exciting because, yawn, she's ready to go high school.  No surprise there because she's been saying she wishes she could skip 8th grade and go right to high school. 

Um - NO! 

So, that's our first day of school in a nutshell and now we are on to day 3.  I am hoping and praying for a great year for my kiddos!