Today is Monday August 29, 2011
The first day of the new school year for DoDDS students. (Kindergarten begins next week, right?)
There are many happy and proud (and likely relieved) parents who watched their children go off to school or went with them to their new classrooms.

Does anyone have stories to share?
Are there any traditions or special things you do with or say to the kids to mark this important day? 

Well, it's the first year my daughter will ride the bus.

That's exciting, kinda. Kinda nice that the schools on Kadena start so late also. Zukeran started at 7:15, compared to 8:50 for Bob Hope. 

Bob Hope Elementary School; the "sitting panda eating bamboo" mascot school.
Are pandas native to Okinawa? Or maybe they were Bob's favorite animal?

7:15am start for school at any age is difficult.
Even harder for the kids living offbase who ride the bus, they probably have to wake up at 5am! 

My boys transferred from Bob to Zukeran, happy do since HS starts at the same time, makes for dropping kids off my easier, we were up at 530, left at 645 , not enough time do, tomorrow alarm goes off at 500 

kindergarten starts tuesday. should be good. so far i like the teacher. 

We will be on our way there the beginning of Jan. I believe on Futema (sp?) My son just started Kindergarten this year, and i was curious what school he would go to out there. I just wanted to look into it and see what day they go back in January. Thank you 

The Winter Recess for DoDDS Okinawa schools starts early this year; on Monday December 19 (actually you can also add in the weekend) and classroom instruction resumes on TUEDAY January 3, 2012.

There is extensive information on the DoDDS PACIFIC website. (click on this blue font)

The school assigned to your child is based on where you live, either on or off base. Thus, you will likely not know which school your child will attend until you are in Okinawa.
Anyone else have firsthand knowledge on this? 

aprilj:

There is no MFH located on MCAS Futenma.
If you live on base you will probably be offered housing on Camp Foster or Camp Kinser (or possibly Camp Lester, maybe even Kadena Air Base). 

Yeah, so I had a fun first day.

I go to pick my daughter up from the bus stop, and she doesn't get off the bus.
This was her first time ever riding the bus to school, so I kinda freaked out just a bit.

So, I started walking back to my house to get the car to drive to the school and pick her up. (I assumed she was still there and never made it to the bus.)

As I get to my house, my daughter starts running up the street with tears in her eyes.

Somehow she had gotten off at the wrong bus stop, about 6 blocks from our house. (The bus aid had told me she didn't get on the bus.)

Yeah, that won't be happening again. She, and the bus aide are now well aware of her bus stop. 

How old is your daughter Culp?? Poor girl. I know for kinder at least, they don't let them off the bus unless a parent is there. 

She is 7, in 2nd grade. I guess most of the other kids got off at that stop, so she thought she had to as well.

She now knows very well which stop to get off at. It was a good (bad) experience for learning not to follow the crowd. 

My son came home with two hours of home work, second day in a roll. The note that was sent home stated that all children will have two hours of homework a night on top of 30 minutes of reading.
WTF is the teacher doing all day if my child has to do 2 1/2 hours of homework a night?
I think homework is so freaking stupid in elementary age kids. 

Dang, how old is your son? My kids haven't brought any home, yet. 

My son is 7 in the third grade. 

that is a lot for a 7 or 8 year old to handle. 

my kids in 5th and thats how much he is getting also. I think its way to much also. Its snack time, schoolwork, dinner, school work, shower and bed since Monday. I can see studying spelling words and another hour of work, but that should be it. They need to still be kids and have some family time. 

Dang, mine are in 6th and 8th and have yet to bring any home.. 

I can see studying spelling words and another hour of work, but that should be it. They need to still be kids and have some family time. 

I can see the small stuff read for 30 minutes look over spelling words. Not a wholes day load of work. Its not even friday and he's burnt out... Its going to be a long year for him and me both. :c( 

Loving my kids teachers.. both are able to finishes most of their home work while waiting to be pick up by the SAC bus :)