malia's first day of PREschool

Malia has started preschool! She is SO excited about it. Last year we did joy school with some neighborhood moms and ever since we stopped in the Spring she's been asking when she can "go back to school".  After MUCH discussion/stress/waffling (who woulda thought choosing a PRESCHOOL would be sooo stressful? Aaargh!!) we finally decided on Planet Preschool with Diane Mangum.  I love this place!  It's three times a week for three hours and is right here in the Edgemont area, about five minutes from our home.  Miss Mangum is loving, smart, organized and has so much experience with kids.  I love her!  She has so many things planned for the kids this school year - they have show and tell, crazy/fun dress up days and a fun field trip about once a month.  On back-to-school day, Malia received her new school bag (which Miss Mangum made (pictured above)) - it has her name on it and will carry her folders back and forth from school.  She loves it and again, is SO excited. 

The goal at Planet Preschool is to teach kids to "love to learn".  Miss Mangum put her philosophy on education in Malia's folder and I loved it so much I wanted to put it on here.

"The best thing for being sad is to learn something.  That is the only thing that never fails.

You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins. . . you may see the world around you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honor trampled in the sewers of baser minds.  There is only one thing for it then - to learn.  Learn why the world wags and what wags it.  That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, ever alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting.  Learning is the thing for you."

-from The Once and Future King by T.H.White

Merlyn is speaking to Wart (King Arthur as a child)

I love that! And after looking at sooo many other preschools, I really appreciate it.  She teaches the kids to love to learn through games, songs, activities and fun. I'm so excited for Malia this year.  

Malia and Miss Mangum

*Special thanks to Wayne for helping me decide where Malia would go. And especially to my mom for listening to me hem and haw over all the preschools and giving me great advice and helping us out with the Grammy/Papa scholarship.  Love you mom!