Proud parent of a . . .

... soon-to-be Southwest Middle School Sentinel!

We went yesterday to register for sixth grade! Emilyn and I had been at Southwest Middle before, but this time we were really studying it like the prospective sixth-graders we are.

The main part of the school is a huge, open "commons," which is the auditorium and cafeteria all in one. Each grade has its own wing, or "house"... and the sixth grade house is blue. Emilyn can sign up for one elective, and she chose orchestra. She chose choir as an alternate, but we're pretty sure she'll get into orchestra. The fine arts wing is across the commons from the sixth grade house. Each grade has its own counselor and its own vice principal. The sixth grade will have two sections, Explorers and Navigators. Each comes with its own set of core-subject teachers.

Everyone we met was very nice, including the kid volunteers who were there to show us around the building. Later in May, there's a coffee night for incoming parents, and of course the kids will get to spend the day over there before their fifth grade year is over. Southwest takes in kids from Sorrento, Wren Hollow and Oak Brook elementaries. Oak Brook is where Allen goes to preschool. All three schools are very close by, as is the middle school.

The first time we were there, it was kinda big and scary... but this time (at least for me) it felt a lot more like home!