Things Have Changed Since I Was in Kindergarten

At last week's informative kindergarten orientation, I learned a few new things that I can expect for my boys this year. It was an assured reminder that things have changed a bit since my 1970s-knee-socks-wearing days. Here's what I've learned so far:

- Milk is no longer 5 cents a carton, it's 40 cents.

- A kindergartner is expected to attend school for a full day (9:00-3:00) with only one recess after lunch.

- The majority of winter recesses (i.e. more than half the year) will take place in the indoor classroom, where kids can release their pent up energy by participating in calorie burning activities such as...doing puzzles. Hmmm, and why do you suppose childhood obesity has been increasing exponentially over the last 25 years?

- On the first day of school, a kindergartner's first bus experience ever will consist of two different buses with two different drivers and two different groups of children- one on the way to school, one on the way home. In addition, the afternoon return bus will stop by another school, so that yet another set of kids can join the group, before the kindergartners are delivered home to their mothers.

- All kindergartners will stay home from school so they can participate in Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur celebrations this year.

- Segregation in the schools has been reformed. All peanut-free students will sit separately from the pro-peanut students.

- Children are required to bring their own water to school. There are no working water fountains. Students must bring two drinks each day- one for snack time and one for lunch. Since children won't be exerting themselves on the playground during recess, additional water won't be necessary.

Should make for a very interesting year. Here we go!