A day to remember. First day of Kindergarten

This is one of those posts that I have started and deleted, started and deleted, started and deleted. Trying to figure out how to get this out right. Kindergarten.
Three years ago we started preparing. I thought since we have had so much practice with sending him off for his first day, it would be like every other year. But this year it was different. This year things mean more. He is starting to build his school experience.

It didn't hit me until we were sitting in his Orientation program where his teacher was going over what they would be working on. I felt like we were unprepared. That there would be no way he would be able to keep up and this is just kindergarten. Like all the work we have been doing was not enough. We hadn't worked hard enough. Guilt Guilt Guilt. BUT this orientation was his typical classroom. It wasn't a review of the progress he has made over the last 3 years and all the goals he has mastered. And that is what we have to remember. It is these moments where things feel overwhelming and we try so hard to look past the gap and remember how proud we are of where he is.
We have chosen to push Owen hard this year and keep him in his typical class for AS MUCH as he can handle. He will have support for sure but it means he will be challenged and we will be challenged to not get overwhelmed.

We have been blessed with an amazing placement of teachers. Teachers who are so supportive and believe (like we do) that inclusion is what is best for Owen. Words can not express how impressed we have been with his kindergarten teacher, the special education staff, the principal and para. And it is ONLY day 1! One thing stood out to me yesterday, his kindy teacher said to me, Owen is my student not the paras, not the special ed teachers, my student. I will be here to help him through. This is so different from how preschool was. The special ed teachers drove everything and I had a real hard time getting the preschool teachers to engage. Mrs. Schnackenberg is not afraid. She is so willing to work with the team to figure out how to make this work for Owen and have him in her class. We believe this is very important at this age.
And what teacher calls a mom after the kids go to art to let them know how his day went? She does.

Another great thing is how excited Owen is about school. So excited he got VERY upset with me this morning when I brought him to daycare instead of school. He just didn't understand that the bus would pick him up at day care. He just kept saying teachers teachers teachers and cried and cried. He wanted to go to school. He wanted to see his teachers.

So how was his day? I was lucky enough to be able to pick him up from school and talk to some of his teachers (and I had that phone call from his kindy teacher). They all told me he did fantastic. I met his para. She will be with Owen in his typical class so he always has someone there if he needs any 1on1 assistance. She told me Art got a little long so they took a break outside for a few moments. But other than that he was able to participate with the rest of the class.

Mrs. Schnackenberg told me one of his classmates did ask about his hearing aids. So she took the opportunity to sit everyone down and share Owen's story. She made it a teachable moment talking about Owen's "Zebras" and why he wears them and how they help him. She could have just let it go and answer one little boys question but she is building acceptance for Owen and I truly appreciate that.

Day 1 a success. Now on to day 2!