School Choices

One thing I love about living in Colorado, is the many school choices available!

In Illinois, we had to make decisions between private ($$$; hardly affordable), public schools, or home school.

In Colorado, there's a variety of Charter Schools, Public Schools, Cottage Schools, and Home school academies (ALL FREE, I might add).
 From January 2nd to February 20th, the School Choice Window is OPEN, which means that one can attend school information nights with tours .... and then try and determine student's first two choices, if schools outside their own neighborhood is a better fit.  An electronic form is filled out via school districts website; the family prints the form and takes it to the District office ... and waits.  Waits until April 1st, to see which choice was successful, and where their child can attend school in the fall.  That is ... unless they're also interested in a wait-listed school, which means they'll check to see where their child is on the wait list before taking steps to enroll in their "choiced" school (after April 1st).   Confused yet?
It's wonderful having so many options to choose from, including a smorgasbord of home school options, but it IS a little crazy choosing just ONE!   :)
We live in District 20, one of the best in Colorado Springs, and we're in the midst of making decisions for two of our children.  Here's a newspaper article you may find interesting, explaining everything. {click the link under Gazette picture}

http://gazette.com/school-choice-winners-and-losers-in-the-battle-for-students-in-pikes-peak-region/article/1545184

We've completed school-choice paperwork for our youngest, besides longing to hear from a wait-listed Classical school (includes the Cottage school option, too). 
I'm excited for April 1st, when things should begin processing/developing. I'm praying God grants me the patience not to think about this constantly until then!
For our oldest ... we're waiting to see how things pan out at his present school, waiting for God's guidance for our final decision. He will either continue at the Charter High School he's now attending, or change to the Public High School in our neighborhood.
We think our Middle child is doing just fine at his present Middle School, and we're letting him "be".

Overall, if you've ever dreamt of moving to Colorado, please make the move before your children are school age, or at least before Middle School! Changes and choices are much easier with young children.
When I dropped off my "Choice" application at our District's office, the room was packed full with families of Kindergartners. Besides feeling my age (I'm an OLD mom!!), I realized how fortunate they were, starting out "choicing" schools for Kindergarten.   :)

{By the way ... even though homeschoolers must fill out an "Intent to Homeschool" form at the beginning of the year, the state rules are not as intimidating as I first thought. There's amazing options in Colorado for homeschoolers. I simply didn't delve into homeschooling in this post. This is a GREAT state to home school in, as well.}



Learning .... ever learning ...

It's winter in the Springs!

Snow falls several inches deep, freezing rain drizzles through heavy fog ... and schools remain open! So far, we've only had 2-hour delay's, and no cancellations.
We were quite spoiled in the state of Illinois, with all the school closures. :) 

In my opinion, the snow I drive in Colorado, feels exactly the same as Midwest snow (tires sometimes spin while starting-up or stopping; slick spots). Yes, Colorado snow is more dry this time of year, but gets packed down and icy, just like Midwest's snow.

In spite of the snow, Coloradoans continue-on, normally.

Mix snow & slick roads with crazy, risk-taking Colorado drivers, and it's a scary combination!  Haha!  :)  {seriously, the only thing we don't like about Colorado, is the crazy drivers. They take more risky chances}

Each Colorado snowfall is no more than a Midwestern snowfall.  It typically snows 3-5 inches, then melts within two days.
Yes, Colorado Springs' (total) snowfall is more than Midwest's ... And, yes, I understand that Colorado Springs gets a large snowfall each spring, and that the Midwest gets ice storms.  I'm simply considering "typical" snowy days, along with a few "why?"'s.

Coloradoans remain "mobile" within each snowfall, in spite of snow plows leaving subdivision roads and side-roads slippery & un-cleared. One can hardly see a few feet in front of them because of the fog; but life continues on, as if Coloradans ignore the weather. Schools remain open, children are taken to school through snow-filled streets, while radio stations encourage caution on the roads.

Coloradoans usually have 4-wheel-drive vehicles, not because their winters are worse than Midwest's, but because they live "life as usual", in the midst of snow. As the snow melts, it gets dirty and slushy just like Midwest's snow. When people tell me Colorado snow doesn't get dirty or slushy, I think they must mean "long-term". Our recent snow was getting very slushy & dirty (yuck) .... and then the sun came out and dried most of it up (hence, no more dirty snow). I'm sure tomorrow's sun will work more of its magic ... and I'll need to sweep dirty water out of the garage again!

I remind myself that having grown up in South Bend, Indiana (near the Great Lakes), I should be accustomed to driving and living in snow. However, after living in SW Missouri for 7 years, and then Belleville, IL for 9 1/2 yrs .... my calm, relaxed, "experience" with snow seems to have worn off.  :)
I'm quickly re-learning though, especially with our steep driveway, requiring strategy in getting a vehicle up the slippery incline. I've been able to successfully park in our garage, expect for when the children decided to make a skating rink out of our driveway while I was out shopping. All the sliding around, backing up in the street to "go for it",  tires spinning and/or squealing ...    :)

The older I get, I discover I'm still learning .. and re-learning ...

...including the study of Algebra and Geometry, and fine-tuning my writing. College tuition in Colorado is more expensive for residents who have been here less than one year. Not wanting to lose the Algebra skills already re-learned in Illinois, I'm tackling Algebra & Geometry on my own, thanks to homeschool curriculum!  I am hopeful to reach past Algebra II by this summer, but we'll see how far I get. My goal is to do well on the placement exam when I walk into my new College's testing/counseling office.   :)
As far as writing goes, I feel it's a gift I've neglected for some time. I'm needing to DO something about it before I grow any older!!!!!!!!
Yes, it will take determination and time management to take care of my family, AND work on Algebra, Geometry, and writing.
I'm constantly in the process of learning  ... and re-learning ....