FIRST YEAR AT THE GODDARD SCHOOL
I thought I was being very proactive, a great parent getting ahead of all the other parents, when in August 2022, with Charlotte reaching the six-month mark, I began the search to enroll Charlotte in preschool in August 2024. Two years head start. I immediately learned, that for parents who have been through this process once, and now have a second kid, the time to enroll your child isn't six months after they are born but six months before they are born. I visited three schools, all had double digit waitlists and said that based upon past experiences my place on the waiting list would not likely lead to Charlotte's enrollment. What to do? I considered joining churches just to have a chance for Charlotte to attend preschool. Then on a drive home one day, I passed a new construction sign on Bethlehem Pike: "Goddard School Coming Soon". I went on a tour of the owner's Horsham location and learned that the Spring House location would be opening at some point in 2023. Charlotte became the first child on the wait list. 

After originally planning to enroll Charlotte after she turned two, the excitement of being part of an inaugural class from the opening was too unique of an opportunity to pass up. I'm glad that we did. Charlotte would begin preschool at the 19-month mark. The last few months at home with Charlotte became a lot to handle. Once she began walking, reaching, and grabbing, it became a bit trickier to work and watch her at the same time. The days of putting her on her tummy and watching her crawl around were long gone. The common refrain in the days leading up to her Goddard School start was "she's ready". And she was.
I wasn't sure what to expect with Charlotte's first day of school but should have anticipated that there'd be some tears from her. This was the first time that she'd ever be away from Mom and Dad without it being at Lola and Papa's house. And a whole new setting. There was lots of crying the first week. A little bit of crying the second week. By the third week she was leaving me at the classroom door and running off to begin the day's activity.

​Photos from the first day of school:
Year one class photos - Charlotte's a bit of a bugger when it comes to smiling in photos.
Photos below are from late June 2024 - the last day of school for the Pre-K kids at Goddard but Charlotte then spent July and August in "summer camp" before starting her second year at Goddard after Labor Day.
The Goddard School uses an app to share photos and daily reports. For the first year, it seemed like I was downloading photos every day. I'm not sure how much true educational learning goes on in the first year of preschool and whether that first year is really just a glorified childcare but the Goddard School kept things interesting - each day Charlotte was involved in different activities and exposed to new experiences. During the summer there were splash days when she wore a swimsuit to school - those were the easiest days to get her dressed and ready. Daddy wished everyday was splash day. The other kids in her classroom seemed to be a lot of fun to play with and also well behaved.

We started preschool with three half-days, then in January 2024 expanded to four half-days, and by August 2024 Daddy couldn't wait to begin four full-days in September. Monday through Thursday. Daddy likes having Friday's off to spend time with Charlotte or have her spend the day with Lola and Papa.

Photos are in reverse order - newest/most recent, where Charlotte is at her oldest, appear first.