So I filled out the paperwork this morning to register Captain Jelly Belly for full-time French Immersion next year. Many thanks to Sinnick, Hardcormier, and MyFriendJen, whose personal testimonials really helped change my mind on this issue. I’m still nervous, but I think it’s the kind of nervous that just comes from not knowing exactly what is going to happen, which is a pretty silly kind of nervous but one that plagues me constantly all the same.

We’re hoping that FI will help make school more interesting and more challenging for the Captain. He likes JK but we are well aware that most of what they are learning is really easy for him. This month they are learning about the numbers 6 and 7, and the letters R, D, and M. The Captain can already count to 1000 and do simple addition and subtraction, and he can sound-out most three and four letter words. So learning basic numbers and letters is a little on the boring side.

Since he has the math and English stuff down cold, one of his favourite subjects is actually French, because he is learning new things and that is exciting for him. He’s always singing little French songs around here and using French words randomly in sentences, which is apparently a very good sign. We had an info meeting on Wednesday at the school and they were talking about how the more advanced kids in FI will be doing this sort of thing — using the odd French word in an English sentence — by the end of SK. So maybe FI won’t be quite the challenge we think it will be, but at least it should give him something fun to play around with.

At the info meeting on Wednesday, I thought they’d be all gung-ho French Immersion, but actually, they were suprisingly guarded. The principal was there and she said that one of the hardest things for parents and kids is to withdraw from FI at the end of SK or in the middle of Grade One, and so, we should be really sure that this is something that is right for our kid before starting the program. She said that if there is any doubt at all, we should stick with the English stream. Not exactly encouraging given my pre-frayed nerves on the issue, so thanks there, lady. I filled out the paperwork anyhow.

It’s on to new adventures! Or shall we say, les nouvelles aventures.