Kindergarten ALREADY?!?!?!

Well we've started the search to find what school we want to have Katlin attend come fall. We had it all planned out prior to our move for TC we were going to try to get her in Grand Traverse Academy.
Well yesterday we toured the Midland Academy of Advanced & Creative Studies, we were VERY impressed. Small classes, very one on one attention so if the student is ahead in one area they will keep them excelling and if they are behind they work with them to get them where they need to be. They also have Kindergarten like we used to have 5 1/2 days instead of full days or the split schedule most schools have gone to.
They have a TREMENDOUS art teacher, when we toured her room Katlin didnt want to leave. The teacher invited her to join the Kindergarten class one day. The art work we saw displayed for all the classes (which was everyone not just a select few kids) blew us away.
They have library where they not only get to read books, the librarian reads the newest popular book to them all AND they all learn how the books get organized and shelved and have to assist with that.
They start them with computers learning to type correctly and use the mouse etc in Kindergarten and they have them start journaling in the early elementary grades. In Kindergarten their main focus will be Language Arts & Math and within those they incorporate Social Studies & Science.
They also start spanish in Kindergarten, and the teacher that teaches the little kids spanish is the same teacher that teaches the high school kids advanced spanish.
They also have a music program for the kids with both vocal and instuments. They have a school band which we got to hear practice as we were leaving. They have a spirit squad in the high school which would be like cheerleading. They also do an all school play or musical each year so they have Drama....
We were also really impressed with the kids we saw, as we popped in and out of different rooms all the kids were very friendly saying hi and making a point to talk to Katlin about coming to school there. Several of them also took a few minutes to chat with Keira.
As they move up in the grades (the school is K-12) they continue to challenge the students. In High School the students in the honors classes are provided a laptop computer since they are required to do a thesis prior to graduation. The students that are not in the honors program have 16 computers to share.
They keep the classes small for example this years Kindergarten class is 18 students. This of course keeps the classes small through out the entire school. The average graduating classes were less about 6-9. It was hard to tell for sure actual senior class sizes as some of the students were not in the class photo since they had graduated in January and were already in a University.
As we left the school both Chad & I talked about how we may have been different in school with a place like this. He may have actually LIKED school and applied himself, and I may have actually been driven to do more instead of just skating by cuz it was so easy.
Here is a link to their website if you are interested in seeing more about it...http://www.midlandacademy.com/
Katlin is just over the moon about going to school. How did she grow up so fast?! She wants to start NOW we keep reminding her she has to wait til after she turns 5. So I see come her birthday in April we are going to have to really explain why she has to wait til fall for school!! I just hope her excitement for school continues on.
We did explore the local school which is only about 2 miles from our house but the 1st thing we weren't happy with is the fact that for Kindergarten they start them out with 5 full days of school.. Their average class size for Kindergarten is 20-25 which from what I've been told is still considered small. But I just feel especially since shes never been in a daycare or preschool setting that a full day with kindergarten is going to burn her out fast. Plus studies show that the kids learn better with the 5 half days for kindergarten. So our baby is growing up and fast approaching her school days, how exciting and depressing at the same time.