Elle Belle Works Hard and Plays Hard

How is it the last day of my first year of preschool? Preschool has taught me so much like separating and sharing, mastering circle time, holding jobs, and acquiring essential life skills. I will always treasure my first year of school.

As I am feeling transitional, I want to share all of my unfiltered preschool emotions, intensity of my school experience, and let you in on some outrageous secrets of silly students, talented teachers, and type-A parents but, instead, I will share the top 10 things I learned in my first year of preschool.

Elle Belle is an adorable preschooler who lives in the Upper East Side of Manhattan with her magnificent mommy, dapper dad, and baby sister. She can be reached at [email protected] or like at facebook.com/ElleBelleNYC.

How to wear a backpack
I put it on at home, wear it to school, and then ask Mommy to take it home for me but not to forget to bring it back for pick-up.
Grown-ups always come back
While I never looked back or shed a tear, it was sad to see my friends cry at drop-off when their grown-ups left. But we learned that grown-ups always come back even when we don’t want the school day to end.
Teachers have songs for everything
I learned a song for the days of the week, the weather, holidays, rain, rainbows, metamorphosis, recycling, and more! And unlike at home, the louder we sing it, the better!
Some jobs are better than others
While I only held each job for one school week, I immediately learned that I am more a line leader and elevator button pusher type of girl than a tissue box holder or snack helper. But don’t worry Mommy, I don’t want to be those when I grow up but these jobs just help me learn responsibility.
They tell parents to leave extra clothes and underwear for good reason
There was no warning saying don’t paint yourself at school or don’t spill water everywhere or you have to wear the awful, extra clothes someone else picked out for you (but my teachers knew it was mine thanks to the labels that school requires with my name on it).
Everyone must use their words
We are always encouraged to use our words especially to share and take turns. But it’s hard sometimes. There are so many toys but everyone wants the same big, red bouncy ball on the rooftop playground. And you won’t believe what some kids will do to get it. But by using my words to ask nicely, I got my turn!
Wash your hands before everything
At school, we wash our hands when we arrive, before we cook, before we have a snack, after art (especially when we paint our hands different colors and then shake hands to make new colors), after the potty, and more. My hands must be sparkling clean!
Teachers are called teachers because they teach us a lot
Teachers are magical! They make learning fun and know something interesting about everything (like how to best build a tower, paint a masterpiece, and when to say "Mamma Mia"). I love my teachers!
Preschool is way fun
From cooking (think rice krispie snow balls!) to science (turning caterpillars into butterflies), we are always doing something extraordinary at school.
Preschool friends are forever
Until now, my grown-ups picked my friends and play dates for me but at school, I made my own friends and naturally, everyone became best friends. I love play dates and park adventures and everything with my school friends. We picked each other and will stick together like crazy glue.

Park Shore Country Day Camp

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BAX Brooklyn Arts Exchange

Our School Breaks Arts Programs offer enriching and fun opportunities for young students during their time away from school. The President&rsquo;s Week, Spring Break and Summer Arts Programs foster creativity, encourage exploration, and provide a positive and nurturing environment. Drawing on BAX&rsquo;s year-round education programs, students explore different disciplines throughout the week (including circus, dance, music, theater, tumbling, and visual arts), while balancing fun creative play activities throughout the day/week. BAX also offers daylong intensive Master Classes for young artists ages 10-14 that coincide with the Spring Break Arts Program. These exciting classes provide students with an opportunity to explore BAX&rsquo;s signature Theater, Modern Dance, and AcroBAX tumbling programming with BAX Faculty. Students are expected to have prior experience with their chosen discipline (minimum of two prior classes). &nbsp;