School, Amusement Parks, and Apples

September's big huge event was the start of school.  Zoe joined the ranks of children all over the country in the morning ritual of donning a backpack and trekking off to school.  Big girl school, as she calls it. 

Ontario provides two years of kindergarten - junior kindergarten (JK) beginning in the calendar year when a child turns four, and senior kindergarten (SK) the following year.  At our school all of the kindergarten classrooms, nine in total, integrate JK and SK with the same instruction provided for both ages.  While many schools across the province are pushing toward all-day kindergarten, Zoe's will remain a half-day endeavor for the next two years.  Thankfully!

   

Zoe on her first day of school.



No family member was left out of "first day" photos. 

 

On the steps that lead directly to her classroom.

 

Immediately outside her classroom is the playground.



There are three elementary schools within a few blocks of our house. (Approximately 450 to 500 kindergarten students are enrolled between the three schools collectively.  We definitely live in a child-friendly neighbourhood!!)  While the majority of Zoe's friends are attending the other two schools, one of Zoe's best friends ended up not only in the same school but in the very same class, making both girls very happy.

  

Dancing on the school's front steps.

  

As September week days were spent settling into new routines, the weekends brought warm temperatures and sunshine.  Perfect for the season's final visit to Centre Island with another of Zoe's best friends and her family.
  

Zoe on the Frog Hopper - an all time favourite.

 

Enjoying the front seat view on the Dragon roller coaster.

  

Screaming is part of the fun!

 

The log ride - another favourite.

 

Navigating a fire truck is serious business.

 

Determined to get this antique tractor moving.

 Another nice weekend called for an outing to another amusement park, Canada's Wonderland, with the same friends.  This was Zoe's first visit to Wonderland.  If she has any say in the matter, it will not be her last.  So be it.  


Everything is more fun with a friend.

  



Even Mum and Dad snuck in a few "big kid" roller coasters.



September closed with an apple picking outing to Chudleigh's Farm.  Acres and acres of juicy, ripe, delicious apples!  Followed by a farm playground, multiple trips through the maze, and a meander through the petting pen full of hungry, young farm animals.