For several weeks now, I’ve been reading tweets and blog posts from American moms whose kids are back in school already. “I keep getting emails about back-to-school-sales,” said one tweet this morning. “We’re already on the 4th week of school!”
Four weeks already?! It’s only just September!
This is something I’ve always found surprising. In Canada, teacher friends are back to work in mid-August, which I understand. It must be tough, but I get the need for some prep time. But kids too? And, for some of them, school starts in early August? I can’t imagine.
Where I’m from, school starts in September, usually after Labour Day. (We have the holiday, too, but we spell it with a ‘u’. Crazy Canadians.)
The end of August is filled with vacations, visits to the beach, and impromptu trips for ice cream – making every effort to squeeze the last drops of sun out of summer.
My son starts preschool this year, three mornings a week. His first day isn’t until the 12th of September, so we have a couple more weeks of full-time fun ahead. My husband, who stays at home with our son, has registered him for swimming lessons this week.
They’ll also have more play dates and trips to the museum, some time at the park and maybe a movie. We still have the sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat permanently packed in a little backpack, ready for any outing that strikes our fancy.
Summer took a long time coming here this year – we were well into July before having consistently nice days. Maybe that’s why I’m hanging on to summer this year and feeling as though it’s way too early to be starting school. (Or maybe, like thirdeyemom, I’m just not ready for him to be going out into the world on his own.)
While I enjoy summer fun, I’m looking forward to the changing seasons too. As fall nears, I start to look for leaves turning, feel the cooler air at night and turn my attention to the year ahead. I’ve been out of full-time school for 15 years now, yet September always feels like the start of a new year to me. I look wistfully at flyers for school supplies, wondering if I can muster an excuse to buy myself some new pens.
But for now it’s barely September – hot, with brilliant blue skies and seemingly endless sunshine.
Where I’m from, it’s still summer.
When does school start where you live? Does the start of a new year mark the end of a season for you?
This is an original post to World Moms Blog by Robin Farr (MamaRobinJ) of Canada. She can also be found on her blog, Farewell, Stranger.
Photo credit to the author’s mom.
Well I’m living in Switzerland right now and we’re half way through the third week. Coming from your neck of the woods, I agree, it’s tooooo early! On the first day of school we had 35 degree weather. You shouldn’t be going to school you should be going to the beach!! The nice thing is though that they get 2 weeks off in October for a break.
Here in Brazil the school year actually begins in February. Then there are about 6 weeks vacation from mid June through the end of July and another vacation after the second semester (about 6 weeks again from mid-December to the end of January). After all, it’s basically summer all year 🙂 (except if you live in the southern or southeastern regions of the country).
Malaysians start school at the start of each year, as we have no seasons. School ends in November (I think) with a couple of month-long holidays in between (I think), and another couple of week-long breaks (I think – I’ve been out of school too long to remember!).
Nice post! I love the photo too. We used to start after Labor Day but not it has changed. We are almost done with week 1. I can’t wait for the long weekend as I am missing my son Max terribly. Although I still have Sophia here the house is quiet and feels empty. I’m sure I’ll get used to things. It doesn’t feel like school should be in session as today it is supposed to be 96 degrees! Beach time! I love fall too but winter gets long here. I’m sure that is when I’ll really start missing Max being at school all day. Enjoy your last few days of summer!
Robin, I’m with you on this. Here in Alberta (not where I grew up), school starts today with the beginning of September, which I think is crazy. As I kid I always knew school would start after the Labour Day long weekend. It pains me to think that families are being robbed of this last summer hurrah. Many kids go to school for just one day this week – what’s the point of that? The idea of going back to school in August seems just nutty to me. True, our summers are shorter, and as you suggested maybe that’s why we hold on to them as long as we can. At the same time that I am lamenting the end of the season, I’m excited that my guy will start at a new preschool this year. Excited, panicked, optimistic, worried…
Here, in New Jersey, USA, most public schools start just after our Labor Day Holiday, which is the first Monday in September. I don’t know how it varies exactly state to state, but I know that Maggie Ellison’s schools in South Carolina go back in August. They also get out earlier — in May, whereas, our schools don’t get out for the summer until June.
The summer breaks began way back when when the children would need off for the summer to help their families harvest. Maybe the different harvesting schedules in the different climates paved the way for the beginning and end of summer break? I’m totally guessing on that one!!
Great post, Robin!! And, I love the comments from around the world!
Jen 🙂
In France the kiddies start next Monday the 5th. Yippeeee!
I hear you sister! Back to school is Tuesday for us {usually right after Labor Day}. Any sooner would be so hard for me!
For the record, I secretly think we start then so it’s after The State Fair. We Minnesotans take our friend food SERIOUSLY.
Ahem.
Great article as always, girlfriend!
I keep forgetting that your lovely face is Canadian too. I work in the US and always found it odd that the kids went to school so soon. Why is that? Summer isn’t over yet!!
In Poland school starts 1st of September. If somehow 1st is on Saturday or Sunday than it’s the Monday after that. It ends June 23rd. It’s really weird how it works here in US.
In India school starts the first monday of June. It ends March last week. I am glad we are off for the hot summer. Summer is so tiring.
If only my kid were potty trained we could start real preschool. Can’t wait. August, September any time! 🙂
my girls attend year round school. My oldest is in middle school (6th grade, with grades 7 and 8 in the school with her). My other two girls are in elementary school ( K and 3rd grade). Their year round track has off 3 weeks in October, January, April, and July. They go nine weeks on, 3 weeks off. So their new school year started August 1.
We start school after Labor Day too. I always find it odd when people are talking about going back to school in the middle or beginning of August…and I’m from the US! To me, that’s just too early. It’s still summer!
Schools in the northeast US start the last week of August or the first week of September. Our start date this year was to be Sept 1, but Hurricane Irene has delayed it so we are starting Sept 6. Typically the last day of school is mid to late June. Last year, their last day was June 24.
When I lived in Alabama, we started around August 7 – August 11. Our last day was mid- to late May. It’s a geographic thing. Originally it was so the young men could be out of school to help out with the spring planting.
Thanks, everyone! This is so interesting. I knew school started at different times of the year in different parts of the world, but I had no idea there was actually that much variation!
Hi Robin,
Here in New Zealand we have our main holiday over the Christmas period and the kids go back to school at the start of February. It’s the hottest month of the year (generally) which is crazy – we usually then have a two week break around Easter, another two weeks in July and the final two weeks at the end of September/start of October. There is a lot of variation around the world. 🙂
I’m in Nevada and we start one week before Labor Day. This isn’t a problem for the young kids but when you get into college it conflicts with Burning Man so many students miss the first week of class.
I completely agree with you Robin! I live in New York City and schools start after Labor Day (my son goes back next Tuesday, Sept 6th). Universities do go back a couple of weeks earlier (like mod-August) which I always found hard while I was attending.
My two year started August 1, but as a part of what they call a “summer program”. The Montessori school he attends is year-round. Of course, it’s just pre-school.
I’m with you! We’ve had a horrible summer this year weather wise. It has even rained A LOT in August which is usually unheard of. Our kids don’t go back until Sept 7th so this weekend we are squeezing all we can out of these last days of summer!
I’m Canadian too, as you know, and September is when I’m used to everything getting started. With our summer starting so late it feels like summer just began!!
Love the picture!
Enjoy your last few weeks, hope he has a wonderful time at preschool!
I’m in the states, but my son doesn’t start until this week (after Labor Day), and I’m thrilled! We filled this last week of August with hikes, park outings, and a trip to a water park. We are hosting a BBQ tomorrow with friends and it’s supposed to be 80 degrees (F)! What a great way to wrap up summer. My nephew in San Fran started back to school on Aug. 15th. I think he was cheated!!!!!!