Pro’s and Con’s…

Audrey got accepted to the school we had been waiting to hear from! This is great news, but presents a small problem – of do we leave her in the school she is currently enrolled in? or do we go ahead and move her to the other school for Kindergarten?  I hate to move her around, but I’m trying to weigh the pro’s and con’s for beyond just next year.. since it is a possibility that we may be here for 5 years, she could be in school here as far as the 4th grade…. I am trying to figure out what to do

   American International School (school she is already enrolled in)

Pro’s	Con’s
-wear uniforms	hardly any American's
diverse group of kids gives a more cultured educational experience	Much farther away – hour and a half hours drive time (round trip/day)
already familiar	high focus on English as a second language in early years – which she doesn’t need
wear uniforms, wear uniforms, wear uniforms	worry about the transition from this school back to USA schools
early release *1:10
it is good enough for what she needs at this age

 

             American Community School

Pro’s	Con’s
close to villa	kids wear regular clothes *daily fight about what she will wear
stronger focus on education	another school change – this would be her 4th school in less than 2 years
atmosphere of the school feels more like schools back in USA	no uniforms, no uniforms, no uniforms
more American students – easier cultural transition back to USA schools
later release – I could utilize Will’s naptime to do other things	later release – less time with her at home
better school for the long-term
supported by US Embassy

*I asked her current teacher about the education at both and she said that for the early early years, it doesn’t matter, they are the same, but as she gets higher into other grades, ACS is a bit tougher with education.  She mentioned that it is great for her to be around so many kids from many cultures, but ACS is also diverse. 

After seeing it out on the screen, it seems like if I could just have uniforms at ACS, then it would be a perfect school for her and our family.  I have to do what is best for her in the bigger picture, long term.. and as much as I HATE to move her, switch her and up root her once again, I have to.  I do not want to regret years of her schooling (and possible harder transition back to USA) over a minor switch before Kindergarten.  I’ve been torn up about it and seeking God’s will all day… my only reason to keep her at AISA is so selfish of me.. I don’t want to battle with her about her clothes – but I can easily solve this by just throwing away the stuff I dislike so much. {sigh}.

…for what it’s worth, she wanted to go to ACS after having to do an assessment there for enrollment.  When we were in the waiting period to see if she got in for the fall,  she got accepted into AISA for the current school year, she didn’t want to go at first because she wanted to go to ACS instead… since it wasn’t a possibility we put her at AISA for the remainder of the current school year.  I’m still very happy we got her into a school, it has made our transition to life here so much better.  She will be fine.