On the way home. . .

The kids' school is part of the "Goldstein Youth Village," 

which is a closed campus that hosts about 5 different schools. 

The grounds are beautiful, lush, green and well kept.  

We enter at the "top gate" and walk down a big hill to pick the kids up after school. 

That means that we get to walk back up the big hill on the way home, all five kids, a double stroller, multiple bags and backpacks and an out-of-breath mom.

The following pictures are taken in sequential order as we walk home.

It's hard to tell how big the hill is, but it sure is a good work out! 

This is where I wait for the kids.  I usually wait by the post in the sun. 

The school is off to the left in the picture.

Starting up the hill and looking back toward the school, which is behind the trees.

The little white rectangle is the sign for the 

Jerusalem American International School.

As start up the hill and look to the left, this is the view.  In the second picture, the washed-out white building above the shorter pine trees on the left is our house.  From a number of spots at school, I can actually see the windows of our house.  

I love being so close to the school!

The grassy hill is where they often have recess and games of soccer and tag.

Margaret has always loved collecting little beautiful things.  The other kids have now all joined her in her passion.  The current favorite is collecting fallen flowers from the garden of impatiens.  We end up with many colorful petals on top of our stroller.

Halfway!  Phew.

There are always lovely flowers in this little round-about, to cheer us up when we stop to rest.

Someday, we'll post pictures on the rest of the walk home.  

But for now, this will have to do!

Quick School Stats:

Margaret - kindergarten - 18 kids

Maya - third grade - 16 kids

Walter - fifth grade - 13 kids (first male teacher - Mr. Ken)

"Special" classes - French, art, gym, music,  computers, swimming, library and music (band for Walter who is learning the xylophone and bells).  

And they all have at least one recess every day (usually two!)!

School starts at 8:00 and ends at 3:00.

(Longer than NY, but we get a lot packed into the day.)

We love the school and are grateful to be here.  

It is a perfect fit for our family right now.