Freshman Orientation

LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts had their freshman orientation the other evening.  J and I took the subway there.  It takes less than 30 minutes from our house.  This is great - lots of kids who go there spend over an hour each way on public transportation.  B met us there after work.  When we arrived J had to go and get a folder full of paperwork.  She gave them her last name and they handed her the folder.  That's the first time I started getting teary-eyed.  They had a folder with her name on it.  omg she is really going here.

In the concert hall, we must have heard "congratulations" a dozen times.  This school knows it's special and has no problem letting everyone else know, too.  One speaker said there were thousands of kids who weren't accepted and that they only accept the "best of the best" and how in awe they are of them.  I was getting teary again.  Then when the principal said "Welcome, class of 2014!", that was it - I was a mess. 

We watched a slide show of lots of famous alumni (to the tune of Irene Cara's "Fame", lol), went over curriculum and procedures, filled out a bunch of paperwork, and J got her school ID picture taken.  We got a summer reading list and she'll take a math placement test in June.  She recognized a few kids from auditions and made friends with a bunch of other kids just on the line for ID pictures.  This is probably the 4th or 5th time I've been to the school and each time I've taken note of the wonderful staff and students.  They are kind, helpful, and funny, and they really appreciate what this school is.  If I had to describe in one word how the school feels, it would be:  comfortable.  It just feels...right.  That's weird for me since I usually dislike something before I like it, lol. 

The best part of all is that J is giddy-excited about going there.  She loves everything she's seen so far (B & I have, too).  I'm so proud I can't stand it.