She didn’t even mention being photographed…someone from the church saw the picture and emailed me because he doesn’t know her as “Anna” (her real name is “Johanna,” and we call her “Jo,” but she decided to use a different nickname at school this year).
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2005/August/23/local/stories/06local.htm
Redwolf
Cool, Red. Cute daughter. My son’s going into 7th grade this year too. He’s moving up to Junior High which is limited to grades 7 & 8. He starts school tomorrow, which I will actually hate to see him go because he’s been such a big help around the house this summer – definitley growing up.
The school day tomorrow lasts one hour for everyone in our district. Then they all get on the buses and come back home. Seems like a waste of time and gas money. I’m sure there’s a good reason somewhere. Regular hours begin on Thursday.
Will O’B
I’m so glad we’ve been able to avoid the Jr. High/Middle School thing (it’s mostly Middle Schools here…PCS is unique in being 7th - 12th). I never have figured out why, sometime in the 1970s, someone decided that it was a good idea to take kids at the time of greatest upheaval in their lives and isolate them, with no one but their equally “upheaved” peers for company! When I was a kid, of course, Elementary School went up through 8th grade, which had its merits, but I rather like the idea of putting the 7th - 12th graders together…the younger kids get some mentoring.
One hour? That is short! I could see a short day, for the first day of classes, but it hardly seems worth getting up and getting on the bus for one hour! I wonder what the district is thinking?
Redwolf
We start with students on thursday. Our school year started three weeks later than normal, but AP exams are still the beginning of May, so we’ll be hitting the ground running. Rather like looking at an upcoming freight train, but in a good way 
Yip. One hour. I had forgotten that is how it is each year on the first day of school. At 10 a.m. this morning I said to Michael that he would be in school at this time tomorrow. He replied that at this time tomorrow he was going to be playing with his dog and then reminded me that he gets on the bus at 7:30, school begins at 8:00 and at 9:00 they get back on the buses and return home. Sounds more like a drill than a school day.
Will O’Ban
Probably has something to do with making sure your district conforms to all of the arcanities of scheduling according to state or local law.
I don’t start school til September 6th but today was the first day of at school Band Camp I go away on Saturday.
Anna’s a cutie, for sure.
We’re taking our time getting started, as usual… we homeschool, and after all these years, just don’t feel the need to schedule much anymore. Plus, the 17yo got his GED (passed it at 16), the 19yo scored highly on everything but math for hers, and is at tutoring for her math difficulties (cannot seem to retain anything beyond simple add, subtract, multiply, divide - this teacher is the one who make Algebra understandable for DH, so we’re hoping she can find a way with DD), so the 12yo is all I have to worry much about - we’re studying music and history this year, and she is doing artwork on a constant basis. She is exceptionally talented in drawing, and has a basically photographic memory, so I think it’s not going to be too tough. Hmmm… reminds me… I’ve got to remind her to practice that clarinet.
How exciting, Red!!! 
It’s always a neat thing to see your child’s face smiling up at you from the paper!
The school kids here started today, it seems. We also homeschool, and so my start date is a bit more flexible. I’m hoping to get started next week, but I also have to get a few more books. I’m not looking forward to the older 2 who are in 10th grade this year. I’m just not good with higher math…it’s good that my husband works at home and can help them in that area! They also are taking a Literature course given by one of the professors at our local university. My daughter is very excited…my son isn’t so excited. But I think it will be a good experience for them. Plus, I can do their assignments as well once they bring them home. I LOVE literature, and so I can have the excuse that they’ll “need help” and therefore I’ll have to keep up with their assignments
I’m told that a lot of kids at this new school Jo…er…Anna’s going to take classes at UCSC and Cabrillo College as juniors and seniors. It’s really neat to have that option!
Redwolf