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Sienna’s POV
I stood in front of the grand gate of the private elementary school, gazing at the school’s name elegantly
engraved on a marble plaque. The gate was tall, made of sturdy black iron, adorned with purple bougainvillea
flowers cascading beautifully on both sides. From inside came the cheerful voices of children, mixed with the
sharp whistle of a PE teacher.
Noah pressed his little face against the gate, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Mommy, Daddy this place is so
cool!” he exclaimed enthusiastically.
I smiled at him. His excitement felt contagious, even though inside me was an unease I couldn’t quite explain.
Choosing a school wasn’t just about facilities or prestige. This was about Noah’s future. About the new world he
was about to enter.
I lingered there in front of the gate, sensing an invisible weight resting on my shoulders. The morning breeze
carried the scent of bougainvillea petals falling one by one to the ground, adding a peaceful touch. Yet my heart
was racing unevenly.
Beside
me,
Liam stood with his hands in his pockets, watching Noah who was practically glued to the gate.
From his expression, I caught a hint of pride slowly surfacing, though he tried to keep his face calm. As if he
wanted to hide his surprise that the little boy who once always refused to take afternoon naps was now ready to
step into a whole new world.
I took a deep breath. Flashes of the past crossed my mind nights when I had to read fairy tales until my voice
went hoarse just so Noah would stop crying, mornings when I rushed to prepare his lunchbox while battling the
weight of exhaustion. None of it felt wasted, because today, that child stood here with sparkling eyes, eager to
learn and discover the world.
Other parents passed us by, some holding their children’s hands, others chatting about registration schedules. I
watched them, and without realizing it, felt small, afraid Noah would later be compared to other children, afraid I wouldn’t be able to give him the very best.
Then I felt Noah’s little hand clutching my fingers. “Mommy, can I see inside?” he asked hopefully. That touch instantly calmed me. I looked down at him, smiled faintly, and nodded.
I glanced at Liam. His eyes met mine, carrying a subtle signal as if to say we could get through this together. For
a moment, I believed it.
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Outside the gate, cars stopped one by one, dropping off new prospective students. Some looked neat in white
uniforms, some hid shyly behind their parents. Noah was the opposite he stood tall, his eyes locked on the spacious yard inside, the small garden, and the cream–colored building reflecting the morning sun.
I knew the next step wasn’t just about opening the school gate. It was about opening a new door in our lives for
Noah, and for Liam and me as well.
I squeezed Noah’s hand a little tighter, my feet beginning to move slowly toward the registration desk near the gate. The tightness in my chest hadn’t gone away, but there was a flicker of excitement sneaking in, carried by my son’s eager smile.
“Come on, let’s go in first,” Liam said calmly, patting Noah’s shoulder.
We walked along the neat pathway, lined with little gardens on both sides. A few students who had just finished
sports passed by, laughing, dressed in their white–and–blue sports uniforms. I could see how alive the
atmosphere of this school was.
A middle–aged woman with a warm smile welcomed us in the lobby. “Welcome, how may I help you?”
I stepped forward. “We’d like some information about this school. For our son.” My hand instinctively pulled
Noah a little closer. “His name is Noah.”
The woman bent slightly to greet Noah, then smiled again. “Alright, please follow me to the administration
office. The head of student admissions is there right now.‘
We followed her down a clean hallway, its walls filled with displays of students‘ artwork. There were bright paintings, collages, and photos of school activities. I studied them one by one and quietly smiled. I wanted Noah
to feel an environment that valued creativity like this.
In the administration office, a man in a light blue shirt introduced himself as Mr. Johan. He welcomed us
politely and invited us to sit down.
“So, you’d like to know about our school program?” he asked as he opened a brochure,
I nodded, “Yes, sir. Our son will be starting elementary school. We’d like to know more details about the learning system, activities, and also the facilities.”
Mr. Johan began explaining patiently. He talked about the curriculum that combined academic learning with creative activities, as well as a variety of extracurricular programs ranging from music, sports, to foreign languages. There were also special classes designed to build children’s character and leadership skills.
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Turning the pages of the brochure in his hand, Mr. Johan highlighted several key points. “Here, we believe children learn not only from books. That’s why, in addition to the national curriculum, we also include thematic programs that encourage them to observe, research, and retell. For example, in a theme about animals the children don’t just learn from pictures, but also create small projects, draw, and sometimes even visit the
ZOO.”
Noah, who was sitting beside me, immediately straightened up. “Really? We can see real animals, sir?” he
asked, his eyes shining.
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