Elementary school differences

We just finished week 1 of the younger kids’ school.

In general, it seems like things are a bit more laid back here. For example:

1. All kids ages 4-6 strip down to their underwear for PE. Older kids change into gym clothes, but they so so in common changing areas (separated by gender, but no individual changing stalls).

2. Kids as young as 4 or 5 can walk home by themselves. We didn’t know that Henry gets out early on Fridays until he showed up at our door. Good thing we were home!

3. School is mandatory from an earlier age (age 4), but learning to read and write starts later (equivalent of our 1st grade).

4. No busses for field trips. They just ask for parent volunteers and ask the parents how many kids they can fit in their car.

5. No CORI form or background check to sit in class.

On the other hand one thing is more formal: parent donations. They are mandatory. In many US states there are limitations on how much schools can take in direct donations. Sometimes they will ask for donations of supplies for classrooms, or maybe cash for a field trip, but no generic school fees for public elementary schools. Here, every parent has a mandatory donation of a few hundred Euros per child.