School Anxiety

Well, I thought I had more time before the intense Beginning of the School Year anxiety set in. School for the Imp starts next Thursday. Last night (early this morning) at 1:30 am, she comes into my room. "Mom," she whispers. "I can't sleep." Oh my! A week of no sleeping! I'm not sure I'll survive. I'm one of those people who desperately need my sleep. Interrupted sleep is the worst kind. I almost do better on 4 hours of sleep then on 6 hours, interrupted in the middle. So, I went and sat with her on her bed, rubbed her head and back and helped her relax enough to go to sleep. I tried to wear her out today so she'd sleep tonight. We went to Bush Gardens for the day. I might have succeeded too well. She fell asleep in the car on the way home! Aagh! The Imp is really more excited than anxious, but the result is the same.
The Singer is getting a little anxious about school because she hasn't finished her summer reading yet. She had four books to read. She's completed one and is half way through another. She has to finish that one tomorrow, as it's due at the library. That'll give her a week or so for the last two. She's got a heavy schedule this year with 3 AP classes (English, Am. History and Calculus). We'll see how she does. Last year, she hit a bump in Algebra II, but I think that'll help her this year. She finally learned how to study math. Until then she got by on natural ability. Calculus could be interesting. She's swimming at the Y trying to get into shape for swim season which starts right away. She hadn't been swimming in a while and when she went yesterday wasn't happy with how hard her workout was for her. [There is no way I could have done her 'easy' workout. 500 meter warm up. 200 meter of each breast, back and free at a strong pace. 500 meter warm down. Yea, that's easy.] She'll get right back into it.
Public schools began today (maybe the Imp was having sympathy pains and will sleep well until next Wednesday night). Hillsborough County (Tampa area) is the 9th largest school district in the nation. Here are some amazing stats.
There are 202 schools in the county (132 elementary, 43 middle, 3 K-8, 24 high schools)
There are an additional 73 centers (charter schools, early childhood centers, exceptional education centers, etc)
195,000 expected students (these projected numbers have never been over the actual number who show up by September)
1,922 portable classrooms to meet mandated class sizes.
70 schools expected to be over capacity.
Almost 1,000 school buses carrying more than 92,000 students.
There are more the 21,000 bus stops in Hillsborough County.
There are crossing guards at 254 locations.
5 new schools opened today housing almost 6,000 students.
1490 new teachers were hired.
200 more teachers still needed. (Want a job?).
Almost 15,000 teachers work in the county.
With the class size amendment passed a few years ago, individual schools will have to average 18 students per class K-3; 22 students per class 4-8; and 25 in core high school classes.

I still have to get the Imp shoes for school, but other than that, she is packed and ready to go. She wants a new backpack. She got one last year and it's still in fine shape. If she wants it, she buys it. So she's scoping out the ads. She's willing to spend some money.