Circle of Friends field trip

The school has a lunch-time program called Circle of Friends for kids that need help with social skills.  It's hard to believe that my chatty, outgoing kids are lacking social skills but both kids have been part of Circle of Friends.  Leo's time with the program was very brief.  He wasn't a fan and it's not something that can be forced.  When after participating for a few weeks last year he decided he didn't want to do it any more, I let him drop out.  Serafina didn't start out the year involved in the group, even though I requested she take part.  The group was formed without her and when problems started to arise in class, she was added.  Serafina suffers from being over-sensitive (just like her mom and brother), is a wee bit possessive over friends and doesn't do a great job choosing friends some times.  The little girl she decided to cling to in her class this year is a real jerk and that has been a major headache all year for her teacher and for me.  Anyway, when Serafina was put in Circle of Friends, she got to choose a friend to join too.  Each "problem kid" has a model kid (or two) to partner with in the group.  Serafina chose Jane, her tiny little Mormon friend, who is very sweet.  

This Tuesday was the final Circle of Friends meeting and the group went on a field trip to the local farm.  It's the same farm we received our CSA veggies from for years, but now it is run by the school district.  All four of the Circle of Friends groups (first grade, second grade, third grade and 4/5th grade) were part of the field trip.  We headed out right before lunch.  

Here's Jane sitting on Serafina's lap. 

They had adorable name tags.  

 We ate lunch at the farm at some picnic tables and then took a tour of the farm.  There wasn't much to do or see but it was nice to be outside though a little dusty.

 Here's Serafina checking out an aphid in her hand.

It was a short field trip and we were able to walk there.  It was still pretty tiring since a lot of the kids involved in the program are the more challenging kids at school. I'm not sure how much Serafina gained from Circle of Friends this year but at least one lunch time a week she had somewhere she could be that didn't involve drama with the other second grade girls.