White House will have school-going children as residents after a long gap when President-elect Barack Obama moves in and a search is on to find a school for his children.
WASHINGTON: White House will have school-going children as residents after a long gap when President-elect Barack Obama moves in and a search is on to find a school for his children.
Obama's wife Michelle Obama on Monday visited two prestigious institutions in the US capital.
Michelle, who had earlier made it clear that her first priority is to take care of her children, had made trips to Georgetown Day School and Sidwell Friends School during her visit to Washington on Monday.
Obama and his wife had on Monday visited their future home -- the White House -- on an invitation from President George W Bush.
Though Obama's transition team and staff at both the schools refused to comment about Michelle's surprise visit, students at the institution said that they saw the future First Lady.
"I thought it was awesome because I saw the future first lady," Nicolo Pisoni (10) was quoted as saying by 'Washington Post.'
"I got really excited, but we weren't supposed to get excited. Not out loud. Our teachers told us not to get excited but to show Michelle it was a regular school day and that we aren't crazy kids. They didn't want us asking her for her autograph," the Georgetown Day School fourth-grader said.
Michelle, during her visit to the White House, also discussed with First Lady Lara Bush on raising her children, Malia (10), and Sasha (7), in the intense glare of media.
Both Malia and Sasha are now studying at a private school in Chicago.
Obama's younger daughter Sasha will be the youngest to live in the White House after Kennedy children.
Isabel Doravl of Sidwell Friends School said he saw Michelle running on the field at around 4 pm on Monday when a convoy of vehicles arrived at the school campus.
About 45 minutes later, the convoy left the school campus as the excited students waved at Michelle, who rolled down her car window and waved back.
"It was cool," 15-year-old Isabel said.
Past presidents have sent their children to both public and private schools. But sources familiar with the process say they expect the Obamas to select a private school, where tuition for both girls would total more than $50,000 a year.
Meanwhile, Anita McBride, Laura Bush's chief of staff, told the MSNBC that the first lady showed Michelle where her Bush daughters, Jenna and Barbara, lived.
"She thought the rooms were beautiful and would be perfect for her two little girls and that they could decorate in a way that would be appropriate for young children," McBride said.
"And it is a historic room. The Kennedy children lived there. The Johnson girls lived there, Chelsea Clinton as well . . . and Amy Carter," McBride said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}