The school year ended for the kids the Wednesday before last... we end really early here! I wanted to record how the school year went for each and since all four had a GREAT year, the following may sound a little boastful. I am just very proud of the accomplishments each made and while those closest to me know that each definitely has struggles, I am not giving those challenges equal blog time. :o) I prefer to "keep it real" by telling the truth about things that my children hopefully won't mind me sharing and keeping the other stuff a bit less public!
Anyway, I'll start with
Caleb, who is now a middle school student! Time flies. A lot of people have asked me how I feel about that and in all honesty, I tend not to get all weepy or emotional with milestones, so I actually am pretty excited for him. Three elementary schools feed into the middle school and I think the opportunity to be around more kids his age will be a great opportunity for Caleb. Well, that and the fact that I work at that school he will attend is making the transition a bit smoother.
Caleb rotated teachers this year for the different subjects. He ended up making honor roll most of the year and when he struggled it was due to his organizational skills more than anything else... I hope he has a bottom locker next year or I picture head injuries for the child with the one below him! About midway through the year he was bumped up to the highest reading group and his interest in reading, reignited by last year's teacher after several years of not caring about it, continued and while he did not make his formal reading goal, he would frequently read books at home without being "forced" to and I am thrilled with that. At the end-of-year awards assembly, Caleb won a math award for scoring the highest score in the school in a math contest; he missed only 3 questions which is a huge accomplishment on this particular "test"... I used to give it to my 8th graders and it is HARD! Caleb sang in the school chorus as well this year, arriving at school at 7:30 two days a week to practice. I am proud of his dedication to doing so (only a couple of "I just want to sleep" mornings)! Caleb has matured a lot this year and personally, I am loving his sense of humor.
And I just love how he is having fun in this picture! They are doing one of those group dances... the Cupid Shuffle maybe?
Price also had a great school year. He was not sure the all-boy class was the right one for him at the start but it worked out wonderfully! Next year we are districted to a new elementary school and the majority of Price's friends will not be there... I am sad for him because he is upset but I think this year was great preparation as he hardly knew anyone in his class at the start of the year and it still was all okay and now he has more friends than ever! Price won the citizenship award in his class and had perfect attendance ~ that makes me giggle considering I received "warning" letters about missed days for one of his siblings and the school year ended before I got one for a 2nd child. Be it for social reasons or the learning, Price hates to miss school. Price is reading far above his grade level and earned a medal for exceeding his reading goals and having the 4th highest point total in his grade. I hear repeatedly how much teachers enjoy working with Price and how positive he is... go Price!
I do need to add that every since we found out Price was in the all-boy class, I have been telling him how they will surely win the tug-of-war at field day. I was wrong. It was not even that close. I guess they were the all academic boys class, my bad!
Evan's Kindergarten year went far better than I thought it ever could be based on the start. He was miserable the first month and I felt badly for the teacher who thought it may somehow be her fault... I just knew the long day for active Evan would be hard, but I didn't expect Evan to struggle socially and he did. Honestly, Evan just thinks differently than most other kids his age. He has always been that way. Extremely analytical. I cannot thank Evan's teacher enough for going above and beyond what others would do to meet his academic needs and to make him feel special. When her idea to have him attend math class with a different grade level was shot down, one of the school's reading teacher's volunteered to work with Evan several mornings a week on math (he was doing double digit multiplication by May) and then when he qualified for TAG services mid-year, he was able to join one of the other grade's groups in addition to his own. All of these things combined helped Evan enjoy school and once he settled in, he figured out how to help others instead of alienating them. While his teacher was still his best friend at the end of the school year (and he is now a total UVA fan because of her), he also ended up with many others. Evan entered the year not reading but a few words and finished up with a certificate for exceeding his reading goal 5-times over. Several teachers have told me that it took almost to the end of the school year for Evan to come out of his shell at school and to show more of the side they see out at the ballfields ~ while that makes me a bit nervous (he is extremely intense and competitive), I am thrilled he became that relaxed and comfortable so that his "real self" could come out!
So I was nervous prior to the start of the school year on how
Brynn would do based on the fact that she talks all.the.time and I was not sure how that would go over in a classroom full of other children. There was no need to worry. Brynn also had a super year, with a teacher who was perfect for her... calm, loving, structured, and firm. And she adored Brynn. At times when I was pulling my hair out with how Brynn was acting at home, I would have a teacher/parent conference and her teacher would just ooze with Brynn love. She said that when she was feeling frustrated in class, Brynn was the one who could change her mood just by Brynn being Brynn... with her caring attitude about others (she made countless cards for classmates and teachers this year for a variety of occasions), with the funny things that just pop out of her mouth, and with her dedication. I have to admit I did get a bit teary eyed during that 1st parent conference when her teacher said that things do not come easy for Brynn but she can always count on Brynn to keep working at them, long after the other kids see the child with the answer raise his/her hand and that they do not have to keep working. She repeated this every conference. Brynn's efforts paid off... she made her reading goal and got every point available on the end-of-year reading test. Brynn loved this year so much she now wants to be a teacher and if she does, I know she will be a great one!
I missed the older boys awards ceremonies due to work so I do want to thank the grandparents for being there to celebrate with the kids. My work year ended Thursday of this week so yesterday felt like my first day of summer vacation and while I am supposed to only be part-time, I have been pretty darn close to full time the past 4 weeks and the rest of my life shows it! Time to get things back in order and have a bit more fun!
