If the crown fits...: May 2008

...no more books...

Oh my, what big changes we have had the last year!

First day of school, 2007:

Last day of school, 2008:

At the awards assembly at school, they gave AR (accelerated reader tests) awards. They gave a certificate and a $10 gift certificate to Barnes and Noble to the top 4 points earners in each grade. Tyler got the 4th spot! His friends Drew, Clark and Klein were the other three. They talked all year with each other about the books they were reading and gave each other ideas of new stuff to read.

And Parker was awarded a Soaring Eagle award for "Sound Judgement."

The end of the school year is so bittersweet for me. I love to see the success of my kids and the amazing strides they each have made. I feel so much gratitude for the teachers who have spent 7 hours a day every weekday for 9 months and who have helped me mold them and shape them and love them. We have been blessed by each of them.

I absolutely love my kids' teachers.

Aliza was blessed with a teacher who is a smart cool girl who has an amazing gift for communicating with 2nd graders. I have watched in amazement as she has made Aliza feel good about herself and love learning. Aliza has grown and matured so much. So much has to do with Ms. Wenger. She has this ability to explain things in a way that the kids just get it and want to do it. I absolutely love Ms. Wenger and am going to miss her so much. She is moving to Fort Worth and preparing to get married. Those lucky little Forth Worth kids.

Parker had Ms. Phillips who has the perfect personality to deal with the wild boys in their class. She is so patient and allows them to express themselves, but knows when and how to reign it in. She was so good for Parker. Things come pretty easily to him he gets done and could have the tendency to be disruptive...she provided him with the challenges he needed and loved his little (big) personality and helped him grow so much.

Tyler had 4 teachers as they split into periods for 6th grade, just as they would have in the middle school. Ms. Patton taught Science and was homeroom. She is the sweetest woman and is so energetic. She loves teaching and she loves Tyler. And if she doesn't, she sure is a good faker! Ms. Pritchard taught pre-AP math. She sings and dances and expects a lot and is hard on the kids but is because she knows they could do it. Tyler loves Math. Ms. Pittman was awesome. She teaches pre-AP english. T had her for 2 periods, Language arts and Reading. She also expected a lot and made them work for their grades. Tyler totally loves reading! And Ms. Jones taught Social Studies. He was able to learn tons from her, too.

We are excited for summer and it's many adventures!

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the dance rehearsal that would be our final recital

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Drop Dead Marathon Day

The note from the school said that the 4th grade end of year party was from 9:30-11:20 am. Parker called me from his class at 8:35 am to say that the party was starting at 9, and could I hurry? I had just washed my hair. Sure, I'll be there as soon as I can. The phone rings again. It's Tyler. He needs me to bring his text books in. Now, if I could. I'll get there when I get there! I strolled in at 9:40, text books in arm and ready to play. The 4th grade party started late, but I still missed the scavenger hunt. I made it in time for the ice cream sunday conga line:

They went outside to eat it.

And play on the playground.

And hang out.

Then the 4th grade team played a game with the kids. The 4th graders had been polled and the teachers tried to guess the top answers. This is the 4th grade team. Parker's teacher is Ms. Phillips (second from the right) and the others are (l-r) Mr. Nickel, Mrs. Fritchman (Parker's UIL coach, who I love) and Mrs. Crawford on the far right. They are an awesome team, and I am going to miss them next year.

The kids loved the game!

And Mr. Nickel lost and therefore got a pie in the face. What a good sport!

When that party was over, I ran to my favorite store Wal*mart and got cookies for the 6th grade party and batteries for my camera, because Maris took my car to work today and my battery charger was in it.

The 6th graders had some yummy treats and played Family Feud with the teachers.

I also love the 6th grade team. From left to right, they are:

Ms. Pittman (Language Arts), Mrs. Jones (Social Studies), Ms. Patton (Science and Tyler's homeroom teacher) and Ms. Pritchard (Math). All but Ms. Patton are going to the Middle School next year. Ms. Patton is going to 3rd grade, so maybe Aliza will get her. :)

Here is Tyler taking his turn.

Hanging out.

And signing yearbooks.

Before school got out, all got to help tape Ms. Morris, our principle to the window. The kids earned this right by making their AR goal. Tyler was one of the kids who got to tape. So was Parker. Aliza didn't think it was fair that not all kids got tape because all of them helped to earn it.

After school, we headed to Aliza's final dance class. We only have to go to the dance rehearsal on Saturday morning and we are done. The recital is Sunday while we are at church. Darn.

She got a completion certificate. If you dance there for 3 years and up you get a trophy. We will never get a trophy. I think we are done with dance. There are just too many other things that she would rather do.