Last Year of Elementary School

It's hard to believe that my baby is in her last year of elementary school but she is! Hannah started 5th grade a week ago yesterday and is thoroughly enjoying it so far. She loves her new teacher already and keeps telling us how much fun her teacher is. I think Hannah's teacher from last year feels slighted but at least this year she has a class that's mostly girls.

Hannah is still the only girl in her class but she's friends with a lot of the girls in the 4th grade and since 4th & 5th grade have recess and lunch together she has buddies to hang out with during those times.

I am going to be the room mom for Hannah's class this year. I was the room mom for Emily's class when she was in 5th grade and it was a lot of fun so I'm looking forward to it for Hannah's class too. I've felt badly the last few years with Hannah's class because the room mom's have just not gotten it and there haven't really been activities or crafts or games at their parties so I intend to make up for that this year with some fun parties. If anyone has any good suggestions for class parties for Halloween or Christmas or Valentines or Easter send them my way!

It's Official

Emily's in high school! Today was the first day of high school and Emily was up and ready without any kind of protest. I think she was a little excited even though she said it doesn't seem real yet. I hope that she has a wonderful high school experience!

I bet it seems real now since she has Science homework!

School's Out For Summer!

It's hard to believe that another school year is over and I now have a 5th grader and a freshman in high school!! I'm sure it will all sink in when we go buy uniforms for Emily and order her text books.

Emily graduated from 8th Grade last Wednesday. Each of the graduates spoke or performed during graduation - that's possible when there are only six graduates! Emily sang the Star Spangled Banner and she did an awesome job. I had more than one parent tell me that she made them cry. While she was singing, Emily's cap fell off; she was fine and kept going but the other two girls that were graduating started to laugh which caused Emily to have to try not to laugh. Paul said it was a good thing because she was much too serious up to that point.

In addition to receiving her diploma, Emily was also awarded a Presidential Award for Educational Excellence. After the graduation ceremony, there was a reception on the patio outside of the church and then we went out to dinner with two of the other families of graduates. It was a long night but a lot of fun. We are so proud of Emily for her outstanding academic record in Elementary and Middle School and for her acceptance to High School with honors. I still can't believe that she's old enough to go to High School!

Emily being presented with her diploma



Emily and her teachers at the reception following graduation

The dress Emily picked out to wear to her graduation was great with her eyes but whoa when did she get so grown up looking?

Hannah's last day of school was last Thursday and she is truly going to miss her teacher next year though she's been invited to stop in for the weekly tea party any time. Being the only girl in the class, she and her teacher truly bonded. Hannah had a great 4th grade year and is just hoping that some how, some way we'll get at least one more girl for 5th grade next year!

Visions of the Future ...

In just over a week, Emily will be graduating from 8th grade and leaving behind the only school she has attended since Kindergarten. It amazes me to think that she'll be in high school in the fall. It's an exciting time for her and for the rest of us but scary too - at least for me it's scary.

As part of the graduation ceremony, each of the 8th graders receives a certificate of graduation and an 8x10 photo of themselves in cap & gown. Last year the company that does our school photos did the cap & gown photos but they will only do them if the school has spring photos done of all the kids. This year the school didn't want that done but we still wanted cap & gown photos. So, we ended up buying caps & gowns (2 each in the colors for the girls & boys) and I took photos of the 8th graders in their caps & gowns in front of one of the stained glass windows of the church. Technically I think they could have been better but overall I'm pleased with the way they turned out. What do you think of the one Emily picked as her favorite?

And to think that in four years Emily will be graduating from high school and it will be Hannah's turn for an 8th grade graduation!

Can you be happy & sad at the same time?

As the parent of a soon to be high-schooler who was just accepted to the school of her choice the answer is a resonding yes!

We are thrilled that Emily was accepted to both schools she applied to and most especially to the school that she really wants to attend. Yet it's bittersweet at the same time because I can't imagine her not attending her current school. She's been there since Kindergarten and it just feels like home to all of us. Hannah's still there - for now anyway - she may be moving too since she's the only girl in her class. So, this may be good-bye for us to a school that we really love and that we've really been involved with on pretty much a daily basis since Emily started there.

Oh, and did I forget to mention, that tuition for Emily will be almost double next year? That part is definitely not fun but we knew it was coming. We''re really happy with the schools that Emily did apply to and we're looking forward to a great four years with our almost high-schooler!