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| August 2018 |
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| May 2019 |
My kids just wrapped up their first school year at Reading Elementary. This was another new school for them, the third elementary school that Marshall and Bridget have attended-and only being in 4th and 2nd grade respectively. The only time I ever changed schools was when moving up to junior high and then high school, and of course, I always had my group of friends with me. I was excited about our move last summer, but I was also very nervous to move the kids again. It had taken us a full year, maybe even a bit more, to fully settle into our North Salt Lake neighborhood, and after just a year of stability I felt dread when thinking about having to do it all over again.
I am thrilled to say though, that this move, and all the change it brought, has brought us goodness, and for that I am so thankful. I think I can honestly say this has been the fastest school year I have ever experienced as a parent. It really seems that it was just yesterday I was walking Marshall and Bridget down the many hills, with Rachel and Gretchen in the stroller, to take them to the first day of school at yet another new school. I helped them get to their classrooms and hugged and kissed them good-bye. However, this time I did not cry all the way home as I had done two years earlier. I didn't even shed a tear, but I had them in my thoughts all day until they were home. They came home with glowing reports and the positivity continued all school year long.
I am SO proud of these kids. Not only have they changed and grown up physically, but also emotionally. I have had small pay-days as a parent as I have seen the choices they have made, things they decided to try, and how they handled certain situations. I sincerely hope that I can teach them all I need to, and that they may continue to choose good, and also learn positive things from mistakes they will inevitably make.
So here are some first and last school day photos, as well as things I want to remember about these last 9 months for them...
Marshall
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| August 2018 |
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| May 2019 |
This last year, Marshall has stepped outside his comfort zone and tried new things. He tried out for a competition soccer team last June, and he made it. He has struggled with some confidence and tenacity during soccer games this year, but really started to come into his own during the spring season. He even scored two goals this spring! He also participated in Book Battles and made it all the way to the district competition. His team made it through the third round before getting eliminated, but he is already developing his strategy for next year. Marshall also chose to participate in the district STEM Olympiad. This required him getting to school early on Wednesday mornings to practice. Marshall and his partner didn't medal, but once again, Marshall is committed to participating again next year. Marshall also spoke at Bridget's baptism, not something we were expecting him to agree to! Academically, Marshall excelled. He went into the school year with the highest reading level in his class. And by the time 4th grade was done, he still had the highest reading level, but had also improved his reading level the most! One of Marshall's teachers, Mrs. Klinker, had each of the students write something nice about every student in the class. She then typed up a paper for everyone, listing all the compliments from their peers. Marshall brought his home on Friday, and I cried reading it! Someone told Marshall that he is so kind and never talks bad about anyone. Others complimented him for being a kind friend. I hope he always nurtures these qualities.
Bridget
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| August 2018 |
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| May 2019 |
Bridget LOVED second grade. She also loved her teacher, and her teacher loved her right back. I have always known that Bridget has the great talent of kindness, and making everyone feel comfortable and happy, despite their age, boy or girl, or how they look. This talent of hers just continued to magnify itself this year though. She was given the opportunity to help in the special needs classroom for several weeks at a time and was able to rotate through there multiple times. She loved it. She always informed me with excitement in the mornings that that day she would get to go to the special needs classroom. Earlier this spring, a little kindergarten girl was hit by a car while walking to school. She missed a couple weeks of school, and when she came back she was in a wheelchair. Bridget did not know this little girl before the accident, but her first few days back at school, Bridget would go around the track with her during recess. I found it so touching. Bridget made excellent friends this school year. All good, wonderful and kind girls. Bridget also excelled academically. She was never beaten in a timed test at school, the entire year! More often than not, Bridget would do her homework in the mornings during breakfast, always staying one day ahead. She did her first book report this year and turned it in early. Ronald Reagan is now her favorite U.S. President. :) Bridget has continued to be our well-adjusted, self-sufficient, and delightful little girl. May she always keep those qualities.
Rachel
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| August 2018 |
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| May 2019 |
My oh my, Rachel has learned SO much this year, and has worked so hard! She is stubborn, and despite being at an excellent preschool last year, went into kindergarten not really even knowing how to write her name. She was the youngest in her kindergarten class, which made me feel like she was even further behind. But, fast forward nine months, and she knows all the letters and their sounds, she is reading, she is writing sentences, she can segment words and can figure out how to spell them, she can sound out words to help read them. Her numbers are coming along, though she still gets 8 and 9 confused! Her teacher started spelling tests in February, and with practice every day, Rachel got 100% on every spelling test...which I am taking as a HUGE accomplishment on both our parts! Despite all of this mental growth, Rachel has kept every ounce of creativity in her, and that just delights me. Rachel made really great friends in kindergarten, including a darling little girl named Sara. They are best of pals and have a ball together. I volunteered every other week in Rachel's class and a few months into the school year, a little girl asked me if I was Rachel's mom and I told her I was. She then went on to tell me that Rachel is always kind to her and always says yes when the girl asks to play with her at recess. I am so thankful for kind children!
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