We are officially on summer holidays! The last month or so went by quickly, but it was jam-packed full of activities and planning. I think I'll organize this post by family member - otherwise it might be a very random assortment of updates and happenings. We'll start with Hendrik!
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| He got a new Chromebook, some $, and a golf pass for graduation :) |
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| All dressed up! With some of his friends from school |
This was art he did for a school "big head" project - love it!
Big news for our oldest - he's a high schooler! He graduated from elementary school after 10 years at St George's, and will join friends and classmates at Central Secondary School. There was a bit of a debate between Lucas (more sports-oriented and out of area) and Central, but in the end the closer, in-area school won out, and I'm sure it will be a great fit for him. He can walk, scoot, bike or bus there, and could even go with neighbourhood friends. His last report card was great, and he's happy and excited to be moving on. The graduation ceremony was in the last week of school, and wasn't without some drama! We had a storm that downed quite a few trees across the city, and the power was out for most of graduation day at school, causing a bit of stress and uncertainty for all. The admin team was assured that it would be on in time for the ceremony at 6:00, and it happened just in time! It meant that there had been no AC on all day, so it was a bit toasty in the gymnasium with all of the families and grads, but it happened and it was such a nice event. Because St George's is a smaller school, grads were recognized individually - students shared their favourite subject (gym), favourite memories (he forgets and the video is on Steve's phone), and where they're going in the fall for year one of high school (Central). There was a small reception, a dance for the grade 7s and 8s, and then bowling and pizza at Palasad (organized by me). It was a late but great night! In other life news, he's been loving baseball and doing SO well. He's been playing first base (after years at right field) and just doing such an awesome job. He's been staying busy by umping too, and just started working out with a friend's son who will do some work with him over the summer. Life has been busy, but great!
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| This is the only recent photo I have of Alana - I need some more! In the pool with her friends... |
Next up, this beauty! Alana has been staying busy with baseball and soccer, and has been loving both. She's also doing so well - especially with baseball being 13U; she's up against older pitchers and players, and has been holding her own. There are three other girls on her team which is great, and after a bit of flip-flopping with coaches, has a great set of positive leaders to help her and her teammates learn and improve on the field. I'm her soccer coach, and we've been having fun too. This summer we're team RED (for the first time), and I can't say much because we've had so many cancellations in the last two weeks for rain and weather (and graduation for me) - but we're having fun and it's a great group of girls. And she's going into grade 7 next year - !! I can't believe it. A friend from school organized a year-end sleepover on Thursday night, and she went and had a blast (and is still recovering her sleep). All around good news for her!
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| at a London Majors game with his team |
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| 8U Talons - in the field! |
Jordan is also busy with baseball, probably busier than his older siblings - the schedule has been bananas! I guess it's because there are more teams in his age group, but after today he will have had 5 games this week alone! Thank goodness he's loving it. He's also doing well; he won the MVP chain after one of this week's games! (I think coaches pick a criteria or an outstanding player and award them with the solid gold, classy necklace - love it!) They're in Sarnia today for a double header, and if the other two hadn't have had activities too, we all would have gone to watch. His year was also pretty successful, and he's moving on to grade 3 in the fall. He had a year end field trip to Storybook Gardens and had a great time running around with friends.
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| All dressed up for the FCVC Banquet |
I should have taken some pictures of Steve working in the attic yesterday! After doing some home improvement jobs for friends, he finally has some time to get the ball rolling upstairs at home. Sub-flooring is almost all down up there, and I forget what next steps are (but there are a lot - !). In order to get everyone their own room, we need to get the attic converted to our room, and Steve is hoping to do most of the work up there. He's also coaching Jordan's baseball team, so has stayed busy with planning and prep for that!
And updates for me? I'm SO happy to be finished school! It was definitely a challenging year; there are so many behaviours, such little accountability for students, and such a range of interest, engagement and ability. So I surprise myself when I ask for the same thing next year! But there are lots of positives too (number one being the summer break); I only spend 40 minutes a day with each class, I have less planning and preparation to do than homeroom teachers (I think), and I have so much freedom in what and how I teach, so I definitely appreciate those things. I also love the staff at my school AND the days go by quickly. So I'll keep doing what I'm doing until some of these things change. I'm still playing basketball, though had to take most of the last month of because of a back injury. I hurt it doing nothing, which is something that happens as you get older apparently. Thank goodness for my physio friend Alison - she literally straightened me out! I'm just getting back to running, and it's a so far so good scenario. Fingers crossed I keep feeling good.
I think that's a wrap! I just booked us in for a Canada Day skate tomorrow, and Alana and Henrik are playing and umping tomorrow night, so we won't go too far for any celebrations. Lots of baseball coming up - hopefully I get another post up soon!
