So much smarter than me!

When I was in school, I never received any type of academic award.  I was lucky to get average grades by the time I was in middle school!!  Somehow, I have managed to have kids who have done quite well in school!!  I chalk my school struggle up to a few different things, but am hoping that knowing these problems can exist in my kids--we are ahead of the game at all times.  I am so proud of what they accomplish.  All of them!  And hope it continues.

These were the Bronze Award winners.  Well, the ones who showed up.  Kind of sad that no more showed up than this.  At least two of his good friends (Kendall and Andrew) showed up as they were awarded too.  Ryan is laughing and therefore I didn't get a good shot.  He almost forgot to stand for the picture he was laughing so hard.  He had, had a weird handshake experience with the Principal just before this was taken.  :) 



Shaking hands with Mr. Wimer (Social Studies teacher) while Mr. Disharoon (Algebra teacher) looks on.  They were both really great teachers for Ryan!

Ms. Saaed is putting Ryan's metal on him.  She was his English teacher.

Emily received the Gold Academic Award.  So very proud of her accomplishments!! 

Ms. Matthews is putting the metal on Emily.  Ms. Matthews was Lydia's math teacher.  Ms. Pierson is looking on to Ms. Matthew's right.  She was Emily's English Teacher. 

 

Lydia came up just short of a Bronze Award.  Literally points away as a result of her Math grade.  Ryan didn't quite make it in 6th grade either.  I feel pretty certain, if she continues as strong as she is, she will be getting an award in 7th grade for sure!  She was the only one who received perfect attendance.  Ryan almost was one of the recipients of the Perfect Attendance for the length of time he had been at Elkton Middle School, but when he busted his knee in October of last year, he missed three days and it knocked him out of contention.  :(  Maybe High School will work out for him.

First and last semi-formal

Lydia and Emily went to their first Middle School semi-formal on June 2.  Ryan attended his last Middle School semi-formal on the same day.  We were able to get a group of Lydia and Emily's friends together for some fun pictures.  The girls had a great time.  It is exciting to see the kids growing so fast--Ryan is now headed to high school, but it is also sad.  I am excited about seeing the people they are becoming.  I am excited to see the great things they will do with their life.  But I am also sad as I know they will be gone and out of the house before I know it.  Very sad.  :( 

L to R - Jesela, Emily S., Ashley, Lydia, Emily W., Hayleigh and Kiera

Lydia and Emily with Ashley

Andrew and Ryan.  Next stop, high school!

My kiddos at their first and last semi formal

The girls wanted to have a goofy one!!

School Sports ARE GREAT!!

I have discovered that kids who are able to do sports through their school, make things so much easier on their parents!!  Ryan has participated in track and field the last two years since he has been in middle school.  It has been great as the bus gets him TO practice and I just need to get him home.  SO NICE!!  No taking him to practice and sitting there while he practices and then taking him home.  I have been encouraging all three of them to do something within the school whenever they can.

  This year he tried his hand at wrestling.  After he busted his knee Knee Post, he was not able to start when everyone else started.  So his practicing started later and he was not able to participate in matches for a while after the season started.  Therefore, he didn't do as well as he probably could have since he was so far behind everyone else in learning.  He was able to be at the practices even though he couldn't participate, but watching is never as effective as being able to wrestle. 

Ryan's first match.  He is shaking the hand of his opponent's coach.  He didn't win a match this year, but was only able to participate in three of them.  He will get them next year!!

Lydia and Emily participated in Track and Field this year with Ryan!!  All three kids did shot put, but Emily also branched out to do the 100 meter (Ryan has done that in the past) and the long jump (Ryan has done that in the past).  For some reason Ryan didn't want to do more than the shot put this year.  Lydia didn't either, but then regretted not trying the 100 meter herself.  By the time she decided to do it, they had one meet left and the championship.  The last meet was rained out so she was not able to do the 100 meter for the championship. 

Ryan, of course, has participated in East Rock High School Marching Band the past two years.  He will be participating this year as well.  He is going into his Freshman year as a 3rd year band member.  His sisters are debating on joining the color guard at ERHS this year.  The color guard is not a crazy advertised program at ERHS so there are not a lot of members.  They are liking it so far so we shall see how things work out.  This is a picture of one of their "open gym" sessions a few weeks ago.  I think it would be really neat to see all three of them do this together.  Lydia is a little short for the flag.  She has a harder time turning it because it hits the ground so easily.  We will see how it goes.

Sydney is the color guard captain.  She is facing the line of girls.  Emily is the 3rd one back with the mulit-colored work out pants on.  Lydia is the shortest one out there.  She is in the pink shirt with black pants.  The girl in front might be her size too??  She is also a middle school student.  The other girls are high school I believe. 

I missed this one!!! Trackin again!!

Not sure if you remember my post from last year or not.  Ryan participated in his Middle School's track and field team last year.  It was great!!  His events were the 100 meter race and the long jump.  This year he thought about not participating, but as the season got closer, he decided he might give it a try.  However, running was not his thing.  He decided to do shot put.  Being on the short side, he had a disadvantage in how far he could throw it.  He is strong though so he still would still put it pretty far out there.

Dance'n the Night Away

Ryan is getting ready to finish up his 7th grade year in middle school.  Middle school is where the dances start.  The elementary school where the kids went/go doesn't host dances.  It is strange for me to send my son to dances.  He went a few times during 6th grade, even met his girlfriend there.  This year he has not been to any of them, but wanted to go to the last one.  The last dance is the "formal" dance.  I have such mixed feelings about it as for the 8th graders, it is much like prom.  There are kids arriving in limos, paying LOTS of money for dresses and then there is an after party.  It makes me sad to think that the kids won't want or need to go to prom in high school as they will have already experienced it.  I hope not.

Ryan doesn't have a girlfriend right now so he went to the dance with two friends.  They dressed up and had a good time.  Growing up so fast!!

Kendall and Ryan

Ryan, Kendall and Andrew