Benjamin had a fun season playing U12 spring soccer. This year he played on a new team with players who have been playing with this particular coach for the last few years, so he had to work hard to earn his place on the team. Benjamin did just that and he played striker and began playing goalie mid-season and enjoyed learning this new position. Benjamin worked hard, learned new skills, made new friends, and had fun season playing. Here are a few pictures and videos of his season.
Benjamin playing goalie
Coach Lito and Team We Win These.
Benjamin loves playing soccer and is excited to play in the fall.
All the kids had a great last day of school! We are so proud of how well each of them transitioned to their first year of school in the US, how they overcame challenges, and are thankful for their attentive teachers, and the new friends they made. Caleb had a great year at Ronald Regean Middle School. He had the biggest transition going from a small school with about 10-15 kids in his classes, to a school of 1400 kids with 30+ kids per class, and moving to 7 classes a day. He jumped into a new school curriculum, had to form many new work habits, made new friends, and he matured and learned a lot this year. We are proud of Caleb’s adaptability and resilience, and are excited to see what is in store for him next year.
Benjamin had an amazing 5th grade year at Alvey Elementary. (See 5th grade blog post). He adjusted well to the new school system, worked hard, made many new friends, and demonstrated leadership and rose to challenges when called upon. We are thankful for his wonderful teachers Mrs. George and Mrs. Cranston, who challenged and encouraged him. Benjamin is excited for middle school and we look forward to watching him grow in this new environment.
Eliza loved Kindergarten and had a great year! She learned how to write all of her letters and numbers, read, and many other new things. (See kindergarten celebration post). Eliza made lots of friends, loved her teachers Miss Pac and Mrs. Riley, and had a blast at her first year in school.
Peace out Kindergarten, 5th, and 6th grade….hello 1st, 6th, and 7th grades. And welcome summer!
Benjamin’s school held a 5th grade promotion ceremony that we attended the second to last day of school. Benjamin had a great first and last year at Alvey Elementary with Mrs. George and Mrs. Cranston. He adapted very well to the new school system and curriculum, made lots of new friends, and truly flourished in all ways this year. We are so thankful for the encouraging teachers and staff, and it was an honor for Nathan and I to be there for this day.
During the ceremony the principal gave a speech, teachers recognized students in the different clubs and announced awards, then the students were called up by class to receive their 5th grade graduation certificates and the teacher said what each student wanted to be when they grew up. Benjamin was recognized for his participation in the Strings Club, where he played viola; Alvey in the AM, where he and 5 other students presented the morning announcements the last quarter of school; and the 100 Club in PE, for students who completed more than 100 laps for the running pacer.
This year Benjamin took on a new nickname, Benji, and we hear it when we are at school and around town. Benjamin seems to know someone everywhere we go! It’s fun to hear all of his friends and teachers call him that at school, and he was really happy that his name was announced as Benji to receive his graduation certificate. Can you guess what Benjamin wants to be when he grows up?
We took a few photos after the ceremony
Benjamin came home with his participation awards from the ceremony, plus a Class Comedian award!
After the ceremony, the 5th graders had a picnic celebration for a couple hours, then a clap-out at the end of the day. One of the moms sent me a few pictures from the afternoon.
Benjamin works hard, plays hard, and loves life. We are so proud how well he adjusted and flourished this year, and are excited to see what 6th grade has in store for him!
The kindergarten classes had an end of year celebration, where the kids invited their parents to school to see their end of year project, and the work that have done this year. Eliza had wonderful teachers, Miss Pac and Mrs. Riley, who helped her learn and grow so much this year. This year Eliza learned how to read, write, and many social skills. She made many new friends and had an amazing kindergarten year! The end of year project was about sea turtles and jellyfish. They learned about each animal, wrote facts about them, and did fun related projects.
Eliza showed us lots of other work hanging in the kindergarten hallway. Eliza wrote about what she wants to do this summer - go to the pool to swim and jump on the diving boards and do gymnastics. She will have her wish this summer!
More sea turtle work.
After they presented their work, we had a picnic outside. Here is Eliza with some of her good friends from class, Korrie, Eliza, Charlotte, and Trystan.
Eliza and Trystan showing off their muscles.
Eliza and Korrie.
It was fun for Nathan and I to spend the morning with Eliza at school. We are thankful for her thoughtful and loving teachers, proud of her hard work, and that she had a great first year in school. This girl is ready for first grade!
Caleb’s school had an eye screening and recommended that we follow-up with an eye doctor, and sure enough he needed glasses. As soon as he put them on, he was reading all the signs far away, and was thrilled with the clarity of his improved vision. Caleb looks so handsome with his new look!
Caleb’s band class had their spring band concert. After the winter concert, Caleb transitioned to the baby tuba. Most all the students had never played the instrument they played in band before, and it was really impressive to see how much they improved from the fall to spring concert. You can’t see Caleb behind his baby tuba, but he is in the back row, the 4th baby tuba from the left ;).
Here was the finale song, the Star Wars theme song. We are glad Caleb enjoyed band and learning a new instrument this year.
Caleb loves diving, and he had an opportunity this spring to take a six week springboard diving class. We have had trouble finding a place that offers lessons before high school, so we were excited to finally find a place that offers lessons to younger kids. The class has 5-6 students so they get individualized attention from the coach on technique and form. This beginners class focuses on the basics of the approach to the board, a front, and back dive. Caleb and a couple other students were also able to work on some twists and flips. Caleb learned a lot and is looking forward to progressing to the intermediate and advanced classes in the future. Here he is in action.
It’s’ official, we have a house of bike riders! Eliza did not have her training wheels on for long, she was determined to learn how to ride a bike. We started her on a two wheel scooter to learn to balance, then within a couple of days, Nathan had her riding on her own. Look at her go!
This weekend we also celebrated Mother’s Day. I am so thankful that God chose me to be a mom. Our children are special gifts, and they and Nathan were so sweet to celebrate me with breakfast, flowers, and sweet cards.
Church had a nice Mother’s Day sermon and gave us sunflower seeds and a sweet poem as a gift.
Benjamin had his spring strings concert, and he has enjoyed learning to play the viola this year. We are grateful for the classes he got to take twice a week in school, and proud of Benjamin’s dedication to learning a new instrument. The orchestra came a long way since the beginning of the year. Enjoy the show. Benjamin is right in the middle in the white shirt and khaki pants.
Benjamin also received his 5th grade graduation yard sign that day, and was excited to find the perfect place for it in the front yard. The year is coming to an end soon!
