Skylar's 5th Grade Promotion/Last Day of School 2020-2021

 It feel just like yesterday when I dropped Skylar off at her first day of kindergarten. I know that sounds really cheesy and what everyone says, but its honestly so true.  I remember her outfit, her backpack, and her walking into the classroom, hanging her backpack on the outside rack and sitting on the floor as her teacher was reading to the class. Now, here we are six years later and she is graduating and moving onto middle school.  I feel extremely blessed that I didn't have to work and I was able to be apart of her elementary school chapter.  She had a wonderful time in elementary school, made the best friends, achieved so much academically, had great teachers and really just enjoyed every minute of it.  Yes she did get screwed and didn't get to have the full experience of 5th grade because of Covid, but she made the best of it, and it will definitely be an school experience that she will never forget.  I was so happy in the end of these wacky year we were able to have a graduation and celebrate her class for their achievements. 

The graduate.

The girls and their 5th grade teacher, Mr. Castro.

Best friends since day 1 of kindergarten.  I hope it stays that way for the years to come.

The girls with their principal, Mr. Devich.

Not only did Skylar survive her covid school year, so did Madden.  Distance learning wasn't ideal and we definitely had our ups and downs, but in the end Madden rocked 3rd grade and made the best of his school year.  I'm really happy for him to be back in full time school next year.

How it Started...............How it Ended!

Middle school, here we come!!

Promotion video highlights.

Madden's First Competitive Sport

 Well if there is one positive thing that the pandemic gave us it's Madden has joined his first competitive sport.  Had the pandemic never happened I never would of met Coach Mindes who runs his own smaller competitive soccer club and Madden never would of tried out and made the team.  So I don't like to to say anything positive came out of the pandemic but this is definitely one thing that did.

Madden had his first ever soccer tournament in Coachella where his team played 3 games.  Being Madden's first time playing against such high caliber players he did a great job.  Our team didn't have the best showing but the team is still very young and have only been playing together for a couple months.  Out of the three games we only scored 3 goals and Madden happened to have 2 of the three.  

He is loving every practice he gets to go to and his seeing his skills improve every week is so awesome.  We are really looking forward to seeing what more Madden has in store for when it comes to soccer.

Monthly School Awards

 February was a big month for Skylar and Madden at school.  

Madden was awarded the Citizenship Award.  Here is what Madden's teacher wrote about him:

"Madden takes his education seriously and is an active participant. He is always engaged and genuinely interested in every subject we are working on. I am impressed by his wealth of knowledge at this age and his positive attitude to share it when applicable. He is a team player and will help out any peer when the occasion arises. In the old days, we called this being a "go-getter!" In Nebraska we say, "get 'er done" and that is exactly what Madden does in school. Keep up the great work Madden."

Skylar knocked it out of the park as she was awarded the Academic Awards for both January and February.  Back to Back months for our little sweetheart, we couldn't be prouder.

Back to School.....well, kind of!

 

So after 7 long months of at home learning and not being in school the kids finally got to go back.  Since we are still in the days of Covid they are only letting the kids go back to school two days a week.  Those two days are only half days which we all know isn't enough, but I can't tell you how happy the kids were to be back.  They have to wear masks the whole time they are there and can't play on the playground of even be close to friends.  They are such troopers and I couldn't be more proud of how they are handling all of this.

Nothing can hold these two down.

Walking into the last first day of elementary school for these two.  How fast did that go??

Madden insisted on wearing is Fiend mask.

We are still fighting the good fight by rallying to get these kids back in school full time.

First Day of School 2020-2021

 When school got shut down out back in March we never would of thought we would be starting the new school year still at home, but we are.  I must say this is one of the most heartbreaking things for me as a parent, not being able to see my kids go back to in person learning at their school.  It's Skylar's last year at Poinsettia and I really want to see her be able to go back to school at some point.  Madden got the best teacher at the school and Skylar is in class with all of her six best friends. I'm trying to keep all positive thoughts and hope that it won't be like this very long.  

Until then we are going to have to settle for the online learning.

Last Day of School 2018-2019

Another great school year has come to an end for Skylar and Madden.  Madden had a great 1st grade year.  He was a fantastic student when it came to both academics and behavior.  His main struggle that Mrs. Burns told us was that he just needed to slow everything down.  He always wanted to be the first one done with his school work and would make really silly mistakes that if he just slowed it all down those mistakes wouldn't happen.  Luckily by the second half of the school year he seems to get and it didn't seem to be much of a problem.  He loved going to school everyday.  When I would drop him off he was always running into the school.  He played football and soccer just about every day at recess.  Always bringing his football to play with all his friends.  He was definitely Mr. Popular in his class room.  Early on in the school year he was given the nickname Mayor Madden by all his classmates and Mrs. Burns presented him with Future President award at the end of the school year.  

I feel so blessed that I never have to worry about Skylar when it comes to being a great student.  She is always at the top of her class when it comes to all subjects and her behavior is always top notch.  3rd Grade definitely test their ability and she passed with flying colors.  They even started state testing this year and she scored well above the standard. She may not be running into school each day like Madden, but she never complains about having to go.  I know she enjoys learning and being apart of the classroom.  She really bonded this year with a group of girls who she spent most of her time with.  We were proud of her for branching out and trying new things like science fair.  I can't believe she only has two more years of elementary school and then she is off to middle.  Going to try and cherish these few years we have left.

Skylar and her classmates.

Madden with his 1st grade buddies.

These girls were thick as thieves this school year.  

Ended the school year with a massive pool party at the Bressi pool.

What a difference a school year makes.

Monthly Awards

Skylar and Madden were ending the school year on a big high.  They both received awards for the last month of the school year.  Skylar's award was even more special because the award winners in her class were voted on by her classmates.  The classmates voted Skylar as the AVID award winner for the month of May.  That made Skylar a 3 time award winner for her 3rd grade year.  

Madden received his second award of the year by earning the Reading Counts award.  I was really happy to see him win this one because he definitely has step up his reading the last few months of school.

Madden and his buddy William.

Proud of my top reader!