Back to School!

That's right! Today was Sweetpea's first day back at school. I am now officially the mom of a 3rd grader! And boy is it hard for me to get those words out....

She is super excited and had a fantastic day. This is the first year she gets 2 teachers over the course of the day - 1 for reading, writing, etc and 1 for math, science and social studies. It's also her first year of having a male teacher... but she says both are great.

Sweetpea all ready to go!

There's also her gifted classes she's excited about this year too - that I believe start next week. This year they are studying Egypt and she is super excited to get in to that.

And showing off her new backpack "Nerds Rule"

Sitting at her 3rd Grader desk

I think she's going to have a great year!

Great American Teach-In

Yesterday was the Great American Teach-In at our area schools. It's a day for adults to teach kids about their professions, their hobbies, their heritage... just about anything.

Sweetpea's school had quite a few interesting things. A Native American dressed in full garb and bearing many items that Native Americans use - he even did some dances for the kids. A man who lived in Australia for many years brought along some of his items and things he learned - including a didgeridoo. A woman came to talk about traveling. One man did cool science experiments. One man came in to talk about being a chef... just to name a few.

My friend The EcoChic also spent some time at her son's school talking about recycling.

I spent the day volunteering also. Now, mind you, I certainly wasn't as exciting as some of the guests, but I did what I enjoy - reading. I had Sweetpea help me pick out one of her favorite books (including the stuffed friend that goes with it) and I went in and read to five 1st Grade classes and two 2nd Grade classes. The book was called "Duck Soup" by Jackie Urbanovic. All the kids seemed to really enjoy it - and I knew they were actually listening when they laughed at the appropriate spots, "eww"ed at the appropriate spots and clapped and thanked me when I was done.

Reading is one of my family's favorite hobbies and I was glad to have the opportunity to pass along that hobby to so many kids.

Finally!!

Hubby and I had our final meeting with the appropriate people this morning and Sweetpea is finally going to be starting her gifted classes - TOMORROW!!

It's been a long time coming it seems - to get from April to now. But in talking with the Gifted Teacher, it will be well worth the wait.

I can't wait for Sweetpea to have the opportunity to feel more challenged in school.

I'm sure I'll be updating as she progresses... and I can't wait to hear from her how it goes tomorrow.

Subway School Rewards

Do you have a Subway card? If you do, you can help raise money for your school every time you use it.
Just link your card to your school and every time you make a purchase, your school will get a portion.

The more you use it, the more money your school gets. Tell your family and friends to link their cards too and your school will benefit even more!

I've got my card linked, go get yours linked too!

Look Out 1st Grade!

So I dropped Sweetpea off for her first day of school today.
I'm having a bitter/sweet morning - she's officially a 1st Grader... No longer a little girl. My only solace was that she still wanted me to walk her to class, holding my hand the whole way, and then gave me a great big hug before I left her.

She walked into her class, emptied out her backpack into her very own desk and sat proudly in her chair.

She's excited. She loves school. And I guess I can't really keep her from growing up - no matter how much I don't want her to... *sniff sniff*



-- Posted on the run from my iPhone

PTA President Extraordinaire

With school almost back in session, it means my PTA duties have begun.
This afternoon, after much confusion, we had our first board meeting. And, like any good President, I didn't know what this first meeting was for LOL
I had to rely on the others who have been on the board for years to tell me what the first meeting was all about. I was on the board last year but came in to everything after school had already started so I missed the whole first meeting...

I have to do my bit in the "Back to School" video tomorrow morning. Just 60-90 seconds of introducing myself and encouraging families to join. This will be played at the Open House Monday night... great!

This evening I have spent some time creating a Facebook group and a Twitter account to help spread the word of our events.
Next up is a website or blog for the same purpose. First, though, I want to see how much of an online presence our families have. There will be a form in the back to school packets for parents to fill out if they have email or online access.
The school is trying to go green and not print out newsletters anymore - instead, they will be emailed to as many families as possible. I'm sure my friend, The EcoChic will love that! :)

I'm still not sure of this whole President thing, but I'm sure as the year goes on it will just get easier... I hope...

The End of Summer...

...is upon us. Sweetpea goes back to school next week.

We spent the day today checking items off of that back to school list.
I took her to get her eyes checked for the first time and, as expected, she has no problems. I felt like I had been a slacker since she had never had them checked, but at the same time, she wasn't showing any need to have them checked. I just figured that back to school was a good time to get it done.

From there I took her to get her haircut. I left it up to her to decide how she wanted it cut.
She looks like such the big girl now with her 1st Grader hair cut. When did she grow up??



And speaking of growing, I also had to take her today to get some new shoes. They measured her foot for me and she grew a half-size over the summer!

I still have to get her registered for before/after school care and get her the supplies she needs.

I'm just not ready for her to be a 1st Grader yet...I need to find a way to keep her from growing up on me so fast.



-- Posted on the run from my iPhone

The End of Kindergarten

It was a bitter-sweet day for me today. It was Sweetpea's last day of Kindergarten... I am very proud of her, but at the same time, she's not supposed to be that grown up.

I just can't believe how fast time has flown. I didn't have an issue with her entering Pre-K or Kindergarten but for some reason knowing she's entering the summer before 1st grade is hitting me. She's growing up and I can't stop it...

It was a fun day though. It was an early release day and hubby and I got to hang around and spend the day with Sweetpea and her class. They started the day with a special "Open Court" ceremony where they buried a time capsule that will be dug up in 20 years. It was just very cool to see.

From there they went on to the end-of-the-year carnival the PE team puts on every year. That was fun - until Sweetpea got wacked in the head with a plastic baseball bat! I took her up to the office and got some ice and, of course, that solved the problem right away.

Next, on to the Luau Party that the Kindergarten team puts on for the kids every year. The kids. There were games, limbo, hula hoops, bubbles, water balloons, the playground to play on and plenty of food!
During the opening "speech" one of the teachers did before the luau, we learned that the Dunedin Elementary Kindergarten kids scored the highest in testing in the ENTIRE County! Way to go Eagles!!

The best part of the day for Sweetpea was the surprise limo ride at the end of the day! Her "boyfriend's" brother got Principal's List all year and his grandparents got him a limo for 2 hours as a "way to go". Both boys were told they could invite a friend to go with them and, of course, Sweetpea was the one chosen. What a scene it started at the school when that limo drove up! The Principal and teachers wanted to ride too LOL There's nothing like leaving school in a limo and riding to the beach just to get ice cream! :)

It was such a wonderful day! We came home and took a much-needed nap - and then got ready to have dinner with my parents who wanted to take their granddaughter out to celebrate her graduation from Kindergarten.

Let the summer begin!