Last Day of School!!!

Jenna spent her last day of school on the couch with a low fever.  Poor girl.  I think we'll be seeing an allergist this summer to make sure we're not overlooking allergy related sinus issues.  Heather went to school for a couple of hours, and then we checked the gang out and headed to Moiola.  We said good-bye to teachers and saw old friends.  Afterward, we headed to Corner Bakery for lunch.  It is so blessedly wonderful not to be worried about what needs to be done tomorrow.  First up on the agenda...sleeping in!!!

Recognition

On Tuesday morning, we planned to pick Heather up from school around 9:00AM because nothing much was going on.  I was running a little late, and it was a good thing!  In a 7th grade assembly that morning, Heather was honored with two awards.  The first was for "Excellence in History" presented by her awesome History teacher, and the second was for "Overall Effort" presented by the Principal and Assistant Principal.  Heather was shocked!  Heather doesn't receive achievement awards...ever.  This was a complete surprise to her, and I think she is still recovering from the surprise.

One might think that I am understandably bragging--I'm her mom, right?  It's hard to explain that my wanting to stand on the roof top and shout this news out loud does not stem from parental pride.  I am, of course, very proud of Heather, but more than that, I want to explain to everyone how marvelous and miraculous these awards are.  In sixth grade (or any time before that) the thought of Heather ever being recognized academically was ludicrous (you've heard me lament about what skills are valued in public education).  I want to shout praises for a school filled with teachers who recognize effort and achievement that isn't always rooted in perfect test scores and exceptional academic skill.  Heather's grades are actually pretty good (3.75 GPA), but she has been recognized this year for her creativity, insight and effort.  She has been encouraged and praised and has felt valued by her teachers.  This girl needed a year like this, and I realize I've been waiting for this year to show up for a really long time!  I am so, so happy for Heather that I can't stop smiling.  She is so wonderful--we have always known that.  I am so glad that she is, for the first time, beginning to believe that she might just have some chops.

Go Heather!

Talent Show!

Friday was Moiola's last talent show.  Jenna and Sarah decided they wanted to reprise the Ghostbusters number from our church show.  They danced it very well, and the crowd was impressed with their costumes, makeup and preparation.  Well done girls!  

The kids were all given a free shirt commemorating Moiola's last year.  The front has the 40 year date range that the school has been operating.  The back has the names of every child who attended during this last year.  The staff and students are trying to remain positive, but it is hard.  The taste is still bitter over the closing.  I don't know if that will ever go away.  I'm sure some in the community think that we are a little over-the-top about our feelings on the school closure process, but let them say what they will.  Closing a school is never good for a community.  We sincerely hope that some new blood will be installed this fall and that some great changes can be wrought in the handling of the district budget so that this doesn't have to happen again in our district.

Countdown

                                   

One regular school day and four half-days left.  It can't come soon enough.  The closing of our elementary school has been traumatic, and the environment has been different.  We're excited to move on and look ahead to some alternative educational options for fifth grade.  Middle school has been hard work this year, and just before the end I find myself needing to learn how to factor trinomials.  When I log off here, I have to go remember how to solve quadratic equations.  Why? Because my middle schooler is overwhelmed, done and missing instruction that here teacher is trying to give these last days of school.

Summer, summer.  Where art thou summer?

Until next week, I'll keep some of that good medicine on hand that makes everything better.  But not too much.  I'm trying to cut back.

We Have A Runner!

Heather ran the mixed relay event for her track team today.  She had an outstanding race.  She's got great form and speed.  Both of her grandpas won state championship titles for their high school track teams--Kelly's dad was a sprinter, and my dad ran the 440yd and mile relays.  We think it's in her genes, no?  The result of her team's race was unfortunately a DQ due to the 4th leg runner dropping the baton on take off.  Prior to that their team was in 1st place by a landslide.  What can you do?  We are so proud of Heather for her efforts.  She made the track team, qualified for an event, and ran a spectacular leg getting her team off to the right start.  You can't ask for better than that. We can wait to see what she does next year! 

 She's keeping up with the boys!  Go Heather!!!

Mission San Juan Capistrano

Jenna's 4th Grade class went to the San Juan Capistrano Mission Tuesday.  We have lived here forever and have not visited the mission.  It was a pretty cool place.  Heather didn't have a great experience there due to her docent not really having much of a personality, but Jenna's docent was fabulous.  My friend, Michelle, and I chaperoned our group, and we got a really good look at many parts of the mission.  I always love the gardens (even the cactus had flowers!) and my favorite is the chapel.  This mission has a ghost story too! In December of 1812, the original church (see last photos) was destroyed by an earthquake.  When the earthquake happened, the padre and several of the partitioners left through the front doors while the last half of the chapel left through the back.  Unfortunately, the bell tower fell over that part of the church killing 42 people.  One was a young girl who had been sent by her parents in a white dress to crawl on her hands and knees up the isle, holding a candle to ask forgiveness from God for meeting up with a boy alone.  The girl's body was found under the rubble with her outstretched hand still grasping the candle.  There were three different times thus far that the current care taker has come before dawn to open the mission grounds and has seen a figure in a white dress holding a candle and sitting in the window of the original church staring out over the rubble.  Spooky!   After the mission, we had lunch at the beautiful park.  The kids had a lot of fun, and Jenna and I got to hang out with our best buds which was super fun!

 Floating under the lily pads are hugh Coy!

 Jenna and Sarah at the doorway of the original church.  The pulpit is under the part of the church still standing at the opposite end.  Big church!!!

 Jenna and Sarah standing under the window at the front of the church remains where the ghost has been seen.

Track Team

After an agonizing few days, Heather received the news this morning that she has made the Fulton Track Team.  We're not sure what event she will participate in as the coaches will now be assessing the runners on a daily basis during practice.  Heather is relieved and very happy to be participating at a school where making the sports team is a competitive business.  We are relieved and grateful that Heather is able to show off her running skills.  We can't wait to see how everything unfolds during the next month.

Moiola Field Trip

All students at Moiola went on a field trip today to the El Capitan theater in Hollywood to see the new movie, Chimpanzee.  The field trip was a last hurrah and treat for our school as a whole giving the kids something fun (and educational) to do together before the school closes forever.

The El Capitan is beautiful, and the movie was spectacular.  I got to sit next to Jenna on the bus and in the theater, and Jenna was surrounded by her fun friends.  The movie was accompanied by popcorn, apple slices and juice, and after the movie, a wild life organization did a short presentation showing the kids some live animals from the region where the movie was filmed.  The animals were projected on the giant screen so all could get a good view.  It was cool to see how the movie screen area was really a stage, too, and I told Jenna how the theater was used for both types of entertainment.  We really had a good time at this beautiful venue.

Filming The Plague

Heather finished coordinating and filming her short movie about the Black Plague.  Both Heather and Sarah's characters had the Bubonic Plague while others suffered from the Pneumonic and Septicemic Plagues.  Bet ya didn't know there were three kinds.  The movie will finish production this weekend and the video link will be posted soon.  We're very proud of Heather for putting this into motion, and we're proud of ourselves for not pushing her to give it up as we were plagued with the challenge of helping her put it all together (pun intended).  It is really challenging to remember to get out of our practical heads and let creativity dominate. This was a great exercise!

Thank you to all of our friends who were so awesome helping with the three movie pieces for Heather's project.  Treats are on the way!

The Crusades - A Project

While Jenna was at her tea party on Saturday, the rest of the Peterson clan joined with the Mosher and Holbrook families to film some footage for Heather's social studies project.  Heather is presenting four projects to show her knowledge of the material covered in the recent weeks.  Today's filming involved a movie trailer of The Crusades.  You can enjoy this portion of her project HERE.

Thank you Moshers and Holbrooks for fighting the good fight for Heather's project.

Western Day

The girls think I'm silly for wanting pictures of all of their fun dress-up days at school, but let them call me silly.  They look so darn cute that I've just got to have the moment captured.  Friday was Fulton's "Western Day."  A hat from the costume closet and a never-before-worn shirt from Justice made it's debut as a costume piece (at least it got some use, right?).  Grandpa Pete's cowboy boots completed the ensemble.  I even got to do double braids (squee!).  She is just the cutest western-clad girl this side of the Orange County line.

Jenna's Open House

Jenna's school had it's last official Open House on Thursday.  It was great to see what Jenna has been working on and have her give us a tour of her classroom.  Back-To-School Night and Open House are the only times Kelly gets to see what his girls are up to, so it is always a special treat to show Daddy around.  Jenna has some great organization skills and really tries to do a neat job on all her work.  She takes time to add extra details, and she enjoys showing us her projects.  The self-portrait she did was pretty good (complete with earrings), and she posed outlaw-style next to her Wanted poster.  The class performed a little skit about the first missions established in California, and Jenna's great teacher posed for pictures with all the kids.  

Guess Who?

Guess who bumped her Pre-Algebra grade up to an A-?

Oh yeah.

Guess who would like to grow up faster than the intended pace for a human child?

Yep. In't she cute? I told her Glinda was missing her shoes.

Leapin' Lunch

We didn't have any special plans for this particular leap day, but Jenna and I did enjoy lunch together at Lunch on the Lawn. It's always fun to picnic with a special lunch and enjoy extra friend time.