We attended Alan's 25th class reunion this past weekend. It was a real blast. The reunion had a kick off on Friday night that coincided with the homecoming game for the school. We walked down the hall to were the class was meeting in the drama room and many recognized Alan right away. After the get together in the drama room we went to the football game and Meghan enjoyed that part. She is a HUGE Kowboy fan. (No I did not misspell it - that is how this school spells it). I suppose she will remain a Kowboy fan until she starts high school which will make her a Bulldog. (Just what our family needs is another school represented by a Bulldog.)
Saturday night was the formal part of the reunion. First we agonized over what to wear. I have lost enough weight over the past year that I do not have a lot to chose from in the dressier section of my closet. Alan was having issues as well. The invitation said cocktail attire, and we both tried to make sure that we were dressed accordingly. Now with that said let me tell you cocktail attire does not translate very well for a very large portion of the population that is from this area of Florida. So here is what I took away from the gathering on Saturday night. First, regardless of your preconceived ideas about them, flip flops are not just for the beach and really can be worn in formal surroundings. I have also discovered much to my surprise, shorts and t-shirts are acceptable cocktail attire. If you should ever find yourself in a bind as to what to wear to a cocktail event in this part of the country never fear, your best pair of wranglers, cowboy shirt, cowboy boots and cowboy hat will be ok also. So the point here is that obviously we put entirely too much thought and effort into what we should wear.
Getting there was an adventure in and of itself. We went to that great map site on the Internet and typed in where we wanted to go and this was off by miles and miles... So we get to downtown where the site told us we wanted to go. At first we thought we were in the right place because we saw people everywhere that are dressed up. Well there was a wedding, the homecoming dance and some other event all down there. So we stopped for directions and everyone sent us off in another direction. After 30 minutes of this going on, we called one of the event organizers and she told us were she "thought" it was. She told us two of the right roads but missed telling us the name of the one that connected the two of them. Next solution - stop and the ask one of the five police cars that had arrested a whole group of individuals. The cops' response, "Well it is outside the city limits and I have not been there but I think it is down this street and turn on to Kings Highway. Don't worry if it is not down that road because the road ends pretty quick." I do not what you think but it is bad when no one really knows how to find the place you are holding the reunion. The cop was right and we found the Elks Club but the road seemed to go on and on. We apparently were not the only ones having a hard time finding the place. GPS 's could not find it either so we won't be too upset with the map site. The funny part is we spent about 45 minutes lost in the town where Alan went to high school.
Many of you realize that Alan operates in a time zone that has not truly been found on the East Coast. His times usually involve an "ish" which could be any where from on time (in a very rare circumstance) to two or three hours late. Do not despair folks - he is aware of our time occassionally. We were runnng late for both of these events (compared to the start time) and I caught him looking at his watch constantly. I truly find it amusing that he seemed so aware of time in this instance. I was not sure he carried an awareness for time.
I want to give all of you a little history about the high school thing with Alan and I. We spent the early years of our relationship near my high school in Georgia. Alan teased me endlessly about the "Redneck" tendencies of the area I went to school. He also claimed to not really understand how I graduated because he was sure a graduation requirement for the girls was the ability to carry a baby on your hip. We have now spent the past six years near his school. I have found that he was sort of "the pot calling the kettle black". Do you know that his school is out for the rodeo. Yes Internet ... the rodeo. A very little recognized holiday by the rest of us. When he played football the games were played on the Rodeo Grounds. (My school played on a football field and... well that did not help them much but hey someone has to lose.) Whose school has more "redneck tendancies? Alan, I think your school has defintiley won that title fair and square now!! :)
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Gearing Up for School
School starts back on Monday the 18th. Meghan is eagerly counting down the days. We have finished her back to school shopping. I do not think we are missing anything. This year it looks like Meghan's principal in no longer at the the school which is disappointing. This principal knew just about all the students names and faces on site. She seemed to feel that it was equally important to recognize the good or quiet students and let them know she was aware of them and their existence. With a school population of over 1000 students, I find that to be a remarkable feat.
Last night we went to that W store and finished off the one or two things I did not have. We are thinking about letting her take her lunch to school some this year which meant that we had to pick out a lunch box because the one we had that someone gave her in kindergarten she was worried that someone would make fun of her for having. So we are standing on the aisle with the lunch boxes trying to make a decision. I am there with my 9 year old when another group came up. These girls were high school aged trying to justify to their mother why they needed a "character" lunch box while my daughter is asking my help ion locating a non "babyish" lunch box. The irony of the situation did not escape me or the other mom who was trying to get her girls to pick a more grown up lunch box.
Today we went and had Meghan's hair cut for school. This is the shortest that she has ever agreed but it still long enough to handle pony tails, braids and buns. Unfortunately for Meghan, I cannot french braid so she has to settle for regular braids.
With the return of school, we have to return to our very active schedule. Dance resumes on Tuesday. I have not picked up the lyrical shoes that she needs nor have I purchased ballet shoes. (We did get tights) I am hoping that she has not out grown the tap shoe which were a little big last year. BSYO resumes on the 25th with a kick off on the 16th. the school strings program usually resumes the week after school as well. Busy, busy, busy!!
We are down one driver with my mom looking at knee replacement surgery on both legs this fall.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
The Last Concert of the school year
Tonight marked the last concert of the school year. Meghan performed her solo at the day time demonstration concert for fourth and fifth graders and again at the evening concert. The afternoon performance was a resounding success. The most amount of applause was for her performance in front of her peers. The appreciation for her performance shown by her peers astounded the music teacher as well as she was still talking about it when we returned to the school for the evening performance. Three of her friends showed up for the performance tonight.
This was the first time that we have seen Meghan show any sign of nerves for a performance. Unfortunately it effected her a little bit. Hopefully tomorrow I can put some of the video up. Of course tomorrow is the the third grade writers tea.
This was the first time that we have seen Meghan show any sign of nerves for a performance. Unfortunately it effected her a little bit. Hopefully tomorrow I can put some of the video up. Of course tomorrow is the the third grade writers tea.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Science Fair
Well, yesterday was the wrap up of the science fair and the the third grade science project. Meghan did not win anything at the county science fair. She was very disappointed but as we told her, you cannot win everything. This from the child that was not even sure that she wanted to enter her project in the school fair let alone hope top win and get to the county level.
On a brighter note, she did come home with letter notifying us that she was won a character achievement medal at school and that will be awarded on May 8th. Granted this is the third one she has received since kindergarten but it is still an honor since they award 1 per class each month. Also this will give her a chance to wear on of the skirt suit type outfits and gives us an excuse for dinner out.
On a brighter note, she did come home with letter notifying us that she was won a character achievement medal at school and that will be awarded on May 8th. Granted this is the third one she has received since kindergarten but it is still an honor since they award 1 per class each month. Also this will give her a chance to wear on of the skirt suit type outfits and gives us an excuse for dinner out.
Friday, February 22, 2008
How Sweet
Originally posted on my AOL journal 12/11/07
We all know how mean kids can be. Of course all of us were perfect little "angels"; however, we all have experienced the really mean kid in school that does not get caught. This is the one that always whispers mean things to the kids and always manages to be nasty when the teacher is not looking. Well Meghan's class has one that was so out of control that a few weeks into the school year, I had to go in a speak to the teacher. Meghan (the child who looked so forward to school that she counted down the days last summer) did not want to go to school. I was the third parent to come to the teacher with concerns about the same child so the school set her up with in house counseling, and the kids were to let the teacher know when she began doing these things. This "mean" kid came to school in the beginning of the school year dressed like a little doll - you know the type.
After the intial situation began to be handled, the little girl seem to stop being quite as malicious, but then gradually began to step it up again. Well today Meghan came home to tell us the little girl told her she was fat. This was right after she told another child his mother was fat and his sister stupid and that Ms. Kennedy was a loser. Well this time the child was not as slick as she had been in the past and the teacher walked up as she was saying it and heard everything. As a result, the child might be getting moved out of the classroom.
Now I remember the "mean" kids that I had in school never seemed to caught. The only ones that seemed to get caught are the non-mean kids that retaliate after having had enough. Frances, if you are reading this please correct me if I am wrong because I sure remember lots of mean kids in elementary school and middle school. Middle School's mean kids were the worst and I still remember my nemesis and her full name 21years after I last had to deal with her. So those of us that were not the "mean" kid should take a moment to rejoice with Meghan that the "MEAN" GIRL GOT CAUGHT BY THE TEACHER.
Perhaps this child is crying out for attention because she did this after having spent the morning with the principal for writing notes to another student. The other student turned them in to the teacher which got the "mean" girl senmt to the office. With the zero tolerance policies that the schools now adopt once she is moved to another classroom over this behavior and it continues, she will be asked to leave the school.
Those of you that might questioning my music selection, especially if you do not have kids going through the current generartions "new math " concepts - let me explain. Years ago when I was in school, I learned my multiplication tables by flash cards and writing them over and over again. Alan had the added incentive of a ruler and his dad.(ha ha) Apparently the educators thought that way old fashioned, boring and not very cool so they developed these key looking things with a string. Each key is a series and set up with the a number on the left and the middle is the number you are multiplying by and the answer is in the right. To see if you are right, you flip them over on the back and see if your pattern is the same. Now I truly see nothing wrong with the old way, it worked well for generations and we all know are multiplication tables well. I do question this new math way because I do not think the kids are getting the same reinforcement that we did. We have proved this by asking Meghan a week later and she has problems remebering the answer so now we drill her constantly even though she is getting 100s on the quizzes for each group. Flash cards and writing them worked very well in my opinion. Ask Alan, even the ruler worked well.
We all know how mean kids can be. Of course all of us were perfect little "angels"; however, we all have experienced the really mean kid in school that does not get caught. This is the one that always whispers mean things to the kids and always manages to be nasty when the teacher is not looking. Well Meghan's class has one that was so out of control that a few weeks into the school year, I had to go in a speak to the teacher. Meghan (the child who looked so forward to school that she counted down the days last summer) did not want to go to school. I was the third parent to come to the teacher with concerns about the same child so the school set her up with in house counseling, and the kids were to let the teacher know when she began doing these things. This "mean" kid came to school in the beginning of the school year dressed like a little doll - you know the type.
After the intial situation began to be handled, the little girl seem to stop being quite as malicious, but then gradually began to step it up again. Well today Meghan came home to tell us the little girl told her she was fat. This was right after she told another child his mother was fat and his sister stupid and that Ms. Kennedy was a loser. Well this time the child was not as slick as she had been in the past and the teacher walked up as she was saying it and heard everything. As a result, the child might be getting moved out of the classroom.
Now I remember the "mean" kids that I had in school never seemed to caught. The only ones that seemed to get caught are the non-mean kids that retaliate after having had enough. Frances, if you are reading this please correct me if I am wrong because I sure remember lots of mean kids in elementary school and middle school. Middle School's mean kids were the worst and I still remember my nemesis and her full name 21years after I last had to deal with her. So those of us that were not the "mean" kid should take a moment to rejoice with Meghan that the "MEAN" GIRL GOT CAUGHT BY THE TEACHER.
Perhaps this child is crying out for attention because she did this after having spent the morning with the principal for writing notes to another student. The other student turned them in to the teacher which got the "mean" girl senmt to the office. With the zero tolerance policies that the schools now adopt once she is moved to another classroom over this behavior and it continues, she will be asked to leave the school.
Those of you that might questioning my music selection, especially if you do not have kids going through the current generartions "new math " concepts - let me explain. Years ago when I was in school, I learned my multiplication tables by flash cards and writing them over and over again. Alan had the added incentive of a ruler and his dad.(ha ha) Apparently the educators thought that way old fashioned, boring and not very cool so they developed these key looking things with a string. Each key is a series and set up with the a number on the left and the middle is the number you are multiplying by and the answer is in the right. To see if you are right, you flip them over on the back and see if your pattern is the same. Now I truly see nothing wrong with the old way, it worked well for generations and we all know are multiplication tables well. I do question this new math way because I do not think the kids are getting the same reinforcement that we did. We have proved this by asking Meghan a week later and she has problems remebering the answer so now we drill her constantly even though she is getting 100s on the quizzes for each group. Flash cards and writing them worked very well in my opinion. Ask Alan, even the ruler worked well.
Science Projects
Originally posted on the AOL journal 11/25/07.
We are only a few weeks from Meghan's first science project being due. Really at third grade who do they think is going to actually be doing the project? The packet they send home says the parent is only suppose to provide guidance but not do the project. PLEASE - be realistic. Anyway, the nails have been soaking in the assigned liquid for several weeks. We are taking the final measurements and are getting ready to finalize the board. I will be typing all procedures, research, data, and findings over the next few days. Good thing I am currently on short term disability from work. I suoppose this is my punishment that I never had to do science projects:) Meghan will have oine due each year from now through sixth grade. We will start planning next years this summer.
Tags: science projects, school, Meghan
We are only a few weeks from Meghan's first science project being due. Really at third grade who do they think is going to actually be doing the project? The packet they send home says the parent is only suppose to provide guidance but not do the project. PLEASE - be realistic. Anyway, the nails have been soaking in the assigned liquid for several weeks. We are taking the final measurements and are getting ready to finalize the board. I will be typing all procedures, research, data, and findings over the next few days. Good thing I am currently on short term disability from work. I suoppose this is my punishment that I never had to do science projects:) Meghan will have oine due each year from now through sixth grade. We will start planning next years this summer.
Tags: science projects, school, Meghan
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