This Reminds Me

Archive for the ‘School Rules’ Category

Tonight all six of us clapped for Julia, one of the fifth grade Arabian dancers in her school’s performance of “The Nutcracker.”

Lean to the left!  Julia is front and center.  She thought her placement was because she was not as tall as some of the other performers, but Rachel assured her only the good dancers made the front row.

This was the last elementary school play for Keith and me, having attended our first in 1996 enduring enjoying kindergartener Rachel belting out “Baby Beluga, Under the Sea.”  More memorable Woodworth moments on stage included Lois-the-sheep “molting” while white cotton balls slowly loosened from her shower cap, Hannah-the-Greek Goddness singing a duet of “Greece is the Word,” and Rachel portraying a sausage in a play (whose name escapes me) about food products.  Seldom had I seen pork played to that depth.

We’re entering a season of “lasts” and “firsts” at home.  “Last” school play.  “First” child” preparing to leave for college.  “Last” child in the children’s ministry at church.  “First” summer we could just stop somewhere on the way home from work if we wanted to.  “Last” Sister’s Day coming up where all four girls will be home.  “First” year of serious boyfriends.  And the beat goes on.

The chorus struck a chord with me:

Desert sands that spin and blow

Distant stars that gleam and glow

Desert midnight

Camels lie sleeping

Silver moon shines bright

Desert midnight

Silent sands keeping

Watch all through the night

I think those “desert sands that spin and glow” are the sands of time, swirling more and more quickly.

I’m watching.  Some days for the first time, and some days for the last.  But I’m watching.

Rachel – an education major at UTSA – was required to hand write and secure illustration for a children’s book.  Her “Writing Methods” professor returned hers today with a grade of 100.  Woot!  We ordered three copies of “Middle School on Monday” – one for the esteemed author; one for her illustrator (Lois); and one for the fifth grade subject of the tome (Julia.)

Boys and girls – put your hands in your laps and read along very quietly with me.  Try sounding out each word.  Raise your hand if you need help.

Illustrator Lois is known for her anime talent.

When Julia starts Middle School next year, it will be our first time since 1996 not to have a child (or two or three) in an Elementary grade.

Julia and I attended the Electives Fair a few weeks ago.  The idea of her choosing a few of her own classes is very strange to her.

Rachel-the-Shopper has found far more of Julia’s “cute” clothes than I have.

Julia has enjoyed  consistently excellent teachers in Elementary School.  We will always be grateful to them.

“Awesome big sister…”  Now whom could that be?!

Believe it or not, the Middle School administration says the biggest fear of new students is working the locks on their lockers.

“Shout” is such an ugly word.  I would have preferred her to use “reminding.”  DID YOU HEAR THAT, RACHEL WYOMING?  I SAID “REMINDING!!”

Yes, we will!

Warning: Excessive Maternal Bragging About to Occur

Lois is now a high school senior.  She’s worked hard enough to have some real choices about where she goes away to college.  Those decisions are bittersweet because while I’m thrilled for her, I know I’m going to miss her.  But while she’s considering her next educational step, we’re enjoying some fun now with her being recognized as a Commended Student in the National Merit Scholarship Program.  Woot!

Tuesday:  A lovely breakfast for Lois, Keith and me with other families at the local country club…..

….where each student announced his or her intended college and major.  For Lois:  Likely Baylor or A&M, majoring in Engineering.   Both of her grandfathers were engineers, so, it’s a family thang.

Tonight:  The students and their parents were recognized at half-time at the Reagan/Madison game.  Wish Keith could have been there, but he’s in Houston visiting his parents.  And Hannah’s at Girl Scout camp.  But Rachel took these pictures, and Julia clapped hard.  This was the fourth football game I’ve attended in my life – one as yearbook editor in high school to write copy; two when I was handling sports and events for SBC in Houston; now this game tonight.  Interestingly, my former SBC sports marketing boss and friend Mark saw us at the game, and posted his congrats to my Facebook wall.

Yeah, I had to practically run to keep up with her – but what else is new?

A medal from Dr. Brian Gottardy, NEISD Superintendent.   As I have blogged before - the single biggest blessing we’ve gotten from moving to San Antonio in 2000 has been the schools.  In Houston and in San Antonio – good neighbors, good friends, good church.  But schools in Houston?  Forget them.  Hideous.  I am profoundly thankful for the excellent NEISD teachers Rachel, Lois, Hannah and Julia have enjoyed, and the schools’ constant emphasis on achievement.  Rachel is an education major (also a family thang) at UTSA and hopes to join them one day.

I’m not exactly sure how Lois got to be a senior.  I mean, she’s my preemie.  The toddler who used to wear swim goggles, hold a flashlight and announce, “”Mom, I’m going on a mystery.”  The kindergartener I put on the wrong school bus our first week here.   The middle school alto.  Now the fierce Latin competitor.  And somehow a senior.

I’m clapping for her every chance I get.

First day back to school – and only 179 to go this year.  The girls shoot me filthy looks when I mention that.

Hannah and Lois know to complete every scrap of information possible on those mountains of school forms before handing them off to me.  Why, oh why, does NEISD still require so much paper when parents are also required to enter the same info electronically in the parent portal?  Sigh.  I am still a huge believer in my favorite motherhood trick:  Clear address labels.   My using them embarasses the girls now.  I don’t care.  The embarrassment should be on the part of any entity that asks me for the same piece of information more than once.  BTW – For friends that have never visited – Keith built our kitchen table using floor planking from a tear-down house in Houston in the late 90′s.  It is the heart, soul and center of our home.

School year 2011-2012:  Lois, 17, is a senior in high school.  I am already noodling her graduation party, because I’m hoping we will  have lots to celebrate.  Hannah, 15, is a sophomore in high school.  Her lunch period is 1:50 – 2:45 p.m. this year, and they’re out of school at 4 p.m.   There are going to be lots of hurry-up-and-swallow peanut butter crackers in her Vera Bradley backpack.  Julia, 11, is in 5th grade, and a safety patrol officer.  I think that explains the toy handcuffs on her bookshelf.  Rachel, 20 is a college sophomore at UTSA with an afternoon job in an NEISD after-school program.  She brings the most lively stories to the dinner table.

Julia brought home an “all aboue me” paper cube to cut, fold and tape.  Note that “Sometthing Important To Me:” is “Jesus + My 2 guinee Pigs.”

This school year is a big one for our family.  Lois will graduate high school, and she wants to go away to college – maybe Baylor, maybe Tech, maybe Houston, maybe Alabama – maybe it depends on the scholarship?!  And  Julia will complete elementary school.  That may not sound like a big deal, but it is.  Since 1996 – elementary school has placed more (PTA) meetings on our calendars and more checks in backpacks than any other single “anything.”

We’ve had a child in elementary school since Rachel-the-kindergartener in 1996.  I confess:  My standards have lapsed.  New Stride Rite shoes?  Not anymore.  We’re talking “I know we got them in the clearance bin at Wal-mart last summer, but they don’t have any holes.”  Matching socks?  If you can find two identical in the plastic clothes basket on the top of the freezer.  Hair bands?  Don’t care as long as the going-to-school hair matches my three rules:  Clean.  Combed.  A color occurring in nature.

Tonight at bedtime Julia asked God to help her be a good girl tomorrow and to not get her folder signed. 

Amen, Julia!  Amen!  Pray that 179 more times this elementary school year and we’re done!