Wordless Wednesday

This evening we went to the school and attended the final cheer performance that Kaylee has been a part of since the beginning of September.  This has got to be one of my favorite shots right now!!  You can't really see Kaylee but catching the girls in air (mostly) and all the blur... I just love it!!  You could tell for sure that they were having lots of fun!!!

Freedom Academy Fall Cheer    2010

New Adventures

Wow!! Seems like I've been waiting for this time in my life forever. But yet here it is right NOW!! That's right, I said I've finally arrived to the point I've always dreamed about.

Don't ask. Okay I'll answer anyways. I've finally found an outlet of sorts and a way to kind of reconnect to the "life of sports" I once had. And a time in my life where I can develop some of my talents more fully.

Okay so in case you haven't heard, I've VOLUNTEERED to be the head volleyball coach at the school my kids attend. Remember it's called Freedom Academy. Well this team consists of 7th and 8th grade boys and girls.

The long and short of it all.... last week we held tryouts. Wasn't quite sure what to do but I had lots of help and support from some of the faculty that have been coaches before but couldn't do it this year.

Day 1 : There were 39 kids that showed up, and they were either in 7th or 8th grade. Lots of boys and girls, and some of the kids really wanted to make the team, but just have fully developed the skills necessary yet, like SERVING. These poor little kids look so fragile that I was afraid they would break. But they really had some heart, so I hope that they practice throughout this year and try out again next year for those that are in 7th grade this year. It was so NOISY. But with the magic power of a whistle, I was able to quickly gain control over these kids. It feels GREAT!! I know I'm lame, but I really am enjoying this.

Day 2: We dropped to 32 kids, and I had a few faculty members help for the first half hour and then I was on my own. YIKES... It was kind of scary, but exciting at the same time.

Day 3: We were up to 33 kids. By this day I had narrowed down my list of choices and had grade reports run on them and discussed the choices and options with a few of the teachers. They gave suggestions, and I really liked their advice. Because they really know these kids more then I do since they have them in class nearly every day. We also announced the TEAM at the conclusion of the practice.

Day 4: First day of practice with just the team which consisted of 14 players. Four kids weren't able to make it that day, because of prior commitments, and that was fine, they let me know.

Day 5: Monday the 20th of September I show up for practice to have one of my supposed players waiting to greet me and tell me that she couldn't be on the team. She had too many other things that she was committed to before the team. She quit. WHAT??!! Are you kidding me, why did you try out then. And I was informed that one of my 7th grade boys quit as well. Turns out he only tried out because his "girlfriend" was trying out and since she didn't make it, and practicing everyday was too much for him ... he threw in the towel as well. So now I'm down to 12 players.

Day 6: Tuesday the 21st of September -- was a great day and I can already see lots of improvement in the team. There are a few people however that I wish were a little more "into" the game. Maybe it'll happen with time. But I'm not counting on it. I know it sounds pretty full of doubt, huh?

The other great thing... I'm coming home in the evening and I'm BUSHED!! I'm so tired and can't stay awake ... it's really getting me worked out too, and I'm starting to lose some of this excess weight I've been meaning to get rid of, but for whatever reason I haven't.


And to end this entry I'd like to post a collage of a recent photo shoot that I did, and I had so much fun during the shoot, and then afterward playing with the photos I captured.

Be SMART DON"T START

Well, now that the stress of Halloween is over, aaahhhhh I can sit back and relax!!!

Okay well now I'm back to work again, I've got a sinkful and then some of dishes to get caught up on, and about 5 loads of laundry that need to be folded and put away ---- and more laundry to do and more dishes to wash even after all this is done.

The reason I got behind : well I decided to throw my girls a Halloween party this year and we did that on Thursday and had a really fun time, but what made it a pain in my butt was the fact that the two older girls changed their minds about a month ago as far as what they wanted to be went. They were going to be an Oreo and Abe Lincoln, then they saw an ad from Partyland with all the costumes there and decided to be Cleopatra and "Morticia" -- which turned into the "Grand High Witch" for part of the day. I was busy making the costumes this week, trying to keep on the kitchen and FAILED MISERABLY!!! But I didn't even get to carving any pumpkins until an hour before we went out Trick or Treating. Pretty SAD!! I was going to make the kids Halloween Trick or Treat bags this year out of Halloween fabric, which I bought and had the handle stuff -- but I didn't get to the point of having enough time to make those too, I'm pathetic at trying to schedule my time better. But to add to the craziness the kids had their Red Ribbon Week this week and they did a balloon launch on Thursday at their school. (which was the same day I was making costumes and doing the party) So since I'm on the Yearbook committee again this year I was there trying to take pictures for that and WOW the most amazing thing took place.

Call me CRAZY, but things are REALLY touching to ME!!! Imagine having 500 students all gathered around a baseball diamond most of them wearing RED shirts and then holding onto strings attached to Red Balloons. As soon as all students are out, they start chanting " BE SMART DON'T START!!" I got chills up and down my back while they were saying this like a dozen times or so, which in turn made me almost want to CRY -- I think I might have shed a tear or two!! Then they started off with a countdown from 10 ..to .. 5... and then doen yo 1 and what a SIGHT. All the kids let go of their balloon and off they went!! I hope these kids stay SMART and DON'T start. Because it really is a SCARY world knowing that this CRAP exists out there, I just pray that in another 10 years that all these kids have chosen not to start.

Look at all of those balloons!!! IT was so COOL!!! I had my two boys with me also and they were just LOVIN it BIG TIME !! T-Man even said that we need to get balloons and do our own launch here at home. Maybe I'll have to do that.

FINALLY THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY

So today -- the school that my children go to had their Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for their new school. The mayor was there as well, as other prominent members of the community, and important to the school. I managed to get my boys to stay at my sister in laws house so that I could enjoy this more. Here are just a few of the pictures :






Here is the mayor standing next to a girl from the school. I think she might be the Student Body President -- not for sure yet. The lady in Red is the DIRECTOR of the School = PRINCIPAL Lynne Herring
Hooray the Ribbon is cut!!! Here is Heidi in the center of the picture.
Hi Kaylee!!
I can see Katherine and Kaylee and a little bit of Heidi .

Presentation of the colors -- they were some junior ROTC students from Provo High School
Here is the Mayor speaking to the students.

Don't you just love that boys expression? And of course there is Katherine beside him.

Nine days before ......

By looking at these pictures you'd think that there was no way the school would be able to be occupied in just 9 days!! Well in that amount of time they were able to make a lot of progress.

I'll be sure and post some newer pictures of what it looks like after only three days of students going to classes in this building.










Well, it sounds official -- the new school should probably be finished and ready for occupation next Tuesday!!

The school is planning on the big move taking place this weekend -- I'm afraid that I won't be able to help out but we're excited!!!

I took a few new pictures on Monday of the new school and it still looks a long way from being complete -- but maybe later today I'll drive by and see what the progress has been made since Monday Sept. 17th.

I have bitter sweet feelings of whether I like the new building coming to pass or if they should have just not even bothered. Then I think about it and realize that a new school, that is officially owned by the school -- and a place where the students can have the amenties that they need for an optimized learning environment. I'll keep posted about the exact success of the move.

Still Under Construction

Okay so here we have the site of where the new school is being built. I took these pictures Sept. 7, 2007 -- we thought this was a big improvement considering that just that two weeks ago there were big mounds of dirt all in front of the school. What you see below is the front of the school and where a parking lot will be poured. When I took these pictures last week, I thought for sure that we would still be going in the old building because the new one wouldn't be ready.
As a parent you almost have to wonder why we even have to go through things like this. Delays left and right of the new school being able to be occupied. I just recieved an email from the school saying that the "Big Move" will now take place on Sept. 22, 2007 instead of the foretold Sept. 15th, 2007. So for the last two weeks almost my girls have been going to school only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. So by the time our school will end its third week of being in session our kids will only have 8 days of school in. So that puts them going to school a few more extra days into June at the end of the year.
We're excited for the opportunity to have a new building but I really wish that they would have planned for the best -- meaning the school will be 100% complete and finished by the first day of school Sept. 4th, and that all things will have been moved over, but prepared for the worst, meaning that we should just start school on Aug 20th and occupied the old location and then when the new site was ready for occupancy we could move over at that time. As it is nearly two weeks of school have been wasted where the students could have gone but were told to wait. If the decision to start on Aug 20th was made I think that the students wouldn't have to go to school into June, when they are used to getting out in May.

I'm not opposed to charter schools at all, in fact, we love the curriculum, the staff, and everything about the school. We just have the unfortunate experience of the "Big Move" and it seems to really be putting a damper on things. They say the construction crews have extra men and are working extra hours to get this project finished. I hope that we don't need to extend yet another week beyond the 22nd of September.

I think after seeing all of these delays and the decisions that have been made not benefiting the majority of the population, that I will start attending the "meetings" that discuss such issues. Before I started my kids in this charter school last school year, I was way involved in the previous school, but for some reason last year I didn't get involved really. Why? Oh yeah, I was pregnant at the begining of the school year and tend to get quite ill, plus I was babysitting to earn a little extra money. I didn't have the time available.

So this year as long as I note when the meetings are and go -- I'll be more involved and have a better idea of what's going on.

I'm just curious for those of you who have school aged children -- How involved in school are you? And what makes it so that you can't "help out and be involved" ?

School Starts in less than 24 hours

I'm so excited because my kids will finally start school tomorrow !! I've waited for this for a long time, okay not a really long time but just since ummm SCHOOL LET OUT IN MAY !!! They go to Freedom Academy in Provo Utah and we love it!! Here is a link so you can check out their website. This is only the second year my girls will have gone there but even still it's a great place. So today we do the final preparations for school -- make sure all the clothes are washed, socks and underwear in the drawers etc.... http://www.provofreedomacademy.org/

I'm quite relieved to know that I'll be at home with three less kids for the bulk of the day, but then again they are only going to be a school Monday, Wednesday and Fridays for the first two weeks. Time for the 8pm bedtimes YIPPEE!!!! I can make them go to bed that early and actually have a legit excuse.

When does school start ??

So tonight we went to a park here in Provo and did a potluck picnic with all the other families that also go to Freedom Academy in Provo, Utah. Along with the picnic was also the chance to meet the teachers of our children. Luckily we were able to meet all the teachers that will be teaching my three girls. This school is in the process of building a new building and is currently under construction. So many things have happened lately that I'm not sure if I should be irritated or just say "that's OK".

Here's the shortened condensed version:

PLANNED : First day of school scheduled for Tuesday Sept. 4th, 2007 at the new location.
ACTUAL : First day of school for my kids will now be Sept. 5th, 2007 at the old location.
WHY #1 The school has run into problems with getting the easement for power, from the city, to the school. So for now it has set back the move for at least two weeks.

WHY #2 The old location has been subleased to another charter school but now all of Freemdom Academy's students can not be at school at the same time. The other school will use all the classrooms upstairs and then Freedom will use the classrooms downstairs.

PLANNED: Start school on Sept. 4th and attend every day!!
ACTUAL : In order to accomodate all involved students in K-3 will go to school M, W, F and students in 4 - 8th grades will go T, TH, Saturday (8th) so by the end of the first two weeks every student will have put in 5 full days of school.

PLANNED: The last day of school is the Friday before Memorial Day.
ACTUAL : In order to get the right amount of time in we will extend the school year by one week at the end of the year.

-- So after the picnic in the park we drove by the construction site and have seen the progress, and it still looks like it is a long way from being done.

PLANNED: The big move from the old location to the new is scheduled for Sept. 15th or at least that weekend.
ACTUAL: TBA
This summer has been long and my children are now begging to go to school and I'm more than ready for them to go back. I believe that they have become bored, and are running out of ideas to keep them entertained and active.