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.

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.

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" ?