Niall y El Fénix

Niall was selected as "Star Student" for last week and had to write about his adventures (aventuras) with El fénix in a composition book  (El fénix was named "Fox" which confused me at first).

Lunes

Martes- Fútbol a la escuela

Miércoles- Corriendo 

Jueves - Fútbol a Hiller Park con Paul (Pablo) 

Viernes - subiendo en árbol

Sabado - juego de fútbol, con Paul

 

Domingo  - baloncesto

Fox, el fénix had an eventful week! 

School's back for the summer!

The kids had a great last few days of summer-- but I'm so glad they're back in school for the structure and mental stimulation for them, which doesn't all fall on us parents (our kids tend to be kind of bored at home, despite lots of things to build, draw, read, and play with!).

A pickleball court opened at the new BMX park in McKinleyville.  We still prefer the Carlson courts, but this one is five minutes from our house.

Niall and I took an afternoon walk at Clam Beach Overlook, where a pod of seals usually hangs out. We had some lovely sunny weather and counted dozens of seals sunning themselves!

Iver started middle school in Arcata on Tuesday, which is really exciting, although a bit stressful as it is a different school district and much larger than his little elementary program. We felt pretty in the dark about a lot of the school's processes, activities, drop-offs, etc., until just this week, and the kids-at-different-schools complicates a lot for us parents who like to plan ahead.  

Kelvin scoped our the situation and found that there's a school bus from a stop near Niall's elementary school that goes to the schools in the district, so Iver got to ride the bus for the first time yesterday! Several of his former fifth grade friends also joined, as some have siblings in elementary school also! 

He said the school day went really well-- he'll have a couple of classes (in immersion Spanish) with the Spanish and social studies teacher, who is also the soccer coach, and even has his own locker (so he had to figure out how to use a combination lock for the first time!) !  We found on on Monday that team soccer tryouts were this week, and Iver made the school team after his first day, about which he is pumped, but which means we now have added weekday games to finagle (in addition to both kids doing recreational soccer and having two practices each per week and Saturday games). Yikes! 

Niall started third grade today, and drop off was easy and familiar, given that we've been with this school since 2020 for one or both kids! He was excited to wear his new blue shoes! 

(Kelvin's mom requested a photo "not by that ugly fence that you always use for the backdrop!" so here it is, Thao:)

I'm happy to have some quiet times at home when kids are learning to catch up some projects (particularly my ancestry one I'm still organizing)!

Graduación y mas

On Tuesday, Fuente Celebrated La Graduación de la Clase de Quinto Grado (5th grade) from elementary school.  I can't believe we have a soon-to-be-middle schooler!

The ceremony was a school-wide event, starting at 10:15. Even school parents whose kids weren't graduating attended, which was special! 

Each class gifted the fifth graders something (a song, a flower, a bookmark, a poem, etc)!

Segundo Grado (N)

Directora Angela honored the teachers who are moving on to other places/spaces.

4th grade poem

his booty!

Maestra Cat, a wonderful teacher who Iver's class lucked out to have for second and fifth grade, gave a wonderful speech commemorating this class's achievements. These are the kids who, six years ago, started their bilingual education via a zoom screen back in 2020, which still makes me tear up  (here's my letter to Iver as he started kinder).  She reminded us how much a gift it is to have and know a second language, as being culturally sensitive and able to communicate with people of different backgrounds/heritages is a huge blessing and an amazing life skill. These kids are on el sendero to biliteracy, which is so incredible. The kids were each described in a few adjectives-- Iver was talented, athletic, intelligent, and responsible.

Posing with the diploma!

The kids exited to Madre Tierra (Oye),  an extremely catchy song celebrating the beauty and honor in this life. Listen if you haven't-- it's been on repeat in our house!

The fifth grade families enjoyed a post-ceremony potluck. I made a large pot of black beans to go with the taco bar and hope I didn't poison anyone! In the background was a slide show featuring baby-to-big-kid photos of the graduates!

Arte in Leavey Hall 

La familia

con Directora Angela (who was the school's English teacher for many years)

Here's our growing boy!

The fifth graders and families had an afternoon park day (good but windy weather) at a new park (Da' Yas) in Eureka, where they played futsal, hung out with their friends, and adults mingled.

Today was the last day of school-- here are my rising sixth and third graders! 

First and last school days at FN for this big kid!