Back to School!!

Tuesday, it was Back to School day for my 2 kids!
Cassie went back to Dawkins Middle School in the 7th grade and got the team of teachers that Zack had when he was there. She's got a lot of her friends on her team so she is happy about that.. She is playing in the band again too... She will be moving up from the pre-teen to the Youth Program at church, so I am praying that she will want to get more involved...
Zack went to the "big" campus this year at Dorman High School. Since the Freshman Campus was separated from the sophomore, juniors and seniors last year, it's a whole new school for him. After a few days though, he seems to like it a lot. Lunch time is a little tricky with all of those kids, so he decided to take his lunch, that way he is sure to get it...lol...A lot of his friends didn't get to eat the first day. His schedule seems to be good too. He's taking advanced Spanish, AP English Comp, Algebra II and SC Best this semester. He's favorite part of the day is going off campus to the SC Best Bible Study Class...
He also got his license last Friday, so he will be driving himself to school very soon. (As soon as I can let him go...lol) He is swimming on the Dorman team after school. He will be very busy this fall with swimming, school and church...
As for me, I will be busy volunteering at Dawkins in the office, being on the PTO board at Dawkins, helping time at the swim meets, catering any of the school functions that are needed, and attending ladies bible studies at church. Also, hoping to have as many Aloette shows that I can...( I am needing to save as much money as I can for next years trips)...
Even though summer went by way too fast, I am looking forward to a great school year with my kids. I will be helping and encouraging them along the way!!

Proud Mama...

This week my children made me especially proud of them....

On Thursday, I went to Dawkins Middle School for the award ceremony.

Connor Bastin welcomed all the parents of the 6th graders....

Cassie got a certificate for all A's & B's for the year!! She mostly got all A's and one B the entire year....Great Job!!

Cassie and one of her best friends, Hannah Jones.

Then today, I went to Dorman for Zack's award ceremony....

Mark Smith, Principal of Dorman Freshman Campus. Being on the PTSO board this year, I got to know Mark and he is an awesome principal as well as a very personable man. I am going to miss him and the secretary, Kathi Williams next year...

Zack got the highest grade point average for Honors English in the entire grade!!! There are 838 students at the Freshman Campus....He was surprised!! He didn't even want to take Honors English and the teachers talked him into it. He missed the highest average in Geometry even though he had a 103 average in there....

Zack also got All A's for the year! He takes all Honors classes so this is an awesome accomplishment...He has had straight A's since Kindergarten....We are VERY PROUD!!

Ms. Kerns, the Computer Teacher, got Teacher of the Year. She is an awesome teacher and woman. She also goes to our church and sings in the choir....Way to go, Ms. Kerns!!

Tonight, we went back to Dorman for the Band Banquet. Zack was very excited as he not only received the award for Outstanding Band Student for the 9th grade concert band, he also received his Letter for Band!! Most kids that letter in Band as a Freshman are in Marching Band but because of Zack's accomplishments in Region Band last year, in concert band & Jazz Band this year, he got a Letter.....He doesn't participate in Marching Band because he is a swimmer and you can not do both as practices are on the same day...

We are very proud of our kids!!!

Excited....BUT...Nervous

Today was the first day of school for Zack & Cassie. They both had a new school to go to. They both were excited but I think they were both a little nervous about a new school and new students.

Zack & I walked Cassie into the Middle School this morning to make sure she knew where she was going.

Zack had his map of the Freshman campus and he was confident that he knew where he was going.

They both had a great first day. You know how first days go...it's all about the rules and the tour of the school etc.

They both had a few of their friends in their classes and they found most of their old friends at lunch.

Cassie decided to play the clarinet after all, so after school we took a trip to the Music & Arts store to get her instrument.

And of course, there are always school supplies that aren't on the list that the teacher needs them to get, so we had to make another trip to Target. When we arrived there, everything was wiped out. We had to go to Office Max to get what we needed. We also had to make a trip to Best Buy to get a T-184 graphing calculator that cost over $120....this was a very expensive school supply for Geometry.....But I guess Zack will be able to use it all through high school (at least I hope!)

So the count down begins...179 more days to go....

Registration Day!!

Wow, Summer is over...It was fun, but it was quick.
I think that Registration day is a crazy day for the parents. We had 2 new schools to go to today.
Cassie is starting Dawkins. She met her teachers, found her locker and tried to make sense of where everything is. The locker is a new experience for her. It was hard at first but she got it after a few tries. She saw some familiar faces and was happy to see some of her friends names on her class lists. She went to the band room and met Mr. Wenger. He helped her pick out an instrument. I think he was hoping that she would follow in her brothers footsteps and play the sax, but she has decided to play the flute. At least I think that's what she has chosen, she still has time to think about it for the first week or so of school.
Zack is starting Dorman this year. He is at the Freshman campus. That school is huge for just one grade. I am excited for him but sad because in just one short year he will have his driver's license and he won't need me so much. We got in the long line and made our way around the registration tables in the gym. What ever happened to registering in the classroom? It would have been much easier and faster! But we made our way around and just when we thought we were finished, we had to stand in another line to get a textbook! I'm not sure if he's going to like the block system or not. He will like it the first semester since he's only hard class will be geometry but after Christmas, he will have AP English, AP Science, & Honors SS. We tried to get it fixed but because he is in band for the full year, it was too difficult to change. Oh well, I guess he will be able to ease into it at first. With him swimming every day after school and doing church on Sundays, Mondays & Weds, he will welcome the light load....
My children are growing up fast. I will miss the elementary school days where as a parent you can visit the classroom anytime you want to. Where the teachers need you for help and you know exactly what your children are doing and who their hanging out with. Once, they hit Middle & High School you can only pray that you taught them how to behave and who to avoid.