As she told us “She’s not a frog, though.” See if you can spot her in the video!
Category Archives: School
Student-led P/T conferences!
This was a first for us—spring conferences are lesmd by the students! Katie was first and took us to different stations around the room where she showed us the computer work they did (typing, recording voices, and drawing), some games they played, and all the sight words she could read… Ending with a review by the teacher.
This was her computer project. Her voice was recorded answering the question that she also typed out.
“What do you want to be when you grow up? when I grow up I want to be a artist becus i rillee want to eony [enjoy] make rille good pic chrs.”
Her teacher said she was doing really great. She knows all the sight words, she is right on par for her reading level, and she acts responsibly in class. They even have to do a self-evaluation (and the teacher marked her better than she did herself!). We won’t get to see the paperwork until it comes home who-knows-when.
Artwork from the classroom and halls (unrelated to the conference).
Then it was off to Owen’s school across the street. He had to lead us through his workbook as well, with the teacher directing him. He did well for his first time having to do anything like that. He also had a self-examination and he also rated himself lower than his teacher did. She said he’s a great kid and has really grown (he speaks up a lot more in class now).
A fraction rainbow.
Owen’s class had a guest today.
Owen came home from school excited to tell us they had a guest in their class today who was a sports reporter (that was a family member of friends). Later I saw this Facebook post.
Can you spot him?
Katie’s spring kindergarten picture day!
Hat Day in honor of Dr. Seuss.
I’ve given up on getting her to match leggings. 
Owen’s first concert performance!
The entire third grade class presented a concert tonight. (This is actually only half the students—the other half went an hour earlier!) They sang a few songs together and then each class sang their own song while playing instruments. It was much of what you’d expect a third grade concert to be but they all looked like they were having fun and were proud of themselves. 
After the concert we wanted to find Owen’s self-portrait (all the third-graders had done them and they were lining the gym). Owen had to point it out—I don’t think I ever wood have found it on my own.
Katie’s little love notes take a strange turn.
So Katie is still getting little love notes from Thomas on the bus. This one came yesterday with her saying he wanted a playdate. Fine, right? Look at the text. Do you see what I see?
Hey baby how do you make Katie get back together with me
but also 
, right?
Even though it’s coming from a Kindergartener it seems somewhat concerning. I emailed both teachers (he’s not in her class) just to sort of give them an FYI/heads up and to see if they’ve noticed anything weird. Katie’s teacher responded that they’d talk to them (I haven’t heard back yet if it’s happened).
Oh the teen years are going to be a joy…
Family night at primary!
Katie’s school had a family night with lots of fun games and activities.
Glow-in-the-dark mini golf:
Pictures with Wiley, the district mascot:
An attempted family selfie:
Revealing their magic notes (after drawing pictures with white crayon):
Owen’s holiday penguin
This was the project the class mom brought for the holiday party. I’m not that mom.
We’re freeee!
The kids went back to school today—finally!
Wildcat Wednesday
Katie’s long-awaited conference
I finally made it in for Katie’s rescheduled-from-Thanksgiving P/T conference. Why did it take so long, you ask? Good question. Buckle up.
So, remember we missed P/T conferences due to a death in our family? Well, I didn’t think it would be a big deal to reschedule…because why would it be?! And Owen’s (third grade) was fine, but for Katie (kindergarten) it seemed to be a huge deal and it could. not. be. done. But no one ever gave a reason—just that it couldn’t be done.
To her credit the teacher tried to have me come in over lunch on a day I was going to volunteer, but a week later I got an email saying “I’ve been advised by my team to not schedule a conference outside of conference week.” What?! What the hell difference does it make? She said we can do it over the phone but I really really hated that idea. I just could not fathom any reasonable explanation for this.
Not trying to be annoying or make a mountain out of a molehill—but obviously wanting an answer—I emailed the principal (and CCd the teacher) explaining funeral, other kid’s rescheduling, past school’s experience, and simply asked for clarification.
FIVE DAYS LATER (!) I got an email from the teacher saying she’d talked with the principal about my email and although it was against district policy, it was decided that she can meet with me (“since your son’s teacher did”) but I never actually received any response from the principal regarding the policy in general but the teacher says it’s strictly a district-wide rule so it doesn’t start an avalanche. She said technically Owen’s teacher shouldn’t have done it. (And she didn’t care–she was just following the rules.) I told her we can always meet outside of school over a bottle of wine.
But I digress.
Katie is doing very well—she’s on par for pretty much every thing. The teacher’s only real comment was that she’s “a little chatty.”
On the way out I saw this wall so had to stop and look for Katie’s.
Owen’s holiday party!
The room mom had a game prepared for me so all I had to do was show up and run the game!
Katie’s first love letters.
His name is Thomas and apparently he’s one of four who love her and want to take her out to eat and who chase her. Hoo boy.
Our Katie bug is a ladybug!
The primary classes had a costume parade. Of course it was freezing and Katie’s class was the very last one!
Spirit Week: Crazy Hair Day
Monday was wear red day… Which we didn’t remember until after Owen was gone and I forgot to take a pic of Katie.
Today was Crazy Hair Day. I thought we were going to do a mohawk on Owen but he refused. And this is all Katie let me do.
Pumpkin Day
I volunteered to help with Pumpkin Day in Katie’s classroom. I had no idea what would be involved but then I got the email saying we’d be carving pumpkins so bring a knife and bowl if we could. Hoo boy—I hadn’t carved a pumpkin in years…
The classroom was a bit insane (I don’t know how she does it without an assistant—we were spoiled with Owen’s class having one) but overall it went well. There were four moms total so we each had a group of six. We had to measure the pumpkin with blocks and chain lengths, write what the pumpkin felt and smelled like, weigh the pumpkin, see if it sank or floated…and then design and carve the pumpkin. In an hour.
As you can imagine it was pretty much like herding cats. It started with the teacher switching Katie’s seat with someone so we could be at the same table…and the kid completely lost his shit and was a crying hot mess because “he wanted his seat.” Really, kid? You lose it over moving seats for an hour? And then some kids couldn’t pay attention for more than three seconds. One had no idea how to draw an H (“we haven’t done that letter yet”). A few wrote their numbers backwards (71 for 17) but fixed it after I told them—except one kid who literally kept writing it 71 no matter how many times I told him it was 1-7 not 7-1. One kid wrote all his letters on top of one another. You get the idea. I’m not bragging when I say that Katie seemed among the most advanced in her group (able to pay attention, answer questions, write her letters and numbers correctly, and follow instructions).
This is a snapshot of mass chaos before we even started.
I didn’t take many pictures because I was very involved in every step of the way—plus I didn’t have pockets, remember.
Katie was the badge collector.
And then it was time to go home so Katie got to ride home with me. She had a good time and was happy I came.
#fortbelvoirpediatricsdroppedtheballonthatwellvisit
There’s nothing like a call from the school on Thursday afternoon telling you Katie is missing FOUR shots and absolutely cannnot come to school on Monday unless she has them.
WAIT. WHAT NOW?!
We knew about the deadline but we just had her 5-year well-visit before we left and they said she didn’t need anything so we weren’t worried about the deadline!!! GRRR.
After a few moments of being completely stressed out and pissed off, I started making calls and thankfully the base has a walk-in immunization clinic so she will be there at 7:30am tomorrow with Tom.
It was misting so of course they needed an umbrella.
Our first successful Roar Run!
The Roar Run is a PTA-Sponsored fundraising event in its sixth year. We are hoping it’s on a weekend next year—it’s a bit difficult getting there to enjoy the other events when the kids don’t get home until 4.
Katie is becoming a master hula hooper!
Stretching before the race!
We were watching the relay races and Katie wanted to try the wheelbarrow.
Neighbors!
Nine minutes until race time!
The group of neighbor kids running together! (Tom was taking the pic down at the fun run starting line.)
Katie came in a minute or so behind Sophia—but we had seen her on daddy’s shoulders for a bit!!
And the same pic close up as she crossed the finish line!
More neighbors!
Love a family photo!
Stacey and Lorenzo, Sophia and Enzo
And I had to try a selfie. It’s a bit more difficult with six people!
We had the results as they were happening and these were the finals (Katie missed a medal by one place—Sophia came in #3):
Excitedly counting ROAR tickets before school!
Both kids’ schools hand out ROAR tickets for good behavior that follows the ROAR principles:
R – Be Respectful
O – Take Ownership
A – Be Accepting
R – Be Ready
They get them from teachers, bus drivers, lunchroom staff, etc., and can turn them in to get small prizes. Needless to say they love the ROAR tickets!
Another year, another blue(ish) shirt.
Yep, school picture day!
Kindergarten Curriculum Night
We got to hear about the Katie’s day and talk to the teacher. Of course I also used the time to take pictures!
Woodland Spirit Week Day 5
Woodland Spirit Week Day 4
Owen’s school was hat day and Katie’s was stripes.
Woodland Spirit Week Day 3
I can’t believe I couldn’t get one with her eyes open!
So I got one by herself!
Woodland Spirit Week Day 2
Day 1 was PJ day for Owen and the color green for Katie. I didn’t get a pic before he left and she wanted to wear her pink hip hop outfit… Day 2 went a little better with sports day for Owen and the color white for Katie.
We don’t have many white clothes since they get dirty too easily, but this was the gym shirt I made for her before learning she didn’t need one.
Katie is pawsome!
And this was in the class’ weekly newsletter.
You’d never know they were two little drama queens.
Our very first note from the nurse.
Katie got bonked on the nose on the playground.
