Category Archives: School
Our tree from Halley!
The second graders all brought home trees for Project Plant It. We planted it in a temporary container so we can take it with us when we move this summer!
Another reason why I say I hate people.
It just pisses me off that people only think about themselves.
Pre-k drop-off has changed to the front of the building. There is a parking lot (off to the right in the photo) but for the literally two minutes it takes to drop her off (where the buses are in the photo), it’s nice (and much closer) to park in the fire lane. Other people do it, too, but these two asshats always take up the entire lane (where there is room for four cars) with their two cars. I technically fit at the end but it ends up to be pretty close to the driveway (still safe but encroaching just a bit). If only they would pull up to the beginning of the lane instead of just stopping in the middle this would be a non-issue.
Why can’t we all just be decent scofflaws together?! 
Behind the scenes at photo day!
Katie’s teachers asked if she wanted to come in for the class picture as it was on her off day. Of course she wanted to so I took her in. We had a few minutes to wait in her classroom so she showed me around a bit.
“This is the little library of ours.”
After she hung up her coat she told me who everyone was as she pointed to their pictures. When she was done she said “There, now you know who everyone is!” (She’s constantly frustrated by me because I don’t know who the kids are when she talks about them.)
I asked her which hands were hers. She said none—she did the clouds…and they were supposed to be white.
Showing me how she brushes teeth.
Lining up on their colored squares. The teacher told me Katie had really wanted pink or purple but those were already taken. 
Off we go!
Trying to get all these kids to look at once was futile…except Katie was a trained rock star.
Waiting their turns for individual pics.
Our rock star!
The setup is quite different than back in the day.
Boosterthon Fun Run Success, Year 2
Owen’s school participated in the Boosterthon Fun Run again this year and once again Owen ran all 35 possible laps! The weather was unseasonably cold (with the first snow day and two 2-hour delays this very week!) so the run had to move inside. They turned it into a “glow run” which was cool…but made for a horrible time taking pictures.
But first, as we were waiting to enter the gym (each grade level ran at a different time), Owen came by doing his weekly chore: delivering lunch boxes to the cafeteria! As soon as he saw me, he hid behind the door (as seen in the second photo). What a stink!
Each classroom was announced and took a lap around the course and then lined up.
Staff ready to mark each lap!
Katie ready to make some noise and cheer!
The boys’ cheering section.
Getting ready to run!
This year they just got a sticker on their shirt instead of writing on the shirt itself. Owen actually ran more than the 35 laps, but a lot of kids did—the laps were much shorter this year because it was just one loop around the gym.
Overall, Owen earned $266.50 for technology for his school!! YAY OWEN!
Leprechaun Katie
Miss Anne, the teaching assistant in Katie’s classroom, texted this to me.
Unexpected 2-hour delay!
There was no snow and we didn’t think there was any ice…but for whatever reason, the kids had another 2-hour delay today. So I just decided to take a sibling pic for the heck of it.
And now a 2-hour delay!
It was still a little icy so we had a 2-hour delay. I love that they sit together!
PJ day and a new shirt
Owen’s class earned pajama day for Boosterthon pledges…and Katie has a new shirt.
Spirit Day: Bow Ties or Ties
I happened to be shopping at Kohls earlier in the week and found a clip-on tie on clearance. Score! Owen asked if he had to wear it with a fancy shirt. I said no. Hence the tee.
Dress like a character from your favorite book day!
We slacked and didn’t plan ahead so we went with an old standby!! Katie was bummed she didn’t get blue hair but I haven’t done a test on her super blonde hair and didn’t want to potentially dye her hair.
Owen’s second Good Character Award this year!
From his teacher’s email:
I wanted to let you know that Owen is going to receive the good character award again this week at morning program. The character trait of the month is honesty and trustworthiness and Owen is one of the most honest and trustworthy kids I know!
Little sister looking all sassy in her outfit while we wait for the program to start:
She wrote the J on her own and then I suggested she do an E—which she also did on her own but needs a tiny bit of practice—and then I helped with the N. And then she did the K all by herself—which I was very proud of because she normally messes up the top diagonal line.
Can you find Owen? He is literally a half a head taller than all the kids in his grade.
He had no idea that he was going to get the award.
The noise the kids made when Owen’s name was called was the most enthusiastic. It’s customary to repeat the recipient’s name after it’s announced, but Owen’s was the loudest of the bunch. When we told him that later he was embarrassed and said no it wasn’t. We have the video to prove it was pretty loud (below).
Warm weather = summer dress
This was her third outfit of the day but the most appropriate for school (I stepped in to facilitate).
Celebrating Owen’s awesome report card!!
He got mostly 4s (the top grade) with 3s in art and music. This was his best report card yet! So we treated him to Sweet Frog (frozen yogurt).
Can you guess whose was whose?
Top: Katie (gummies, M&Ms, and Nerds) & Tom (nuts, pound cake, coconut)
Bottom: Jen (Heath bar, Oreos, peanut butter, marshmallow, and chocolate sauces) & Owen (mini chocolate chips, cherries, marshmallow fluff)
Valentine’s Day Cutie
Owen’s Special Letter
The second day of Owen’s “Me Museum” week was a sealed letter written by someone else about his special qualities. This is the letter I wrote.
Owen has many special qualities and continues to amaze us with his abilities.
Owen didn’t really start talking until age 3, but once he did, he never stopped! We were worried about him learning how to read, when one day he came home from Pre-K and just picked up a book and started reading it to me! He still impresses me with all the words he knows!
He got his first Lego mini-figure at age 3 and has never looked back. He can follow directions on sets above his age level and then tears them apart and builds his own super cool creations. He is our own Master Builder.
Owen has always been super nice and polite and makes friends very easily. Friends, family, teachers, and even strangers comment on how sweet and polite he is.
He is the best big brother to his little sister—he plays with her, gives her piggy-back rides, reads her books, helps get her breakfast, and makes her laugh.
He is very loving with all of our pets. He takes good care of our dog and gives cuddles to the cats.
Owen is good at swimming, baseball, and soccer. He is a Shark 2—the highest level of swimming (and I know he could beat me in a race). He always gives 100% at every lesson, practice, or game. During his first soccer season, his coach gave him the “most improved player” award.
Owen is a great kid and we couldn’t be prouder to have him as our son.
Love,
Mom
2nd Grade Scientists
I just saw these on Twitter from last Friday (1/28/17).
Our 2nd grade scientists observed first-hand how wind and water erode soil. pic.twitter.com/0lkc8h0nz6
— HalleyES Grade 2 (@HalleyESGrade2) January 28, 2017
Our scientists created a model of weathering by breaking up "rocks" the way wind, water, temperature, ice, and plants do. pic.twitter.com/IpxRGfPfKC
— HalleyES Grade 2 (@HalleyESGrade2) January 28, 2017
Vacation Day Spirit Day
He’s SO excited about being able to dress for Vacation Day at William Halley ES…doesn’t much care that it’s only 30° out.
And a picture the school posted on Facebook!
;
I just can’t even. Kiss & Ride is NOT hard.
Front lady is wasting like THREE spaces by not pulling forward. WHY?!?! I eventually pulled in front of her (directly behind that car to the very left that you can barely see). If you’re going to be stupid and waste that much space, you deserve to have someone pull in front of you. (Sidenote: she did the same damn thing the next day and I didn’t waste ANY time parking in front of her immediately upon arriving.)
Look what I just saw on Twitter from last October!
Kids learn best when they're having fun! We play a globe toss game to learn the names of the continents and oceans. pic.twitter.com/s6m2BovQPR
— HalleyES Grade 2 (@HalleyESGrade2) October 28, 2016
How friends spend their Friday night…
Cutting and counting thousands of box tops for the school—grunt work at its finest but we love Halley. 
#pleasetrimyourboxtops
And the pic we couldn’t post on Facebook… 
Painting snowmen at art night
I missed out on art night since I was in Michigan, so Tom had photo duty!! I had been looking forward to more ceramic ornaments, but this year they decided to do paintings!
Sitting with friends!
Owen’s on the left, Tom’s/Katie’s on the right.
And a photo from Heather:
And the finished projects:
Owen’s orange x 5 lunch
We have a variety of fruit and snacks and treats and he usually takes a sandwich…but tonight Owen ended up with an orange on orange on orange on orange lunch…in his orange lunchbox!
First grade vs Pre-K
This is a friend of Katie’s who is in first grade. She’s a young first grader but still.
Book Fair
I volunteered at the school’s book fair today and it happened to be the day Owen’s class got to make their wishlists. Can you find him?
Since I was there all afternoon, I went to pick Katie up from her classroom. Class wasn’t quite over so I got to watch circle time for a bit. She didn’t participate much because she was more concerned with turning back to look at me.
She isn’t afraid of Dobby anymore.
Prepping box tops.
Owen trims and checks expiration dates, Katie glues, and mom supervises. (Daddy was cleaning and organizing the media cabinet to try and fit the Wii in.)
Katie’s very first school picture!
She is just so unbelievably photogenic… :heart:
And we didn’t order any of the additional backgrounds, so these are just the proofs off the website.
And a comparison:
Owee! Give me a hug goodbye!
2016 Veteran’s Day Program
The principal, Mrs. Chianetta.
South County Secondary Choir.
You can’t see him in this photo, but we saw Owen standing up this year with his sign! He was too embarrassed last year.
You can see that the marines have the fewest families in the school.
Learning about Veteran’s Day
From the school’s Facebook page:
Halley 2nd Graders are buzzing this morning, thanks to some very special visitors at school today. Our students are learning about Veterans Day, and today, several Hornet staff and family members shared their experiences with us about what it means to serve in the military. We learned so much, and we are looking forward to commemorating all of our nation’s currently serving military and veterans in our ceremony tomorrow! Thank you, Ms. Demers, for these pictures!
Can you find Owen?
How about now?
