Well Done, Cora

 Stace and I went to Back to School Night on Wednesday, and got to hear from school administration and from Dr. Porter and Ms. Packer, Violet and Cora's teachers, respectively.

We loved Cora's name card for her desk - she wrote about what makes her special...

 ...and our favorite part was the back, which was facing out when we came in.
":( Closed.  :(
Come back later.
Cora's Desk hours 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m."

 I also loved what she wrote on her goals:
Under the prompt "My goal for the school year is," she wrote "to be more positive while I'm at home doing my chores or playing with my little sister."

The next prompt said, "I will use these steps to help me accomplish my goal."
She wrote, "I will fake it until I make it. I'll always try to put on a huge smile and be very helpful at home."

Yes, please, Cora darling!

While we were at the school, Cora made these gorgeous and delicious chocolate-covered strawberries, with two types of chocolate. Yum!

Cora also received in the mail the book she made, from her miner's biography project a few months ago.

Her biography was excellent - truly a great piece of writing from a 10-year-old.We also had such excellent photos to work with, from our day with Wylie, Cooper and Pam at Placerita Canyon.

She expanded the story a bit, and added in photos we took in Cornwall, where Cora's miner comes from when he heads to California's Gold Country.

The finished project - My Golden Dreams - is such a fun read, and something we'll treasure, like the gold those miners were after.

Cora's writing skills were documented by the state testing results we just received, from late spring. She actually scored the very top score possible for English Language Arts - 2663. She exceeded the state standard in math, as well, but that ELA score is breathtaking.

We are so proud of our big girl!