End of School Tidbits

We're here, at the end of the 2016-2017 school year. Here are a few tidbits from the final week...

Our crossing guard this year was Rhonda. She is very conscientious and friendly.

The girls rode their bikes to school together one day this week. It was Violet's first time riding to school. I followed them on foot, and when it was time to go back home, they rode on ahead and had a few minutes at home on their own. So grownup!

Their bikes so clearly show their different personalities - Violet's pink-flowered beach cruiser, and Cora's black mountain bike.

In our fifth year in the Newhall School District, we finally attended the annual art show. Mrs. Hawthorne has always encouraged parents to check it out and look for their students' work, and we just never made the time.

But since Cora started on the Valencia Glen swim team this week, we were in the neighborhood of the school that hosts the show. I took the girls over, and we were able to hear Cora's friend Ellie play the piano, and we found Violet's flower painting.

Cora was a little bummed that her class wasn't represented on the walls - maybe next year. It's a teacher's choice whether to submit artwork from his or her class.










I helped out Mrs. Hawthorne for the final time this week, squeezing in an hour between the sixth grade promotion and fourth grade field day Thursday.

After three years, it will be strange to not see Mrs. Hawthorne regularly! We're grateful for her influence on our girls.

I sat with David and Chris's family to watch David promote from 6th grade earlier on Thursday. I know so many of these 6th graders, so it was enjoyable to watch their special moment.

I went out to lunch with the friends I walk with each morning on Tuesday; it was one last kid-free bit of fun before our darlings are with us every morning (and our walks are put on hold).













On Friday morning, my fellow room mom Dinorah and I presented Mrs. Shafarman with a gift from the class, and from Dinorah and myself.

She purchased the planter, and I had my sister-the-florist fill it with beautiful succulents. Then, Dinorah put in paper flowers she'd made, attached to gift cards from many students' families.

Later on Friday morning, Violet had a "promotion" ceremony of her own, since she was in the kinder split. Yes, she is on her way to second grade!

Both girls earned top marks on their report cards; we are blessed with such bright students who love to learn.

And that was the end of the school year! It was too hot to stay long and picnic at the park, as we have other years.

Character Matters

Wednesday was a big day for Violet - she had her class end-of-year party mid-morning, and then performed in a first-grade musical in the afternoon.

Part of the party included the students creating their own "trail mix" out of various ingredients like cereals, mini marshmallows, cranberries and chocolate chips.

Violet's holding her dragon, who came along for the fun. She turned in her "Bee Badges," earned for good behavior, for a "Bring a Stuffed Animal Pass." Better use those passes up, the school year's about over!












The children made different crafty creations during the party - Violet chose to fashion her toilet paper tubes into an elephant, and she made a cube from the straws and pipe cleaners.

In the afternoon, Violet and a couple of other first-graders from Mrs. Hawthorne's class joined Mrs. Judge's first-grade class for their performance of Character Matters.

Violet went to Mrs. Judge's class all year after lunch for math, one of the results of being in a split K/1 class. It worked out very well, and she really enjoyed her time with Mrs. Judge.

The musical used fairy tales and humor to teach character and values. Here, Violet is playing the part of Humpty Dumpty's friend.

She also played one of three princesses who encounter the Frog Prince.






















A recurring line through the show is about the characters' desire for donuts, so donuts were provided as the post-show snack for the parents and performers.

Cora came over to watch Violet's show, and she had a good vantage point to film some of it. Here is a snippet of Violet's part in the musical.

Underwood Strawberries

 Violet and the rest of the first-graders boarded buses Thursday for their big field trip to Underwood Farms.

Violet's between her buddies Camryn and Ryan here, showing off her super cool fidget spinner. We've given in to the spinner madness (mainly because they were at Vons for under $4).


Yes, they went last year to Underwood, too, but that was to pick vegetables. This year, they're lucky enough to pick strawberries.

 It's easier to get the classic class shot on the haystack when you only have seven kiddos to round up! The eighth Hawthorne firstie, Gavin, didn't make the trip.
Here are Ryan, Luke, Camryn, Violet, Rylin, Aya and Noah, with Mrs. Hawthorne. This group of kids has formed a special bond; it's fabulous seeing them play together at recess and lunch. I hope they all remain friends through their school years.

Following a lesson on plants with all the other field trip groups, we boarded wagons for our trip to the strawberry patch.

 You can see, it was a lot of fun.

Shortly after this photo, Violet, Aya and Camryn began a rousing version of "99 Bottles of Milk on the Wall" at the top of their lungs. Good times!

 The fields were full of juicy red berries, so it wasn't hard to fill our boxes.

We picked strawberries with our MOPS/Mom2Mom group year after year. Thursday was a fitting closure to my years of going to Underwood - one last time, and it was strawberries again.

Thanks to Mrs. Hawthorne for this photo, and a couple of others here.

More singing on the wagon ride back, this time with cheesy smiles.

We had lunch on the picnic tables, and then went out into the fun part of Underwood.

 Violet flew down the combine slide.

Then we looked at the animals, including the chickens...

...and turkeys.

Such a fun day; I'm so thankful to be able to go on these field trips. I know these days go by too quickly.

School Happenings

We went to the school's Open House on Wednesday night and admired all the great work the girls and their classmates have completed this year.

Violet sent her "Flat Violet" to Sara and Tony, who were amazing hosts. Flat Violet went everywhere, even to Sedona with Sara's parents.

Here's Violet's habitat diorama, a significant spring project for the first-graders. Violet chose to focus on the rainforest; I love her drawings, all based on how-to videos on the internet.

We've already discussed Cora's big spring project, her miner's museum box and written autobiography.

On the right is another writing/art project of Cora's. The students chose a "special person" to draw and write about. It makes my mama's heart happy to read her kind words about Violet, which included, "The most important thing about Violet is that she cheers me up really quickly. ... Violet has influenced me to be a better person by showing me to take things a lot easier."
On the left is Violet's self-portrait and statement: "When I grow up I want to be an artist because I can draw pictures and paint. I will make $10 for each painting. Who am I?"

Lastly on the school event front, Cora was one of the MC's in the Variety Show on Friday. This is normally reserved for 6th graders, but they were short on help and opened it up to Student Council members.

It was wonderful seeing Cora and Emily on stage together one last time. Emily helped as an MC, and she also performed a killer version of Tomorrow from Annie.

Here's a couple of talented, beautiful girls! Maybe next year, Cora will sing, too. We need to think of something for Violet to do, too. She loved performing her jump-rope routine a year ago, but couldn't think of any ideas this year.

A Full Friday - Muffins and Bingo

On Friday, I had my final, FINAL Muffins with Mom experience, as Violet participated in her bonus-year Mother's Day event as a first-grader.

The firsties watched as the kinders performed the traditional (adorable) Mother's Day songs. I was sure I wouldn't cry this time, since I used up all my tears last year when I thought it was my last Muffins with Mom.

Then, the firsties took the stage and read a beautiful poem in unison - almost; Violet was a half-beat ahead of everyone else.

And they then read out why they love their mamas - "You're a fantastic mother," Violet told me.

I nearly kept those tears in check!

Violet had all her classmates, and even our cats, sign her special card for me. And I received coupons good for breakfast in bed, "24 hours of pace," and a free lunch.

Yes, please, to all three!

Later that day, my friends and I put on the Bingo Night we've been organizing for the past few months. We set up the room after the noon dismissal, and then Cora and Violet went to Sophia's house for a party/playdate.

We returned in the evening to finish setting up, and by 6 p.m., we were off and running. We served an Italian meal to a near-capacity crowd of more than 140 students and families.

The bingo went well, we gave away a lot of prizes, and we raised a good amount of money for the school. All in all, it was a rousing success.

Here's (most of) the team - our Bingo caller, Jeremy; Maria, me, Jen, Rachael and Cathy. The friends next to me were amazing, and though I was nervous about chairing an event for the first time, they all helped it come together.

Week in Review

Cora had her final violin/orchestra class of the school year Tuesday, and she earned her medal for learning all the songs required for a beginning violinist.

She was thrilled.

And she is now thrilled to pack away that violin forever, except for the end-of-year school concerts.

It's OK, Cora. You are good at so many things. You don't have to do it all.

Later on Tuesday, we helped pack lunches for the homeless and took them to the shelter, where we met up with Mom2Mom friends to serve dinner.
Lucas and Cora filled the bags with chips and oranges, while Violet and Liana were busy making sandwiches.

On Wednesday, we went to the closing ceremony for Pioneer Clubs. I probably say this annually, but I still can't believe how fast each year goes by. Violet had a fabulous class and teacher - we love you, Shannon!

And, Cora is now finished as a Pathfinder, and will move on to the Trailblazers 5th and 6th grade group. Those are the BIG kids. I don't even know how this happened. She was two when she started as a Skipper!

Sara, Tony and the girls finished up their exciting weeks with Flat Violet, and sent her back to Mrs. Hawthorne's class.

Sara, a former teacher, is amazing, and Flat Violet had the best vacation ever. She sent a whole package of photos and keepsakes, and a long letter detailing the fun of a Diamondbacks game, Sedona and the state capitol.

I was lucky enough to be helping in class when Mrs. Hawthorne opened up the package.

On Thursday, I took my girls and Sophia to a special event at the library, where an artist was guiding the children in drawing characters from Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Violet had a blast; she loves drawing, especially with guidance. She'll look up youtube videos on drawing and comes out with some amazing creations.