Week in Review

 

We attended our last Open House at Violet's junior high, and went around seeing the TWO teacher she has there, along with old friends who taught Cora and Violet in past years. This is Ms. Mathis, Vi's science teacher.

Several cool experiments were set up in the science lab, so Vi and Stace gave them a go.

We also visited Mrs. Davidson, Vi's favorite teacher, who teaches yearbook. Violet will miss this class and teacher! Cora loved her too, and had her for history.

The big question we got all evening was, which high school will Violet attend? And she's come to a decision - she'll go to the school she's zoned for, where her friends will go, where Cora went last year. 

Cora was pretty disappointed, and my mama heart was touched to see it. I love the bond my girls have, and we all do wish it would have worked out for them to have that single year of high school together. But, it just was not to be. 

I could see pros and cons for both schools for Violet, but in the end, she would have only had one year with Cora there, had she chosen Cora's current school, while she'll likely have four years with her girlfriends.

Here's a photo of our back stone fruit trees. Fingers crossed for a good crop!

Earlier this week, Stace and I saw a comedic murder mystery in Newhall, and we all had a family dinner at Stone Fire for our March birthdays. 

Our front nectarine trees are also covered in blossoms. 

Earlier this week, my right shoulder started hurting badly, in a spot that I'd noticed some funny twinges over the past two months. I made an appointment with the local orthopedic specialists, and an X-ray showed this little calcium deposit. They gave me a medication, which has helped a lot. I'll do physical therapy as well.

Also this week, Violet and I went to another art show opening at the local gallery. They seem to change shows every six weeks, with a celebration each time. Violet went to Teacision with her school friends, and then to one of their houses. 

A Jazzy Open House

 Cora's high school held its Open House on Tuesday, and we all got a sneak peak at "All That Jazz," led by our favorite high school actress.

We knew she could act, and it's great seeing her excel at singing and dancing.

Grandma and Grandpa were watching Ellie, so she got to watch too. (All the girls were crossing their legs in this photo - Ellie came close!)

I helped at our Parent Advisory Council booth, too, as I'm on the leadership team there. And Vi walked around the campus, as she's deciding whether she'll go here or to the school Cora used to go to. It will be for two classes out of six, as Violet will stick with the independent study program for most of her schooling next year.

Open House plus Tidbits

Violet had her Open House on Thursday, and was pleased that Cora came! 

Cora wasn't really excited to go, and we often don't force her to go places, but Vi was asking her to come and see some of her English work on the classroom walls. 

Thankfully, Cora's favorite Web-streaming D&D troupe, Critical Role, took this particular Thursday off, so that worked in our favor. And in the end, Cora did go around and say hello to a few of the teachers she'd enjoyed in her all-too-short time in junior high.

In fact, we never got to go to an Open House for Cora at this school, because of Covid.
 

The Accelerated Math students worked in groups to make little putting challenges, and Violet's sadly was worse for the wear after an unexpected rainstorm Thursday afternoon. 

Stace had encouraged Violet to cut their project like a puzzle to be able to get it to school, as we don't have a big truck for transport. However, the transport problem didn't seem to affect anyone else, as most other projects were very elaborate and large. The girls got a good laugh at how, um, not excellent Violet's team's project was. 

Oh well, you win some, you lose some. 

Violet is much more of a winner when it comes to art and English and history.

Her poem here was pretty stellar.

ODE TO A GRAIN OF SAND

Birthed from time

Older than life

Beauty in the midst of strife

What became of you,

Oh, great mountain?

As all submit to time,

Even worlds return to dust.

Humans search for cities 

of ruin

For knowledge of secrets.

But what becomes of the overlooked?

Perhaps something of beauty

but instead glass and stones.

Perhaps you know history 

beyond comparison

yet all memories fade to dust. 

Also this week, Seb apparently caught a tiny bird.

And, the poppies are starting to pop; this was the yard of my friend's neighbor.

Open House

Another fabulous pre-pandemic normalcy brought back this spring: Open House at school! We went to Cora's in March, but haven't been to an Open House at Violet's school since third grade!
 

Violet has enjoyed her teacher this year, Mrs. Fusner! We appreciate her emphasis on arts.

She's pointing to the artwork she painted on Valentine's Day, when I was blessed to be able to volunteer in class.

More Vi projects...

Showing us the projects she's worked on...

Our last Open House! How can it be??

We made a tour of the school, going through the girls' old classrooms to say farewell. First stop, Mrs. Hawthorne, who taught both girls in kindergarten and Violet in first grade, as well.

For a trip down memory lane, here's our first Open House, when Cora was preparing to enter kindergarten and we went with Genia and John and their family.

Next, Dr. Porter, who also taught both girls. I'll miss seeing these ladies occasionally when I'm on campus!

Then, third grade, Mrs. Breneman - she, Mrs. Hawthorne AND Dr. Porter are all retiring at the end of the year! Plus, three more teachers are retiring. Next year will be very different at our beloved school.

Violet's fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Zamperin, my fellow Dodger lover.

And the lovely Ms. Dallaire, who Violet truly loved last year in fifth grade. Such a sweet, encouraging woman.

We have been deeply blessed to be at this school!