First day of School

School started this week.  I for one am excited to be back on a schedule and in a routine.  I am looking forward to this year and some of the new adventures that await us...

This year, Garrett is a freshman.  A freshman?  Really?  Wow, that makes a mom feel old.  Freshman are still at the middle school.  So, he will have one more year there until he attends high school.  He does attend the high school for one of his honors classes.  This year Garrett has a lot on his plate.  We have stressed that this year school activities and classes become a major factor towards college.  As a result, he is in all honors classes, a student ambassador, a member of the National Junior Honors Society, and on the football and baseball teams.  We hope he can handle it all.  Poor kid.

Grant is a 7th grader this year.  He will attend the intermediate school for one more year.  He is excited for this year and has a great schedule with really good teachers.  He has decided to try orchestra this year and will be playing the bass.  The instrument is twice as big as he is.  His instructor is the primary president in our ward and Grant really likes her.  Thus, his sudden interest in music.  I am thrilled for him to try something new.  Grant will continue with gymnastics this year and is also playing lacrosse with some of his friends.  Hmmm that will be a new one for me.  

Gracie is in 4th grade this year and is attending a new school.  She has been invited to be in a GATE (gifted and talented education) program this year.  Last year the district administered two tests to the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade students throughout the entire district.  The tests were two grade levels above their current grade level.  For instance, Gracie was a 3rd grader and took two 5th grade standard leveled tests.  The students that scored 90% or above on both of the tests were invited to be in the high ability strand classes.  We struggled to know what to do.  The new school is about twenty minutes away from our house and there are kids from all over the district attending.  Gracie was the only 4th grader from her school be invited, so she would have to make all new friends.  Anyway, it seemed like a big decision.  I drove Gracie up to the school at the end of last school year and let her look around the school and meet the teachers that are over the program.  She loved the school and the teachers and was not worried about making new friends.  Russ and I discussed the idea and felt we had somewhat of an obligation to give it a try.  We are always wanting the school district to provide better education opportunities for our students.  Now they were offering a program and if no one took advantage of it, they would be less likely to try and implement new programs in the future.  So, after much prayer and thought, Gracie is now at a new elementary school.  She rides a bus to and from school each day.  Her teacher is DARLING and we are so excited to have Gracie in her class.  Gracie already has two new best friends and is adjusting just fine.