School's Back- And Everything With It!

 The start of the school year came in and we started off running! It seems everything else started right away, with no adjustment period. I was fine with that, personally, since I was pretty busy over the summer. I think everyone else is too because it's all the fun stuff- cross country, piano, orchestra, football games, the first marching band competition next Saturday, and even the homecoming games and dances have started. Canton HS had theirs last weekend (the marching band performed at their game and many of Victoria's good friends go there, so she was excited about the game). Salem HS hoco is this weekend and that's our assigned school. The marching band will also perform at that game and Victoria will go to the dance on Saturday. Since the marching band will compete in the first competition this Saturday, they're all going to Plymouth's hoco dance the following weekend, so that's when Kai will go. 

My mom was here and got to enjoy a lot of the firsts with us. Including my brand-new assistant at Red Bell who quit after only 10 days of working there. So glad my mom could be here to be an extra hand while we work through what we're going to do! Apparently, there were some family issues that my assistant of 10 days needed to attend to, plus the job wasn't what she thought it would be. It was sad to see her go. I thought we worked well together for those 10 days and she was really good! The kids loved her and she looked like she was having fun. The past two days she hasn't been in class have been a little less smooth, just because the kids can sense that something is different, even if most of them haven't even asked about her (she was only there in the morning and they barely knew her). Now that my mom is gone, I'll have one less helper. It will be fine, but it was definitely good to have her here by the 3rd day of school this year to help the kids learn the ropes. I have a younger group and they just need extra help remembering that they can't pull baskets of toys off of shelves when there are already baskets at each table and floor area where they can play. It's always a work in progress!

School hadn't even been in session for 2 weeks yet and already the high school had an emergency. Yesterday, on the 3rd floor of Salem, there was a fire in a bathroom garbage can which sounded the smoke alarms. The students had to evacuate Salem and go to Canton gym. One student had a seizure and another's appendix ruptured at around the same time, all at Salem. 4 fire trucks and an ambulance arrived. The sprinklers were triggered by all the smoke and the water was leaking through ceilings. Lucky for Kai, she felt prompted to disobey her teacher and keep her phone with her, so she was able to contact us to let us know that they were fine and were coming home early. Thank goodness she followed the prompting!

Teachers have already been out for Covid and one of Victoria's best friends has it, so it seems like another interesting start to the school year! 

On a more positive note, Erik was chosen by his vice principal to be a safety for the first week of school and help the kindergartners and 1st graders get adjusted. Austin had attended a WEB training over the summer and was a mentor for the 6th graders at the middle school. So proud of their willingness to help others!

First day of Senior Year!!

Last year I'll have a child in elementary school...

New playground at Miller and they're renovating other parts of it, just in time for him to leave for middle school.

First cross country meet!

He made a new PR!

Walking to the stadium for the first game!

During the game.

Kai's in the hazmat suit. This is part of the competition routine of this season's show: Band to the Future.

Erik played goalie the first half of the first game.

2nd half he was defense and sweeper. 

Look at his determined face to get to the ball!

Remember my monstrous garden? It was a gourd plant that was growing. My mom helped me take it out.

This wasn't all that we picked. We have close to 100! I gave some to my Sunday school class and will give some to my preschool students and my Primary Activity girls. I still have a bunch for decor!

Check out the vine!

And the root!

Sunday!