First Week of School Musings

Some thoughts on this the first week of school:

1. My house is quiet. My kitchen is clean. Well, somewhat clean. I never do really clean.

2. The kids have some marvelous teachers this year. Spencer loves his seminary teacher! Bless those seminary teachers who make the gospel come alive for our kids when all we parents can muster is a rolling of the eyes at family scripture study.

3. Sabrina loves her creative writing teacher and AP English teacher and CE American History teacher. They all seem very passionate about what they are teaching, which makes all the difference.

4. Jonah was the one kid I worried about what with starting junior high and everything. And he's the one child who's schedule got changed the last week of summer, unbeknownst to us. All that walking his schedule and highlighting his classes and route on the school map were for not. But he survived his disastrous first day. He got to go to art twice and missed English all together. 

5. Disclosures. Disclosures for days!

6. I am less than thrilled at the administrator who decided that only 5% of a child's grade will be determined by assignments and that the rest will basically be determined by test scores. Sabrina is already in tears because she struggles in math and doesn't test well but has always given 100% on her assignments to help salvage her grade. She faithfully did her math homework Tuesday night, and she is already at a B- in the class because she didn't ace her quiz yesterday. There is now no longer a reward for those students who work hard and responsibly hand in their assignments. There is, however, great reward for those who know how to binge study and pull off great test scores with little effort. Once again, both teachers and students are trying to work within a very flawed system. Oh the frustration! It makes me want to homeschool...but then not. 

7. I can't tell you how excited I am to be done with elementary school and the dreaded year round schedule. 

8. I am grateful for a bus stop four houses down the street!

9. The kids have gone to school everyday this week with a lunch lovingly packed with fresh fruit and cheese sticks and homemade cookies. They basically have an amazing mother in her own right.

10. These children have also had a hot breakfast everyday this week. Could someone please hand me a life vest because I'm drowning in awesomeness?

11. I've been up everyday this week by 6:30 or 6:45. I'm really on a roll here.

12. I'm trying to familiarize myself with canvas so that I can get Jonah through this school year. He struggles so much but works so hard. The prayerful mommy pleas are in full force. Help me, Lord. Help me to know how to help my son.

13. Spencer fought me up to the first day of school over this whole AP Geography thing. I held my ground on this one. This kid needed a challenge. He needs to do hard things. Not very many things are hard for him. He has had way too many easy A's. He came home after the first day of school feeling good about the class.

14. Next week is when school really starts. That is when the fridge will be out of fresh fruit, and I'll really be feeling those early mornings, and there will be an abundance of homework. Next week is where this mom's stamina will be tested. Help me, Lord. Help me get through yet another school year.