Spring (May-June)

Well, it seems that blogging is only really happening during school breaks!  It was 2 months since the last post.  (sigh)  2 months. 

Mercer is now officially out for summer. He got out of school a week after Isabella and I did, but he is out for 9 weeks.  Isabella and I have 4 weeks off this summer  Isabella and I are out for 2 weeks, then go back for 3 weeks in June.  We are off another 2 weeks in June/ early July, then are in school for another 3 weeks in July.  At the end of July, we transition over to a new school year. 


\I had a much better year this year at school.  I transitioned from the 7th - 10th grade team and moved to "Upper School / High School" team as we merged teams based on the student population.  I taught 7th grade history (?!?) and middle school science -- with a blend of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.  I still work a little bit with our high schoolers (the 10th graders I had last year that are now 11th graders), but in a less formal way called Life Coaching.  One of the things I enjoyed with them recently was a project they did with the music teacher -- forming a band, recording a video, and playing a gig at a local bar/restaurant.  I am most proud of one of our students who had a hard time talking in front of people.  He was actually up there on stage performing in front of people!!  (here's an extra shot of Isabella with her "best friend" Mariana at the performance.  She is the teenage daughter of one of the teachers from school.  

We went back-and-forth at my school about buying our building VS purchasing a building / converting it into a school. Things fell into place to buy the current building we had been renting in April.  One of the things we did, however, was to work with folks throughout the school to introduce some architecture curriculum.  I am not sure how much of it was implemented, however, as it was pretty crazy to keep up with my own work within the grades I was working with.  I did work with the high schoolers to do a small interior architecture project to builds something in their space, then with our middle schoolers to design something in the new building (when it was at a different location and then a different design project when we were staying in our original facility). We took a field trip to a green (LEED) school downtown and visited my old stomping-ground at the green building non-profit.  It was interesting to merge my past and present together during that project.  

One of our first projects with the US / HS team was a soapbox derby car project -- which I posted about last fall.  That was an easy tie into science (physics).  We ran a holiday market where kids made things to sell (easy science tie - natural resources).  My favorite project was our most recent one, however, I could not fit them into science curriculum:  it was a mystery dinner theater.  

It was pretty cool because each team (costumes, acting, PR, food, and scenery) all had a distinct part of the event which contributed to the final product.  I was on the scenery team the whole time, but the night of the event, I helped the food team in the kitchen as a line cook -- another new experience.  

Everything came together in right at the very end & it was a success!

Probably my favorite thing this year, however, is the "Icky Science" club that I had after school.  I got to make all of the gross, weird, fun stuff that doesn't really fit into curriculum with a small group of students once a week.  (slime, oobleck, did a diaper experiment, mentos in soda, grew mold, etc.)  

  
I had a small art (paper) club and a pretty decent-sized LEGO and (lite) robotics after school club too.  Some of the fun in doing these clubs is having to practice stuff at home with the kids.  It got me to do some more hands-on stuff with them.   (photo below)

There was also some grant stuff that I was involved in this year.  I had applied for a small Chemistry grant that wrapped up at the end of June (just last week, actually).  I also got pulled into a garden grant that we were awarded this spring.  The funds will provide us with a substantial-sized raised-bed garden which will look nice (stone seat wall that can serve as an outdoor classroom too).  I'll be reporting more about that one later, as I get involved in it this coming school year, but it does involve my transitioning my role a bit.  Stay tuned.

The other grant that we just got that I was involved in:  a "green-your-building" kind of grant.  Again - with a tie to Southface.  They are going to come through our building (the one that we have been renting for several years, but now own as of this spring) and analyze the systems to make recommendations for energy efficiency, water efficiency, etc.  Then, we may apply for funds to cover the costs of some of these building systems to be put into place.  I'll be involved in the management of both of these grants as I move into the new school year in August.  



Before Mercer's school ended, he had his Cub Scouts "Cross-Over."  He has transitioned to the next level. He his now a Weeblo.   This next step is a 2 year gig -- lots of things need to take place before becoming a Boy Scout and being self-sufficient in the outdoors!

He also earned a special badge at the Cross-Over.... he earned his NOVA badge.  It's a badge focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).  Because of my transition into science, I have been pushing him to do more of the optional science-focused activities in his Cub Scout book.  He's learning... I'm learning... and we're spending some quality time together.  So, we start looking through the book and see at the back that there's a special badge for science.  Not only is there a badge - but there's also a medal!  Mercer eyes get big and he says in all seriousness:  "I WANT the medal!"   

We found out about NOVA in February.  Cross-over is in May.  We worked a lot on it while completing some of his other requirements, but he did not get far enough along to snag the coveted medal.  There were a lot of activities + writing + meeting with a mentor to report on his progress and outcomes for the first level -- as well as all subsequent levels.  Keeping him motivated - especially during the research and writing part was hard.  He earned the badge (which was still a lot of work).  In fact, he is the first boy in their Pack (of any age or rank) to earn ANY of the NOVA awards.  They recognized him separately which was pretty cool.  I'm very proud of him !!!  

On the last day of school, Mercer had an awards ceremony.  He was awarded perfect attendance with only one (excused) early release b/c he was sick once.  He was also recognized with a bunch of his classmates for achieving all “S’s”  - satisfactory behavior in every class.  (Unfortunately and ironically, I had to carry Isabella out of the assembly for bad behavior so did not get to see Mercer’s award for good behavior.)  

He’s had a pretty good year at school this year.  His grades are OK – not stellar, but not bad.  This is the first year he’s gotten numbers on a report card.  This is also the first year he had to take the controversial Milestone Test.  It was 3 days of intense testing in Math, Reading and Writing.  Next year, they add Science.  He did well in Math, but could stand to work on reading comprehension and writing over the summer.   One thing that we’re especially proud of, Mercer got his teacher’s in-class award for being a “Considerate Helper.”  Love that he has such a sweet, helpful spirit!!

On Mercer's last day of school, we packed the car and headed to a spot we love outside of Blairsville:  Vogel State Park.  We got the little cabin that we like a lot on the stream.  One thing that's a problem with this cabin, however, is that pets aren't allowed.

We wanted to share our experience on the trails and in the stream with Hip-Hop, but could not.  While there, we staked out the cabins at the park that are pet-friendly so we can book one of those next year.  

We love the cabin on the creek, but the kids did not want to stay Creekside as much as we did.  They wanted to go to the playgrounds, the artificial beach (Isabella’s favorite spot in the park) and play putt-putt (Mercer’s favorite spot in the park) more than relax by the campfire or in the hammock by the creek (mine and Todd’s favorite spot in the park).  

Sigh….our kids are too ACTIVE for us to relax!!

Todd and I did get to sneak in some things that we liked that kept them moving:  we went fishing and kayaking on the beautiful lake that is the focal point of the park.  

































































We also went hiking outside of the park.  We checked out a nearby historic site:  the Track Rock Petroglyphs - soapstone boulder carvings made by the Cherokee and Creek Indians more than 1000 years ago.  

We went to Desoto Falls (both the upper and the lower falls) which is situated outside of the state park.

We also went for the hike to the falls at the bottom of lake’s spillway then continued around the lake.  We tried to find some letterbox stamps along the way, but were unsuccessful in finding them there.

What we did find, however, was something else hidden in the woods:  two painted rocks.  Mercer found one, so I asked him to show me where he found it.  Next to the spot was another one… so it definitely seemed intentional!  We looked it up online and it’s a “thing.”  People are painting rocks with either pictures on them and/or with inspirational messages on them, then hiding them for people to find. The movement is called Kindness Rocks or Joy Rocks.  It’s kind of sweet. 

Mercer is into it and he was SOOO excited to have found it and immediately wanted to paint some to leave around town where we live.   When we got home, we have had several painting sessions and so far – on multiple occasions – we hid rocks out for strangers to find.  Mercer usually wants to go back to the hiding spots to see if the little inspirational rocks have been scooped up.  He speculates about who got them and how it’s made them happy.  Mercer found another one on a hike at Kennesaw Mountain – and it brought him immense joy.  It's simple:  red on one side and says "Be Kind" on the other.  (LOVE THIS!)

In fact, we have started a little movement in our area -- posting pictures of rocks we've painted and hides in the neighborhood web group page & others have joined in.  It's kind of a fun little thing to do this summer~  I'm sure we'll have more posts about this.....

Mercer's summer is just beginning.  Isabella and I were enjoying our first (short) 2 week break.  During our first school break, we took Isabella for an update on her "survival swimming."  She goes back each summer for a refresher course.  Third year doing this, but I am still in awe every time I see her get dumped in with her clothes on, swim, flip over for air, and swim to the side to climb out!

We went on a boat ride with "Uncle Orie" too during our first break (this was just before Mercer got out of school).  The following week, he took us on ANOTHER boat ride, but this time, Mercer and Rose Marie - who was down for a visit - were able to go as well.  

Speaking of Uncle Orie - we went to the Georgia Aquarium with him during our first break as well!  Pretty cool that we got to spend some time with him.  He's pretty good to our family; our craziness doesn't seem to scare him off!  ha~   


























(Had to post this photo of the kids ... so sweet~)

Rose Marie came down to see the kids -- but timed it so she could see Isabella's ballet recital.  The only photo we have of her is above (on the boat).  :(  Most of the photos are focused on the smallest little princess -- not the NJ grandma princess.  ha!  

We weren't allowed to take photos during the actual recital, so most of these came from the dress rehearsal a couple of days earlier.  It was hard to get the whole class together in one spot.  

There is one little boy (who has an older sister in dance) in Isabella's class.  He was the center of the performance, honestly!



Isabella's class had a two-minute number.  A year's worth of classes and they've been working up to for a two-minute number!  

Pay for facility fee and costume fee... and that was it!  :)  The entire show was actually pretty good, though, with a mix of modern and more traditional performances.  There were some fantastic young men in the performance who were very serious about dance and danced in a lot of the numbers.  There were some fantastic girls as well -- some of them who were on point for an entire song.  whew!  

It was a fun night overall and a great way to end our first summer break!  '

That's a wrap~
('til the blog posts for our next summer break and trips up / down the eastern seaboard!)