Presenting the Class of 2014!

My second high school graduate!  I'm telling you, once they start high school, it's all over!  The time goes so fast you hardly know what day it is. 

 

I'm so proud of Kylie's accomplishments in high school.  She maintained a 3.9 GPA, was in the National Honors Society all four years,  took three AP classes and scored well on each test, rowed crew all four years and was team captain her senior year, graduated from Seminary, performed over 200 hours of community service her senior year.  And she's a kind, thoughtful, inspiring, hardworking, determined, loyal young woman. I'm not worried one bit about her being successful in college. 

 

Nat, Katie & Kylie, waiting for the ceremony to start.

We sat right by the entrance where the graduates filed in and Ben jumped up to give Kylie a hug when she walked by.

Kylie's cap decoration

After the ceremony, it's picture time! Kylie had lots of family there to support her!

Kylie and Grandpa Tom.  He's so proud of her!

Grandma Susan, Kylie and Grandpa Tom

Ashley, Caleb, Kylie, Jane, and Grandma Vikki

Jill, me, Kylie, Brad and Ben

Sisters!  These two have become best friends over the past year. 

I'm so glad they had a year together in high school. 

The whole family!

Brad's showing Kylie he's still stronger than she is!

Audrey & Claire Marcum, Kylie & Jillian.  It's fun to see the resemblance in siblings!

Nathan Oliver & Kylie

Kylie, Katie, Sallie and Nat

Abby Leigh, Justeen Komok, Kylie & Carly Millard

Baccalaureate and Seminary Graduation

Two big rites-of-passage in one day:  Baccalaureate and Seminary Graduation!

 

Baccalaureate was first, and it was a beautiful ceremony.  I said this before when Nathan graduated, but I like this service better than the actual graduation ceremony.  There is more depth and meaning,  more focus on being a good person, one who contributes not only mentally, but spiritually to the community. 

?, Anthony McMillan, Elisabeth Chun and Kylie

 

 Katie Muir, Sallie Marx, Kylie, and Nat Godfrey

 

Then in the evening was Seminary Graduation.  I'm so proud of Kylie for finishing all four years.  It's definitely not easy getting up early every morning.  Their graduating class is an awesome group of kids who have been a great support to each other throughout their high school years.  They're all on to college or missions and will be a wonderful asset where ever they are going.  (Except John Church, he's staying here and we're glad!  He was the "senior-senior," a great example of wanting to know more about the Book of Mormon and really putting in the effort to learn.)

Rachael Bell, Noah Clark, Mike Hepworth, Jared Russell, Jacob Nowjack, Matthew Close, Kylie, Harrison Amelang, John Church

Teachers:  Tom Bell and Mike Amelang

Teaching Ben to Sew

Ben had an American Revolution project for Social Studies.  He chose to make an American Flag.  When he told me about it, I assumed he would use construction paper and glue.  When it was time to start the project, he told me he wanted to actually sew the flag.  I convinced him felt was an acceptable material and figured I could teach him, after all, it's just a few straight lines.

I remember when my mom tried to teach me to sew.  She's a perfectionist.  I'm a "good-enough-ist."  It didn't go well.  Every time she told me to pick out a seam and do it over, I'd say, "But mom, it's good enough!" Not for her, it wasn't.  I had to pick it out and do it over and over until it was just right.  Now, teaching  Ben to sew, I heard myself saying, "Looks good!" and Ben saying, "No, mom, it's not straight.  I need to do it over." Clearly my mom's perfectionism skipped a generation!

 

He worked on it until he felt it was perfect and was very pleased with the result!

Ben's Band Concert

The Fifth Grade Band at Sakai puts on one concert towards the end of the school year.  Ben has been playing percussion and has learned a lot!  As you can see in the video, he really gets into it!

 

 

Salmon Release

Every year at our Intermediate School, the kids get to take part in a "circle of life" science lesson.  They raise salmon eggs through the fall and winter, keeping track of how quickly they change from egg to little squirmy thing to bigger squirmy thing to something vaguely resembling a small fish.  Then they release them in a stream to become part of our area's salmon population.  If the mini-salmon are extremely lucky, they will return to the same stream in about five years to spawn.  They have about a .0000001% chance of avoiding bigger fish, pollution, illness, bears, and fisherman, so out of the 100 or so fish the kids released, I think that means about .00001 of them will return.  The kids had great time catching the little guys in clear plastic cups, walking them carefully down to the stream and wishing them well on their journey through life.  Who knows, maybe one of the salmon will win the lottery and return to complete the circle! Even if doesn't, I still think this is a great, hands-on science activity for the kids, and one that they enjoy, which is important, too.

 

Trying to catch a salmon-fry.

 

This one Ben named "Meatloaf"  Salmon loaf would have been more appropriate, maybe?

Getting ready to release Meatloaf into his new home.

Just keep swimming...

 

This is a lovely spot for baby salmon.  I hope they get to enjoy it!

UW Field Trip

Ben's class went on a field trip to the University of Washington and I chaperoned.  We got to go to the planetarium and see a very cool demonstration about the universe.  Afterwards, I chased five fifth graders all over the UW campus.  Unfortunately, they didn't stop moving long enough to get pictures.  I loved being back in the midst of Suzzallo Library, Denny Hall, the Quad, Red Square, Drumheller Fountain; all the beautiful spots were just like I remember 20 years ago!

We met up with the rest of the group at the new Husky Stadium, where we went on a tour.  At the end, the kids were invited to run down the tunnel onto the field and then run around and get their energy out.  Smart tour guide!  Maybe one day Ben will be a student here...

First Day of School

Fifth grade here he comes!  No more elementary school for Ben! 

Jill starts high school and seminary this year!  Big adventures await!

 

Jillian's Night in Paris

Bainbridge has a wonderful tradition of holding an 8th grade banquet for the graduating 8th graders.  It's a huge deal; more time, energy, and loving care from parents are put into the 8th grade banquet than prom for the high school seniors.  The theme is a surprise, so when the kids walk into the school they are amazed at the transformation. This year, their gym and cafeteria were transformed into the streets of Paris. It was beautifully done.  I signed up to be a chaperone, so I was able to be there and see the kids' reactions as they walked in.  They were in awe! 

 

Before the banquet, Jillian went to her friend's house to get ready.  They spent hours doing their hair and make-up.  I had to get to the school early, so Brad went to take pictures after they finished their preparations.

 

I enjoyed chaperoning, even though I  mostly stood in one spot all night.  But I got to watch the kids dance and enjoy each other's company.  They had other activities besides dancing, like a lipstick fortune teller, a caricaturist, the casino, temporary tattoos, and the photo booth. Jillian said she had a wonderful evening and from what I could tell, most of the kids really enjoyed being there. I'm glad we have such a great community who works together to create these memorable events for our kids!

 

Jillian, Kennedy, Keagan, and Chloe

 

 

 

BFFs!

I LOVE this picture Kennedy's mom took!

At the school waiting to go in...Kennedy, Jillian, Andrew, Chloe, and Keagan

Surprise!  You're in Paris!

Dinner...it was hard to take a good picture since the lighting was dim.  The dining room was draped in white lights with beautiful table decorations.

Different areas of the cafeteria were transformed into a casino,

a bakery,

 

a flower market, (this was my post for chaperoning)

a boutique,

 

and an outdoor garden.

Patricia, me, and Michele.

Patricia was a server and Michele worked in the kitchen. 

So many people put in time to help make this a great event for the kids.

Jillian, Kalyn, Jarret, and Andrew in the casino

Chloe, Audrey, Keagan, Jillian, Kennedy and Sarah at the photo booth