A New School & Inspiration

Thursday, 9/22/11, was Back-To-School Night at our new middle school. The middle school itself is not new, just new to us. As we sat through the campus introduction and then through each 12-minute presentation by Heather's teachers, I was overcome with the profound assurance that we had made the right decision to move her to this school.

Each of Heather's new teachers presented a message that they 1) enjoy their jobs, 2) want to help their students learn, and 3) will do everything in their power to help their students succeed. I was pretty much tearing up by 6th period. It was as if I had been starving and had just been seated at a banquet.

Aside from the educational perks, Heather has been reporting no shister-like behavior on the playground. We don't hear daily reports of who called her what name, or what foul word someone was experimenting with that day. No catty girls are trying to ensnare her in a trap or leaving her to walk the playground alone. She now has about 12 or so of her very dear friends from growing up or church to hang out with. The naughty words are somewhere across the yard with those lovely language scientists who, I'm sure, are still experimenting away. Heather has a new buffer that money cannot buy.

I jotted down two quotes off the wall in Heather's social studies classroom. Both inspired hope for the good things to come. So far, the school year is looking brighter. Even if it doesn't stay this way, I am grateful for the respite of the past couple of weeks. Last year was a doozy for this momma, and the change of pace thus far has instilled some long-needed peace.

We are what we repeatedly do.

Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.

~Aristotle

The greater danger for most of us

lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short,

but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark.

~Michelangelo

First Day of School!

The first day went well. Very, very well. I actually wondered what the good fairy had done to my children. The girls woke up early with no complaints after sleeping in all summer (and I mean sleeping in as in breakfast bordered on being called lunch most days), got ready for school, and we were out the door by 7:15 a.m. to go help hand out p.e. clothes at the middle school. Getting up early and getting rid of the harried rush and "hurry up" scenario is definitely the way to go.

Heather was admitted to Fulton after a new 7th grade teacher was hired. Her year may not be much different academically, but when her friend's car pulled into the parking lot, and her friend rolled down the window and squealed, "Heather!!!!!!" before jumping out of the car and running for hugs, I knew switching schools was the right decision. Heather's day went splendidly, new braces and all. In fact, the new braces hurt less on day 2 than the spacers had on day 2. It was a welcome surprise.

Jenna had a great day also. She got the teacher we requested should have a stellar academic year. This will be the first time since the 2007-2008 school year that I am sending both my girls to school without the feeling of dread lingering during the day. I am a happy momma.

Learn With Joy

We had a Back-to-School Feast tonight inspired by the Nielsons over at The NieNieDialouges. Our theme was borrowed from a past Nielson feast, and it fit perfectly for us this year. When I read the words, "Learn With Joy," I knew we needed this theme.

In preparation for the feast, I made a crown for each daughter (the crown represents their divine nature), place cards for the table, and little cupcake toppers with the theme written on them. I found a fun shirt for each girl and wrapped that for some extra excitement. Our dinner consisted of slow-cooked BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes, peas and a choice of root beer or cream soda. Dessert was a family favorite from our cupcake project, Mint Brownie Cupcakes.

After dinner, we had a little family night lesson centered around our theme. We read the scripture Jacob 4:3 (from The Book of Mormon) that contains the theme, and also some of the words of our past LDS Prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley in his book, Standing for Something. President Hinckley was an advocate of improving ourselves through learning. He was in his 90's when he declared that he still wasn't done and was still learning all the time. We discussed learning as a privilege that many in the world cannot partake in. The girls were surprised to know that in some countries, people are uneducated while in others, girls are not allowed to go to school. We also talked about tackling things that are hard and how we could do that. Everyone came up with a plan for eating a large cake, and we decided that the way to eat it is one bite or one slice at a time.

We hope that there was some meaning for our girls tonight. School has been such a drudgery, and we really needed a positive spin (the momma included). We are grateful to live in a country where we can educate ourselves, worship freely and obtain the necessary materials for our emotional, physical and spiritual growth. We'll continue to discuss the theme now and then and check in with each other. We're praying for a successful and happy year. These cuties look ready, don't you think?