Kindergarten 2011

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Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....NOT?!?!? :)

Oh, technically, I suppose I don't really care if it snows or not today...I don't really mind snow.  However, most everyone else I know is really tired of it, and I don't blame them.  The calendar says it is almost April, however, I remember an Easter egg hunt within the past couple of years that we went to where there was light snow on the ground, so.....

It is pretty dreary outside today, the sun is not peeking through the clouds, but there is a chance of snow showers tonight, so we shall see....

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Wings of Love bird shows - Kansas City

Today at the public library here in town, I took Allison and we were supposed to see the above.  While I was able to 'push' Allison toward the front of the group, and she was able to see the entire show, this is what *I* saw......

Yes...the backs of people...   Can you see the windows in the background?   That's about where the show was.  Never did the library folks expect to have such a crowd. There has been tons of very good programs there and tons with with very cool animals. For whatever reason, the birds were a hUGE draw.  It is very cute. There were tons of senior citizens who came to see the animals, too.  That was unusual.  It did not bring out the best in many people either.  There were a lot of really rude people there who were complaining very loudly.  

You know, I've worked at the library and i've worked in setting up and promoting library programs.  I know that  one of the ways to feel validated about the success of a program is to have a really good crowd attend.  I heard comments from library board members how GREAT this crowd was!  Well......yes, it's good to have such a turnout, BUT when you annoy at least half of them because they can't see, and sort of annoy the other half because they are squished in, does that make it GREAT?  Are these folks going to be likely to come back the next time?  Sure some are...but others won't.  There was no way to know how many were going to come. However, I just have to say...sometimes bigger isn't necessarily better......

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Nothing too new.....

Tomorrow (well, actually today) is Friday, the last day of Spring Break for this year.  Allison left Monday mid-morning to stay with her grandma, my mom, and returned mid-morning today.  She had a fabulous time. When I called and talked to her yesterday, I asked her if she was ready for me to come get her and she said, "no, no, no, no"...:)   She enjoys being out and about and doing something different, and it's always nice to have grandma's full attention. :)...and come home with some new toys and clothes, too...:)   And, after a couple of hour break, since it was Thursday, it was time then to visit with the other grandma here in town.  Today was a two-for-one bargain, I suppose.  :)  Friday we will go to a bird program at the library, and i told Allison that we would be cleaning her toy area upstairs by her room, so we will see what we get done.


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Meteorologist from Topeka's Channel 49

I was pretty excited  to be able to get Ed Bloodsworth, meteorologist with the ABC-TV affiliate in Topeka, KTKA-Ch. 49, to come to the school for Lutheran Schools Week activities.  In the past years, the kids have gone down to the movie theater here in town for a private showing of a movie some afternoon, but I wasn't able to connect with Alex, the theater owner, and plus, I just thought it would be cool to get something different, something new.  He was good, pretty entertaining, and had a pretty engaging presentation.  They do a "Weather in the Classroom" presentation, and I think this must've been part of it.   

This is the "Storm Tracker"...it's a pimped Hummer.  The antenna looking satellite thingie on the back is able to be raised and lowered when the truck is parked somewhere and they want to do different work or satellite upfeeds.

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Allison's New Classroom

This is incredibly exciting.  I don't know if anyone can fully appreciate the excitement that moving the kids into their new classroom really was like. I don't remember exactly how long ago they decided they "needed" a new classroom because Allison's class is the largest they've ever had (15), and the room they were in was inadquate (TINY).   Work was supposed to begin the beginning or middle of last summer (2010); in fact, we were not allowed to have VBS there at the end of July because they figured there would be construction, water turned off, etc.  Well, due to circumstances that I am not willing to document here, the construction was not begun until....wait for it, wait for it.........October!  Isn't that crazy!?!?!?!?  Justification for this huge new room was the class of 15.  When did they get moved in?  The first week of March...with only about two months of their school year left as kindergarteners!!!! Crazy, isn't it?  It's a gorgeous space, however.

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Lutheran Schools Week - Wednesday activities

On Wednesday of Lutheran Schools Week, we had a potluck breakfast before school, with chapel following for parents and grandparents to attend.  Because I was on the LSW committee, I had to help in the kitchen, making sure things were running smoothly for the breakfast, etc.  That left Allison pretty much to her own devices because the kids were with family members, not with their class.  She does very well, and I know I can trust her, but this was an interesting place that I caught her, following the breakfast, while folks were waiting for chairs to be moved, etc., and chapel to begin. Bless her heart.

 Following chapel, students, staff, and family members went outside for a balloon release.  It started to snow lightly about the time the kids went out to release their balloons.

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Lutheran Schools Week

Each year, Lutheran Schools across the country celebrate being fortunate enough to be a Lutheran School.  Our school is no different.  The first week of March 2011 was designed Lutheran Schools Week. The theme this year is: Securing Each Child's Future: Making Disciples.  I was on the LSW committee, and it was a lot of work, but it was rewarding. This is a bulletin board I did for Mrs. Harries, and fortunately I could incorporate LSW into it.

Each day of the week the students dress up to different themes.  Monday's theme was the kids' favorite one I hear:  Pajama day!

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Allison's New Specs! :)

My girlie has my eyes!

This is usually a very good, heart-warming comment.  However, this time it has to do with the actual working mechanisms!   She has eye 'issues' too, just like her ole' mom.  She has difficulty seeing far away already, and has a little issue with her left eye, just like me.  They didn't call her left eye a "lazy eye" like mine was identified as, but maybe hers was caught sooner in her schooling life.  The school nurse caught the discrepancy  in a routine school vision screening a few weeks ago. 

Allison is actually very excited about her glasses.  I am so glad about that. I just hope it continues. :)

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Swimming at the Y

Last Sunday afternoon, our school had the family fun time at the YMCA in Beatrice.  The PTL sponsors this activity for the children and their families.  The facilities are rented and anything pretty much can be used: swimming pool, basketball courts, raquetball courts, etc.  Allison spent the entire time at the swimming pool...imagine that :)     We had a good time. 

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