Culmination Party

Noah's 5th grade culmination party was a hit!  He hosted some friends (including girls) to the private screening room in our complex to watch Jumanji.  They had a great time eating candy, eating pizza, and playing Pie Face.  It was quite interesting to see the boys and girls sitting separately and avoiding each other at all costs.  This is that age.  Will Noah remember this time when he gets older???

Culmination

Congratulations Noah!  He is finally moving on from the protective gates of elementary school to middle school!  Noah has been so blessed to start here at Open School.  He really hit the lottery when he was chosen out of 800 or so applicants for the 48 spots available at the school.  He has been part of a true learning community where he learned through meaningful experiences.  His classes were thematic and project-based and with the teachers' constructivist approach to teaching he really experienced a wonderful education.  How his middle school experience will compare???

Superstars

Noah and Paxton are showing off the culmination shirts that Jawsh designed for the 5th grade class.  These two boys will be heading off to middle school together next year.  Will they have the same classes???

Micah in the city

Today was Micah's final presentation of the year.  He created several buildings that revolved his favorite places.  We were really proud of him and his public speaking skills.  He did an amazing job and had such a wonderful experience this year.  Will he have an even better year next year???

Noah's first phone

We were unsure if this was the appropriate time for Noah to have a cell phone.  In fact, we were against it.  But then Noah wrote a persuasive essay about why he needed a phone, the benefits, and the pitfalls that having a phone would entail.  Needless to say we were impressed with his thoughtful and reflective essay.  He read the pages to us and it was a convincing 5 minute speech.  So, Noah got a phone.  It wasn't a new phone.  But hey, he got a phone.  How will this phone change his life???

Mini Golf

Today we spent a hot afternoon playing mini-golf with the V and K family.  This was an all out family event as the parents played golf along with the boys.  Everyone had a great time, but I think the parents had an even better time at Three Weavers, the local brewery we went to afterwards.  When will we do this again???

STOMP

Today was Noah's STOMP performance.  They have been practicing for a few months and his group did very well.  They worked really well together and Noah had a great time.  During the intermission, Noah played a piece on the piano which was beautiful to hear.  All these experiences are so wonderful for him to haves final year... will he remember these special times???

Minors Champs

Congratulations to Micah's Minors Team...  the Dodgers!  They had a great season!  Micah's team played against the A's, which one of his best friends is on.  Micah had a very memorable season, including a home run and a Grand Slam.  Will he want to play again next year???

Grand slam

Today was a very special day for Micah... he hit a Grand Slam in his game.  This is the first Grand Slam of the season and he was very excited!  He received the game ball along with his teammate, D, who also played very well.  Will Micah want to keep playing post season???

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to me.  I received beautiful hand made cards, expressions of love, and my favorite designed chocolate.  How am I so lucky???

Open Expressions

I was so proud of Micah and Simone because they had the courage to perform "Lava" at Open Expressions, a talent show at their school.  Noah played ukulele and sang with Simone.  It was so darling.  They were the only co-ed, mixed aged group- which surprised me!  They had a great time.  Will they want to reunite next year and perform something else???

Dodger day

Tonight was Teacher Night at Dodgers Stadium.  It was a great night of baseball but I only stayed for a few innings.  If truth be told, I spent more time walking the corridors, and looking at all the food, than watching the actual game.  After all the walking, I ended up with a beer and Dodger Dog.  Not so unique.  Oh well.  It was fun to hang with my co-workers.  When will we go out again???

Fun times

Uncle Jawsh loves spending time with Emma.  Here they are making rainbow erasers!  What will they make next???

STOMP

Today we went to the Pantages Theater to see STOMP with the V family.  Noah and J are in Blue Cluster and they are performing their own version of Stomp with their class this year.  We thought they might enjoy going to see the Broadway version.  The boys had a fun time and they really were inspired.  I wonder what their show will be like???

Homerun

Tonight Micah hit an in the park home run against the Braves.  This was an interesting game and they won by the most runs ever, 21-6.  The boys had a great time.  Will he hit another home run???

Object parade

Micah was a Visa credit card in the Object Parade.  He shared the history of colonial times and he sang various songs with his class.  These are all his buddies in Yellow Cluster.  I wonder what next year will be???

Rainbow Award

Noah received a Rainbow Award for his work in Social Studies.  We are always so proud of the work that he is doing!  We love that he is curious, inquisitive, and engaged.  What will life be like for Noah in middle school???

Puzzles

1,000 piece puzzle of different types of chips.  Micah loved this puzzle.  What will be our next one???

Good times

When I think of my childhood friends, I often think of the kids that we  spent the most time with our parents.  We knew that if our parents were friends, we would see them more often than not.  I hope that our boys will remember all the times we hung with the V and K family because we have grown to love them as extended family.  Next year, Noah and P head to one middle school and J will go to another.  And Micah may be in a different class than his two buds.  No matter what, we hope that we will continue to hang out.  When will we do movie and dinner again???

Chess winners!

We were so delightfully surprised when Micah and Noah won chess trophies for this session.  They are both in the Advanced Class and so we know that they are really developing their game.  Noah has been undefeated the whole year so he has received many trophies but this is the first trophy Micah has received this in the Advanced level.  How will the boys do in the GMG???