I feel like the kids were just starting their new school year, and I was so nervous for them as they entered a new school in a new state knowing virtually no one. Well, as time does tend to do it flew by and this past Friday was their last day. Looking back, I can say that they adjusted well and ended up loving their first year at Beech Tree.
An update on some of the last few events at school. We attended their Spring Fling, a dance party in the school gym with a DJ. They had a blast, but we thought the music was too loud :( They had Field Day the Monday before school ended. I wasn't there but from what I hear and the pictures I saw, it was the "wettest" and tons of fun.
We also attended Quinn's Book Expo, which was the culmination of their
last project in 4th grade. Think a book report in presentation form,
complete with a tri-fold poster board, brochures, games, and prizes.
Each child picked a book of the fantasy theme...Quinn chose Starfinder
by John Marcos, a book he had read in Florida (another great Uncle Ryan
pick). All of the other classes came in to the expo, and the kids had
to explain their book to each attendee...you can imagine how tired they
were at the end of the day!
Quinn did very well on his report card. He got all As and one B. He really excelled in Ms. Ta's class, pretty much from the day he entered back in October. It was really where he was meant to be. I'm not sure if I mentioned, but he is now officially in the AAP program instead of being a guest like this year. This means that he is in this program until 8th grade, and will be in the AAP class in 5th grade with most of the same children. Another good thing about being officially in the program is that he can choose to attend our neighborhood middle school or our "center" school where he will have even more opportunities for advancement. I'm not sure which he will choose, but he has another year to figure that out. On a side note, Quinn has just finished re-reading the HP series of books...this time, in just over 2 weeks. Pretty impressive considering he was in school most of that time. He read the series the first time in a little over a month, but he was out of school that whole time. It's crazy and ambitious, and he says he is going to read them a 3rd time. From someone who does not read a book twice, I am slightly jealous and very impressed that he has the stamina and interest to read something again, and learn more about it. We are very proud of him, he is such a smart boy and I love watching him turn into a young man. I'm not crazy about the fact that he's on the cusp of his last year of elementary school and turning 11, but it is fun watching him learn and grow.
Keely did very well also. She got all Os and Gs. Next year, she will get letter grades. Along with her report card were the results of her Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA). She got a 38 out of 40, putting her in the at or above grade level category for reading. This is great for her, because reading is not her favorite thing to do. She does it, and she shows some aptitude for it but it's just not her first choice. She has many other passions though, and we just try to continue to cultivate a love of reading. It's catching on a bit, and we will continue encouraging her. She didn't test well enough to enter the AAP program, and frankly we feel that 3rd grade is a little too young to judge that type of skill. We'd like a recommendation to come from a teacher, whereas most parents fight the test scores and get their children in as guests. She understands that she needs to try her best, and ask lots of how/why questions if she wants to get into that program. Frankly, I think her desire to be in it comes from two of her best friends entering that class in 3rd grade. She must have some of my competitiveness, because she wants to be there too. We are very proud of her, she is doing really well in school, she made a lot of new friends this year and I think she's finally gotten over her sadness of leaving Utah. It still creeps in there from time to time, but she is very happy in her school and with her new friends.
They will return to Beech Tree for another year. Our area was subject to a boundary adjustment this year, but Quinn was grandfathered in because he is a rising 5th grader. Due to that, Keely was allowed to stay as a sibling. What happens for Keely in 4th grade is still a bit of an unknown...she may be allowed to stay at Beech Tree if there isn't overcrowding but she may have to transfer to the new school (which is a bit closer to our house anyways).
Virginia has state standard tests that begin in 3rd grade. As part of the 4th grade curriculum, Quinn prepared and took three SOL (Standards of Learning) tests. The preliminary results arrived in yesterday's mail. Quinn did very well, with advanced proficiency scores in all areas. 
