End of School Year

The end of school came! We went an extra week later this year because of a later start in August. That extra week was rough! We normally get out before Memorial Day. Everyone felt it was too much. I am glad the district is going back to their normal calendar next year.

Gemma had a great kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Gonzalez. While Gemma was a little more hesitant to learn this year, she ended the year pretty well. Reading has been slow-moving at home, but at school, she was fine. She ended the year above grade level in Spanish reading. I don't know how that happened because it is like pulling teeth at home to get her to read. She is capable; she just doesn't like to. Gemma also tested into the gifted and talented program this year so joins her older siblings in that.

Tanner had a fantastic 2nd grade year. He had high math goals and met all of them. He joined the gifted and talented program as well and loved the extra challenges there. His showcase project was on mutual relationships with animals. Tanner had the same teachers Ashton had in 2nd grade, so that was wonderful for all of us.

Ashton finished up 4th grade. This year was a bit of a challenge as she had 3 new-to-Brookwood teachers, two of which were brand new teachers altogether. Thankfully her homeroom teacher was a parent of a child in the Spanish program that we've known since kindergarten. Unfortunately, her math teacher was brand new and struggled with classroom management. Ashton started not liking math as much this year. But we found out at the end of the year that her homeroom teacher, who she adored, is moving up to 5th grade in the program. So Ashton will get her again! Ashton continued in the gifted and talented program as well. She participated in ALPHA, where the students who are GT go off campus each Friday for a special mini-course in a topic of their choosing. Ashton did nature photography and loved it.

Lydia wrapped up the year at preschool. It's a perfect fit for our family: cheap, just a couple hours a day, for 3 days a week. They go a little over the top on graduation and celebrations but Lydia loved it all.