Report Card

Abbie's school is on a trimester system and the end of the first trimester is next Friday.  So, today, Chad and I met with Abbie's teacher and received her first report card along with a discussion of how she is doing.  Yes, this is only JK, but these people don't mess around.  There are specific goals and expectations for the students.  All students are evaluated in the areas of reading, letter and word knowledge, writing and written expression, math development, intellectual growth, and social and emotional development.  Further, the special subjects teachers provide evaluations in drama, library, music, P.E., science, Spanish, and technology.  What did we find out?  Abbie is doing just great!  The teachers are all pleased with her progress and enjoy her enthusiasm.  Apparently, she is making quite a name for herself (in a good way).  She has a huge personality and it has been shining.  As her teacher says, "Everyone loves our little Abbie!"  We are happy to hear that all is well.  Some other parents with older kids had indicated that this first JK report card can be a bit shocking.  I went in braced for a serious talk and was pleasantly surprised.

In other news, the activities continue.  Abbie went to a really cool birthday party a couple weeks ago.  It was on a really old sailing ship that was built in the 1860s.  It is still floating in the water, but has been converted into a maritime museum.  The museum worker (Ann) took the kids all through the boat, showed them lots of cool stuff, and put them to work putting up the anchor (see photo), etc.  Abbie stunned the other parents on multiple occasions - first, by getting lots of right answers to the questions that Ann asked, second by being absolutely fearless.  Ann took them down into the barge and asked who wanted to get on their bellies on a little board that could be wheeled into the deepest, darkest parts of the ship.  The first boy she asked said no, the second boy she asked said no, then she asked Abbie who was all too happy to go.

Next week is another exciting week at school.  The kids are taking a field trip to a retirement home on Monday to sing holiday songs for the old people.  Over the course of the week, they will also be decorating gingerbread houses, making ornaments, reading the Nutcracker, and Chad will be reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas to the class.  Then, on Friday is the holiday party (I swear it feels like we just had the Thanksgiving party!).  Then the kids are on winter recess for two weeks.