{First and Last Day of School 2015}

Samantha PRE-K

• Learned to spell BAT, CAT, HAT
• Learned more prayers
• Has really blossomed this year! Her confidence and outgoing personality came out
• Played soccer
• Loves to read books and always ask to bring one to class
• Is ready for KINDERGARTEN!!!

WILLIAM - 1st GRADE

• Improving Mastery in German. Able to write and speak sentences in German
• Mastered subtraction and addition, beginning knowledge of multiplication
• Won 1st place on sack race during field day
• Read numerous chapter books.
• Straight A student and Gifted kid
• Run Club member and played soccer

{Honor's Day 1st Grade}

So proud of William and all his achievements this year. Not only did he excel academically, but he also exhibited the best manner and behavior this school year. He's been really amazing! :)

{Thanksgiving Luncheon}

This year both Mom and Dad made it to William's school Thanksgiving lunch. To say that he was ecstatic would be an understatement! Perfect timing too to show us his picture at the school's Students of the Month Board. So proud of him!

{Pledge of Allegiance}

Two weeks into pre-k and she's learning a lot. She's totally blossomed and is loving her class.

{First Discovery Project}

William's having fun in his discovery class. He looks forward to Discovery day.

He worked in his first project and was so excited to do almost all of it by himself. The only part I helped him was stencilling in the helmet. The rest is all his. For their first project, they were asked to research the meaning behind their name, and make a poster board  and present it to class. They were graded based on creative and presenting skills (i.e. staying on topic and being informative and engaging).

William discovered that his name has a Germanic origin, Willahelm.
Willa - will or desire
Helm - Helmet or protection

He drew himself battling a dragon and protecting the village.
He also noted that his name became popular because of William the Conqueror. England's future King is also named William.

He nailed this project and got 100%!!! So proud of him!

Not to be outdone, lil sister made a poster board too and practiced her presentation with us. Love!!!

{Back To School 2014}

I could have not asked for a better first day of school for these two. Lots of preparations leading up to this day...We started going back  to the early bed time routine the week before, reading lots of books and covering William with the first grade rule list that his new teachers mailed to us. Samantha has been super excited going into the pre-K. It's the oldest group in her school so she thinks it's super cool to be in that room. Plus, she's been going to that room in the mornings until her classroom opens. She absolutely adores the Pre-K teacher, so this transition has been one of the best for her!

Big smiles from our well rested, well fed and excited learners.

We dropped off Samantha first and she immediately found her new hook at her new classroom. She was ready!

Then we headed to William's school. It was a busy day at the school. I love all the excitement. Lots of parents walking in their kids to class on their first day. We are extremely blessed to be a part of a school with active parental involvement.

He's very familiar with his new German teacher. She's been helping the kindergarten class a lot last year. My confident and sweet boy walked right in to his new classrom. He has the same schedule this year, half day in German and half day in English class. I am excited for all the exciting things ahead of him on first grade.

{Kindergarten Celebration}

Oh what a great year it has been for our kindergartener. Feeling very blessed to also have been part of the immersion program. Being the inaugural year for the program, there has been a couple of adjustments along the way, but I couldn't be happier and appreciative for our experienced teachers. We are also very fortunate to be surrounded by these wonderful group parents. Lots of investment and time from everybody on making sure that this program is successful. You have to apply to the program, so families actually want to be there.

Seeing the kids in our class during the celebration, singing their German songs, my heart just grew bigger.

Our proud graduate!

The German Consulate gave all the graduating class this cool medallion.

The kids had a petting zoo for their post graduation party.

Another snuggle for this guy. We are so proud of you!

{First and Last Day of School 2014}

Samantha - Preschool 2

• Learned to count up to 30
• Loves chapel time every Thursday. Learned to sing a lot of praise songs
• Loves computer time, and learned to use the mouse
• Became really good at putting Legos together
• Learned to write and spell her own name
• Made great friends and did well on her first year at her new school
• Became quiet the artist and made so much project
• Enjoyed her first Easter Egg Hunt at school

William - Kindergarten

• Learned days of the week in German
• Learned to count in German
• Became a master at Addition
• Figured out multiplication
• Read tons of chapter books on his own
• Scored 28.5 AR (Accelerated Reader) points and made it to the 25 points wall of  fame
• Was recommended to the Gifted Program. Scored high on the testing and is one of the 4 kindergarteners in school that will be joining the 1st grade gifted class next year.
• Discovered books by the Author Tomie dePaola and really connected with the stories.

{APS Fall Festival}

William's school hosted a fabulous fall festival. What a great turn out it was, with so much activities to offer.

Tumbling, jumping and twirling with a hoola hoop (or as Samantha would call it "Huly hoop").

William got some good arms for the pie throwing boots.

We had a great time seeing friends. We also enjoyed the food trucks at the festival.

Karen and me, with our APS students.

{Back To School 2013}

One more milestone checked off the list, William started his "real" kindergarten this week and Samantha started with Pre-school I. I can't believe how fast my babies are growing.

We picked up a couple of new uniforms for William and a new backpack from Land's Ends big enough to carry his homework folder. Loved that he decided to go with orange and blue and we had his named monogrammed. This is such an exciting time for him. He's one of the first student for his school's German immersion program.

We met with his teachers at the school's open house and we couldn't be more pleased with our school of choice. He'll be spending half of the day with his American teacher, Ms. Fleming, and focus on Reading and Literature. The other half of his day, will be with his German teacher, Frau Miltner. They'll be focused on Math's and Sciences. Makes sense, because a number is a number. The intent is by the time that he is in 5th grade, he'll be fluent like a native speaker. Exciting! Frau Miltner DOES NOT speak English at all in front of the kids. When we walked in, she was speaking in German to us. When no kids were around, I heard her speak English, without a single hint of accent at all. They said kids learn language better and immersing them, they'll just absorb the change like a sponge.

Here are a couple of first day of school pictures of my big boy.

A sweet first day picture with Dad and a picture in front of school.

Big hug from lil sister to big brother on his first day at school.

The whole family, checking out William's classroom.

Samantha transitioned and had her first day of Pre-school I as well today. She is very excited to learn more big girl stuff. The class focuses on honing in on pottery training. Samantha has been pottery trained for almost a year. She was feeling like a rockstar, that she's one of the kids who are a Pro on this. She was so proud to show of her ribbon stamp from potty training. She also drew a backpack of William as his first day of school art work. How sweet!

A thumbs up from William for first day of school! When I picked him up from afterschool at Wieuca, he was so excited to introduce me to his new friends Rowan and Murry.

Here's to a great year William and Samantha! Enjoy learning and be kind to all the people that you will meet.