Preschool Graduation

On Thursday, May 23, my youngest child graduated from preschool. This is hard to believe. It seems just yesterday that she was a newborn...

And now she has graduated from preschool and she is about to turn 5.


In just a few short months, she will begin kindergarten.

Their preschool program was held at Magna Library. It was fun to go there, because I haven't been since it was rebuilt. It is a super fun library. We spent some time exploring it and checking out books after the program.

Gabby was so excited to go to the program. And then we walked in, she saw all the people and she climbed up on my lap and hid her face. She refused to go up front even though she knew all of the songs by heart. She is a shy kiddo and she often has trouble saying a scripture or prayer in Primary. So I shouldn't have been surprised. But I was disappointed. I told her if she would go up with Sofie, then we'd get an ice cream cone after. Chuck offered to give her a dollar...to keep and to hold as she sang. He told her that he keeps a coin in his pocket to rub when he feels nervous talking to strangers. Her teacher asked if she'd come sit on her lap or if she'd go up if I sat with her. None of it worked. So she sat on my lap and then next to me. She sang most of the songs, but from the safety of my lap. Her friend Cooper was also too scared to perform. Ah well. She probably won't be the next Julia Roberts or Britney Spears, and that is PERFECTLY okay. She loves to sing and to dance, but she doesn't like to sing or dance in front of people. If Alfredo or I try to video tape her singing or dancing, she stops immediately. She sings a lot. She dances a lot. But not for an audience.

Mrs. Barnett wrote, "Gabby is such a kind-hearted kid! She's very conscious of the feelings of others and always does her personal best! It's been so fun having her in my class." I love having some samples of her work, a preschool progress report, and photos of her and her class. But my favorite thing is the video that Mrs. Barnett makes each year of her students. I love hearing what they want to be when they grow up, what they like best about preschool and what Mrs. Barnett always says. Gabby said she wanted to be a vet and take care of dogs and cats. She told me that afternoon that she changed her mind, because vets see blood and she doesn't like blood. So now she wants to be a teacher and teach preschool. So. Very. Cute. How I love this darling girl! And how grateful I am for Mrs. Barnett, who has taught each of my girls in preschool. They love her. I love her. I'm sad that these preschool days are over. (But I can't wait to pull out Michelle and Ella's videos from preschool and watch them!)

Fourth Grade Program

Last Thursday, Michelle had a program at school. The students sang songs about their social studies and science curriculum. The teachers had slides to show some of the history of Utah that they had learned. They sang songs about the Native Americans, the Mormon pioneers, the Golden Spike and transcontinental railroad, the counties of Utah, and a great song called Utah: This is the Place! They also sang a couple of songs about rocks and minerals.

I loved watching the boy in the blue shirt. He was really dancing when they sang the song about the railroad. He's got some moves. (And he's probably a handful! But I loved watching him so into what they were singing and dancing about.)

In between each song, a student or students would come up and introduce the songs and tell a little about what they learned.

The final song that the fourth graders sang was their school song. I wish I knew the words, because it was so touching. Two of their third grade teachers are retiring this year, and they taught the students the song last year and worked to revive it and teach it. They had tears streaming down their faces as the students sang. Truthfully, so did I. It was beautiful!

I am grateful for all that Michelle has learned this year. In a recent email, her teacher wrote, "I am so grateful for the opportunity I have had to teach your daughter. She treats others so well, and she is dedicated to her work." I think, perhaps, I was most pleased to hear that she treats others well. But, of course, I am also happy to know that she works hard and does her best. I am not surprised, but very pleased.

A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle is one of my favorite books of all time...for a number of reasons and through a number of rereads. It holds fond memories of my mom reading it to me as a little girl and me not quite understanding everything but liking what I did understand. I reread it when I got a little older and really liked it. Then I remember reading it in college after taking a class on classical literature and knowing most of the quotes that Mrs. Who uses to express her thoughts...I can relate to a love of quotes and feeling like language isn't always adequate to express your thoughts and feelings...or at least my ability to use language, especially spoken language. (I feel more adept at expressing strong feelings and opinions in writing than when speaking, but still even then, language doesn't always feel sufficient.) I've read it to fifth graders as a teacher. And now, I had the chance to share it with my own two oldest children.

So a big part of why I love it is that it is tied to so many happy memories.

Essentially the book is about 3 children: Meg and her brother Charles Wallace and their friend Calvin. They travel through time and space to try to rescue Meg and Charles Wallace's father. They have help from three creatures, Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which. They travel to several planets and they are shown the blackness, the evil shadow that has defeated many planets and has shadowed our own Earth. Mrs. Whatsit explains that this shadow is why our Earth is such a troubled planet but that there are many people fighting the blackness, such as Jesus, Leonardo da Vinci, Bach and Beethoven and others. They travel to a planet called Camazotz where everyone acts the same and where they encounter IT, which controls everyone on Camazotz. Ultimately, Meg must try to defeat IT and rescue her father as well as Charles Wallace.

I am interested in the references to light/dark, love/hate, and good/evil.
Here's one great quote:
“Suddenly there was a great burst of light through the Darkness. The light spread out and where it touched the Darkness the Darkness disappeared. The light spread until the patch of Dark Thing had vanished, and there was only a gentle shining, and through the shining came the stars, clear and pure.”
Light and darkness can't coexist...and light beats out darkness. Light is stronger than dark, figuratively and literally.

Meg has to withstand IT. It is trying to take over her mind so that she will become just like everyone else on the planet Camazotz. I love this quote:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident!" she shouted, "that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
As she cried out the words she felt a mind moving in on her own, felt IT seizing, squeezing her brain. Then she realized that Charles Wallace was speaking, or being spoken through by IT.
"But that's exactly what we have on Camazotz. Complete equality. Everybody exactly alike."
For a moment her brain reeled with confusion. Then came a moment of blazing truth. "No!" she cried triumphantly. "Like and equal are not the same thing at all!"
"Good girl, Meg!" her father shouted at her.
But Charles Wallace continued as though there had been no interruption. "In Camazotz all are equal. In Camazotz everybody is the same as everybody else," but he gave her no argument, provided no answer, and she held on to her moment of revelation.

Like and equal are two entirely different things."

In addition, I love the scenes when Meg leaves Camazotz and then meets Aunt Beast and she speaks of how strange a land is where we depend so much on our sight. While I am grateful for the ability to see, I am really struck by her comments that on their planet, they don't see things; they know them. Sight can be limiting. We so often judge things/others based on their appearance and appearance really tells us so little of what a thing (particularly a human) IS. If we could truly see/understand/recognize people for who they are rather than what they look like, the world would be a much happier place. Like in 1 Samuel 16:7, "But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."

I love a song by Mercy River called "Beautiful for Me". The chorus says this:

"Has anybody told you, you're beautiful? YOu might agree if you could see what I see. Cause everything about you is incredible. You should have seen me smile, the day that I made you... Beautiful for me."
If you'd like to see a video of the whole song, go here.

When we come to see ourselves and others for who we/they ARE and not for what we/they look like, it is a wonderful thing.

(SPOILER alert): I love that when Meg has to return to Camazotz, Meg is told to defeat It. To use the one thing she has that he hasn't... This really resonated with me in this rereading. As she is facing IT, she becomes angry and nearly succumbs to ITs power. She realizes that anger isn't what she has that IT doesn't. She realizes that what she has that IT doesn't have, has never had, could never have, is love. And through her love, she reclaims Charles Wallace and saves her family.

Love is the most powerful force for good in this universe or any other. I had tears streaming down my face as my children and I listened to this part a week ago. I am not sure why this is such a hard lesson for me to learn. I have known for years that love is powerful, love is necessary, love is the most important thing we can develop in this life. And yet, I constantly have to be retaught this lesson. It is what I am learning the most as a wife and mother. It is what I keep learning and relearning as a teacher. It is what I am being taught daily and weekly as a Relief Society President. If I want to do any of these things well, and I do, then I must love...love my family, my students, the sisters in my ward, my neighbors, and even my enemies. I must develop the pure love of Christ. One of my favorite passages of scriptures is Moroni 7:48, "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen." If we pray for it, we will be filled with love for our fellow men...and when He shall appear we shall be like Him. What more could we wish for or desire? I am grateful that even though I am a slow learner, the Lord continues to give me opportunities to learn to love and to become more like my Savior.


Is this the best written children's book in the history of time? Probably not. But I think it has an interesting story line, wonderful quotes, some good messages, and is connected to so many pleasant and positive memories that it stands as one of my favorite books.

Things Have a Way of Working Out

Sometimes I get really stressed out about what might happen or what is going to happen. For example, when I was asked to move to 4th grade next year, it really stressed me out. I said I would do it, but I really, really didn't want to. I am so busy right now...busy doing good things, but busy. I feel like, for the most part, I have a handle on my responsibilities. But changing grade levels is a lot of work, and that was going to complicate things. So imagine my relief when a couple of weeks ago, situations changed and I was told that I don't have to move to 4th grade next year after all. There is a very real possibility/probability that I will still have to move to 4th grade in the future...perhaps in a year. But even having that put off for another year will help. It worked out.

The end of the year is a busy time. I have a "to do" list that feels a mile long. Sometimes I start to feel a little panicky...there aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish all that I need to in the next two weeks. And yet, somehow, with hard work and the help of the Lord and others, I will get everything done that I need to. And in just over a week, I will be done with school. Things will work out.

Right now, my school is trying to decide whether to adopt the state model of dual immersion. That decision has to be made by Wednesday of this coming week. We have only known that possibility was on the table for at the most 2 weeks. It's a big decision with serious implications for our students and for us as teachers. I spent 2 very sleepless nights last week processing what this decision will mean for my school, my students, and for myself and my colleagues. I've written pages of my questions, concerns and pros/cons. I've contacted a couple of friends that teach in dual immersion programs to get their perspective. And yesterday, I suddenly realized that while it is good to do my research and enter into this decision with as many facts as possible, it is time to stop worrying about it so much. It will work out. Things have a way of working out, especially when we trust the Lord and put our faith in him. My school will make the right decision, whatever that is?!. Or if they don't, then I will have the opportunity to transfer to another school. It will be okay. One of my favorite verses of scripture is, "But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things." (2 Nephi 2:24)

That doesn't mean that challenges won't come (they will) or that I won't get stressed out again soon (I will). That doesn't mean that I won't worry about the future (I do) or forget that things have a way of working out (I will). But the Lord knows what the future has in store for me, and his wisdom is so much greater than mine. So things will work out. In Elder Holland's book, For Times of Trouble, he wrote about Psalm 25:7 and that we can repent and be forgiven. "This is the gospel of the second chance and the church of the happy ending." No matter what happens in this life, the future is bright and if we live well, there will be a happy ending. And most of the time, there are even happy endings for my silly daily struggles and stressors. Things work out.

(*I do want to point out that I recognize that many people face much more daunting challenges than those I've described here...and that some of my more serious trials haven't worked out quickly and some haven't "worked out" yet... so I am not trying to negate the hard times that all of us face. Just remind myself that most of the things that frustrate me or worry me on a day to day basis aren't as important as they may seem at the time. And, in an eternal perspective, I believe that even the big challenges will have a way of working out for our good. But it can certainly be hard to see that now.)

6 Ten Year Olds ... and Me

Usually we throw a combined birthday party for Michelle and Ella. It's a pretty big bash, and their birthdays are two weeks apart, and that has always worked for us. But this year, Ella had the big baptism and birthday bash, and Michelle celebrated separately. Last Friday, (May 24) we had no school. So Michelle invited 3 friends from school and 2 friends from the neighborhood to her party. We ate lunch and had cake and ice cream at our house. Then she opened presents.


Then Ella and Gabby went to play at Aly's house and I loaded 6 ten year olds into my van and we headed to Planet Play. The kids did laser tag twice. They rode the cars.

Then we did miniature golfing and bowling.

The kids all got along well. They laughed and giggled, screamed and teased and I think they all had a good time. And I survived the day with 6 ten year olds. :) No, really, it was a lot of fun. I'm glad we did it.

Living Traditions

Each year in May an event called Living Traditions is held at Washington Square, the City County Building downtown. We often take our students on a field trip there, and I have always wanted to take my own children there, but it never seems to work out. This year it finally did!!

Living Traditions celebrates the variety of cultural traditions of people here in Utah. There are two stages where singers, dancers and others perform. We began by listening to a South American inspired band.

Then we learned how to play bocce ball, a game from Italy that is similar to bowling and pool but not the same as either one. Each team has four balls and you are trying to get your balls the closest to the white ball. You can also try to knock your opponents' ball away from the white ball.

We walked around to see some of the displays. These included but weren't limited to European batik eggs, Somali baskets and clay figurines, Mexican engravings in metal, Navajo weaving and silversmithing, Tongan woodcarving, and many others. There are so many people with remarkable talents.

The girls were able to make paper flowers. We ate food...Michelle had curry, I had Navajo tacos and everyone else had pupusas. We watched dancers from Mongolia where yaks are very important. We watched dancers from the Pacific Islands, particularly New Zealand and Hawaii. My kids were most impressed by the New Zealand warrior dance. They keep talking about the warriors mokos (face painting) and how they stuck out their tongues to intimidate. During the warrior dance, they invited men and boys from the audience to come up and dance and show whether they would be good warriors. It was entertaining.

As we were leaving, we were able to see some African dancers as well.


It was a lot of fun and I really enjoy being exposed to the beauty of so many cultures.

U of U Field Trip

I took a personal day last week (May 16) to go on a field trip with Michelle and her class. That is not how most of my colleagues would spend their personal days, but since I wasn't the teacher in charge of a class of 25 kids, it was pretty enjoyable. I enjoyed watching Michelle interact with her peers. Their school has an amazing partnership with the University of Utah, and so each spring they get a science camp taught by University of Utah students and professors. This year Michelle's class went to the Great Salt Lake on Monday, to Westminster College on Wednesday, and to the Uof U on Tuesday and Thursday. They learned about brine shrimp. They learned about the brine shrimp's life cycle, the water cycle and how it relates to the Great Salt Lake, and they learned about brine shrimp's DNA. On Thursday, they worked in groups to prepare a science fair board and presentation about what they learned.


I'm grateful for the opportunity my children have to become bilingual and biliterate. I'm grateful that they are able to spend so much time with University students and on a college campus. I'm grateful for Michelle's amazing teacher, Mrs. Darden, who I respect and who has been such a positive role model for Michelle.

I get a little emotional each year as another school year comes to a close. I know that these women who are my children's teachers have a tremendous influence for good in their lives. I am grateful for how dedicated and hard working the teachers are...I know what a hard but rewarding job it is.

My school and my children's school are currently trying to make a difficult decision whether to adopt the state model of dual immersion. (My daughters' school is a dual immersion school but not currently using the state model. There are pros and cons to adopting the state model. It's not an easy decision. And it is a long story as to what the difference is between what they are currently doing and how this would change... I can explain the difference, but I won't go into it here.) As I've been doing lots of pondering on these possible changes and how they will affect me, my students, and others, I keep thinking what an amazing job the teachers at Jackson have done. They started dual immersion before any other school in the state and they have successfully implemented dual immersion with very little support. As I pondered this, I felt the desire to applaud the teachers there for their hard work. I sent an email listing what I think they are doing right. Here's most of what I wrote in that email:

First, let me thank you for the amazing job you are doing. I am so happy with how my daughters are being educated currently and look forward to my youngest beginning kindergarten at Jackson this fall.

I feel that Jackson deserves some true praise for being pioneers in dual immersion. You brought dual immersion to Salt Lake District and to Utah. I don't feel like you are receiving the kudos or credit that this accomplishment deserves. So thank you! You are appreciated, even when it doesn't seem like it.

I also felt like perhaps you could benefit from hearing my opinion/my perspective on some of the things you are doing right. (That can never happen enough, can it?!)

*Jackson is a family friendly school. I love that you have photos of your families displayed. I love that parents feel welcome and invited. You have struck, in my opinion, a nice balance between maintaining safety and still making parents/community members feel welcome.

*Although I don't attend since I am teaching, I really support the Second Cup of Coffee and that you are willing to listen to community input and involve the community. You don't just give lip service to community involvement... and you keep families informed through your newsletters and so forth. As one of my colleagues said yesterday, how can you tell families you value their language and culture if you don't value their opinion? So thank you for valuing the community in the ways that you do.

*Jackson makes efforts to help students become not just bilingual but also biliterate and bicultural. I appreciate that at many (perhaps all? I don't attend most) student of the month assemblies and other events, the dual immersion students introduce their songs or their performance in both languages. I know last year the pledge was recited by the third grade in English, Spanish and Navajo. So very cool! In addition, I love that students can participate in Ballet Folklorico. The dual immersion classes participate in the oral history projects. These are all amazing ways that you foster these students.

*I appreciate your art grant that allows each child to learn violin. Thank you for doing what you can to support the arts in a political climate that doesn't always make that easy!

*I am in awe of your partnership with Adelante/U of U. It is seriously amazing! I can remember when my oldest daughter was in kindergarten and she started coming home telling me that she was going to go to college. College is a given in our family...we value education highly. But we really didn't talk that much about it when my children were 5, 3 and a newborn. So to have my little 5 year old lecturing her 3 year old sister about the importance of college and how great the U is, that's amazing (even though I'm a BYU fan, myself). And even more amazing for the families where education might not be a given. I love the field trips and science camps and the Adelante volunteers and all that Adelante brings to Jackson.

*My children's teachers have all been so good at listening to my children and showing that they really care about them, not just academically but also as people. So thank you. Thank you for caring about children as people first and not just as scores on tests or numbers on paper. Thank you for coming to know their strengths, interests, weaknesses, and idiosyncrasies. Thank you for showing them that you care!

*Thank you for running a successful (imperfect, but very successful) dual immersion program with little or no district support and no state support. Thank you for being there and leading out. The state and district ought to be acknowledging the important role you have played. Thank you to those who teach dual immersion (which I love!) but thank you also to those who teach English only classes. You are all important and you all add to the effectiveness of Jackson.

*Thank you for using PBIS and for Principal's 200 Club, Student of the Week, Student of the Month and so many other positives in my children's lives.

*Thank you for a great after school program that keeps my kids safe and engages them in some great activities. My second grader loved being part of girl scouts. Last year my oldest loved being part of Girls on the Run.

I recognize Jackson isn't perfect. There are issues with dual immersion. There are issues in public education. There are issues. I know there is room for improvement at Jackson and at Parkview and at each school. But we hear an awful lot about how we need to do better. So, thank you for letting me take a few minutes of your time to point out some of the things that I think you are doing that are great. I'm sure there are many more that I have forgotten or am unaware of. Thank you!
***
I truly feel grateful that my children go to a school that provides them with a wonderful education and that helps them feel loved and cared about. It may not be the right school for everyone, but it is a perfect match for us.