August 25, 2010

The 2010-11 school year started for me on Auguat 18 with several work days every one of which I used along with numerous days before then! Our rooms had been totally vacated at the end of last year so that the old, old carpet could be removed and replaced with new floor tiles. You'll see the new tile in some of the pictures, and as you can see, it sure does brighten up the room. It's noisier in here but not as bad as I thought it might could be with pads on the legs of our NEW desks and chairs!

This year's group holds the promise of being exceptional students both academically and behaviorally! Very few of them had to re-take any of the 4th grade EOG's so Uncle York and I are anticipating a wonderful year with them!
After much internet research over the summer, Uncle York and I have decided to follow the lead of numerous other public school systems across the nation and have opted for single-gender classes aimed primarily at math and science in our attempt to raise scores in those areas. We're hoping for scores in other subjects to improve significantly as well as a result of this re-grouping. Our new principal, the county superintendent, Dr. Hobbs, along with other supervisory personnel have wholeheartedly endorsed this project of ours, and, as a matter of fact, the main speaker at the opening convocation this year was Dr. Bill McBride from California who happened to be a proponent of single-gender classrooms!!!

We're setting up the 55 gallon aquarium again this year and will be raising trout from the egg stage to fingerling size to be released into a stream some time in May. This project is sponsored by and funded for us by TIC (Trout in Classrooms) of North Carolina. They are a "catch and release" group of men and women who foster the replenishment of trout into the wild.


We've been enjoying our recesses in spite of the high 90's! Uncle York and I have them playing touch football, or they can practice kickball in anticipation of the annual 4th/5th grade challenge and grudge game at the end of the year with the entire school enjoying watching the game.

August 10, 2010

I thoroughly enjoyed a most delightful and long weekend in Mt Pleasant, South Carolina, after celebrating Dayla's first birthday! There were several folks who came from Georgia, Alabama, Danville, and Winston-Salem to enjoy a cookout at the community cabana and take a dip in the swimming pool! What a wonderful meal "Pappy" and Jared cooked for the crowd there.
We walked to the beach the last evening there and enjoyed wading in the warm surf. It was hot while I was there but so bad as it's been in Virginia the past couple of weeks, that's for sure! I'm looking forward to the cooler Fall weather and the start of this next school year on the 18th.
I carried several things there for Sarah and Jay but forgot the frames I've made for the bathroom mirrors!!! They're still safely on the porch at home where I put them so I wouldn't for get to bring them with me; none of you have probably ever done that, have you? Did remember the shelf for Sarah's craft "studio" and the fans for the bedrooms to replace the ones which weren't working so it wasn't a wasted trip as far as having something to do!

August 3, 2010

Just returned from Idaho after spending a week with my "twin" brother David! He's promised, and he already knew, that he'll be here in North Carolina for our birthday this next school year; it's his turn to come here anyway.
We had a great time together after not having seen him for the past nine years. Did some really interesting things while there: hiked several miles up a mountain to see a spectacular lake, the Upper Glidden; rode thirty-some miles on an abandoned train bed which has been paved for a bike trail and saw a moose with a set of young twins; explored two silver mines which are still being worked and mining 1,500,000 ounces of silver annually in one, to 6,500,000 ounces from the other, the Sunshine Mine!!!
Also had a backyard picnic on Saturday with Little Lennie, Crystal, and Nate the Great who live nearby in Coeur D'Alene. We played Boocheyball and had a terrific cookout, which David prepared in his Weber Grill, along with a vegetable pasta salad and Beth's Ramen concoction; had to call her to get the recipe which everyone enjoyed.
I met David's neighbor, Cliff, who came over to visit several times. It was one one of Cliff's bikes we borrowed for our trail ride. Had to get up at 2:00 a.m. for my flight back but had no problem doing that because it was 5:00 a.m. here in Virginia.
I've got a lot of pictures to post here and on my Facebook page as soon as I can get them downloaded from my "welfare" camera, which Sarah gave me, and Theresa helps me to get them there!