Each school year seems to go faster and faster. This one went especially fast. It just does not seem possible that our Emma Mae can be done with 5th grade. We started the year with lots of talk of this being her last year in elementary school. She was getting excited and gearing up to head off to the middle school next year. However, we got some unexpected news at the end of this year. Due to budget cuts our district has had to close the middle school Emma would have gone to, and 6th grade will now still be in the elementary schools. We are bummed that the middle school is closing. Not only is it right by our house and more convenient than the one she will got to for 7th & 8th grades, but it also had some excellent programs. But, we are thrilled that she gets to be in the elementary school for one more year. Emma has been just fine with that development also. She is excited about the opportunities they will make available to the returning 6th graders, and she can stay in her comfort zone for another year.
The last month or so of school seemed to pass in a whirlwind. Emma’s grade was able to go to Starbase this year. They spent a total of five days at the Jackson Armory for the Department of Defense program that emphasizes math, science & technology. She really enjoyed it. Building a safe container to fly Eggbert in was her favorite activity. We were a little bummed that parents couldn’t chaperone their session due to security concerns.
Since the beginning of the school year Lee and I had been fighting over discussing which of us would get to go on the Willamette Jetboats field trip with Emma. It’s the 5th grade field trip that Emma has been looking forward to for a long time. Lee graciously let me go on the Sternwheeler field trip so he could go on the Jetboats. Yes, he won…this time.
From what I hear they had a great time.
Their guide did a lot of 360’s, they got wet and saw all the pretty and interesting sights. Watch out Lee, I’ve already got dibs on the next fun field trip…
The end of 5th grade also meant that Emma got to learn the recorder. She did a great job learning her songs and was always trying to get the next “ribbon” as she passed each song off. When her friends were over they were always playing those recorders. I always knew when school was out because you could hear the recorders being played from miles away. They were a little scratchy at times and quite often my ear drums took a beating, but I liked hearing them make music. The babies and I went to school for the assembly when the 5th graders got to show off their new talent. I was actually impressed with how well they did, as good as could be expected from recorders! Unfortunately, Isaac and Grace also caught the bug and have enjoyed blowing as hard as they can into the toy recorder and whistles we have. We may have to accidently lose those toys…
Field day was on the last day of school. I got to help at the frisbee toss station this year. It’s the 5th graders job to have kindergarten buddies to take around to all the field day activities. Emma kept gushing about how cute her little buddy was and how lucky she was to get a good one.
I got a picture of Emma and Mrs. Mardock. Emma really enjoyed her teacher this year.
Another 5th grade privilege that Emma had been looking forward to was the dunk tank at field day. The top 5th grade runners for track club would be chosen to be in the dunk tank. Emma ran a lot so she could be in that dunk tank. There was a conflict with the tank though, and it wasn’t able to be at field day. Emma was so bummed! Instead the top runners were honored later that day by being attacked with water balloons and they got to take home water guns.
Later in the day Isaac, Grace and I walked to the school to pick Emma up. Grace was all ready to present Emma with some beautiful “flowers” she picked along the way.
Traditionally all the students form a tunnel and wave goodbye to the 5th graders as they leave school on the last day. Well, tradition was a little different this time, but they still formed a tunnel and the 5th graders who would be returning as 6th graders were the last to go through the tunnel. They will get to do it again next year!
To celebrate the last day of school we got Slurpee’s before Emma had to get to the pool.
Then we stopped at the library to sign up for the summer reading program. Isaac and Grace were excited to get their own papers and stickers since I signed them up this year as well. Here’s to a lot of summer reading!
Emma had a great 5th grade year and we are proud of all her accomplishments. Watch out 6th grade!
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