Scarlett Scholar

Scarlett had a busy last few weeks of school!

Student of the Month
One morning Jake and Scarlett left for school, less than ten minutes later I got a phone call from Mrs. Meldrum.  I was confused as to why she was calling so early.  I answered the phone and she sounded like she was crying "I am sooo sorry!  I chose Scarlett to be Student of the Month, but they moved the assembly up a week. I just realized that I forgot to email you about it and it starts in 15 minutes."  She felt so bad.  I looked around at the girls, we were all in jammies, unfed, unchanged... there was no way I could pull us together in 15 minutes.  I called Jake.  He had just pulled on Michigan Ave.  I told him what was going on.  He turned around and called a coworker to lead his work meeting while he was gone.  He made it just in time!  Scarlett didn't seem to care that I wasn't there since Jake was there taking pictures.  I even got pictures from Mrs. Henry (the paraprofessional).  At the end of the day when I picked up Scarlett from school Mrs. Meldrum apologized again and told me that she cried like 3 times that day.  I tried to reassure her that it was all ok.  I was a little sad at first that I didn't get to be there, but it all worked out.  Plus, I have had many opportunities to watch her shine in the past few weeks.  

Scarlett was chosen to represent Integrity.  I love what Mrs. Meldrum wrote about Scarlett on the back of the certificate.  It represents her exactly.  A few weeks ago Scarlett wrote her name on the desk in pencil and erased it.  She felt so guilty about it for days.  It took her a lot of courage to just tell me why she was feeling so sad and didn't want to go to school.  We talked about how we all make mistakes and the repentance process.  We decided together that she should tell Mrs. Meldrum what happened, that she's sorry, and that she wouldn't do it again.  Jake took her to school early the next day so she could apologize.  It was really hard for her, she kept telling me that she wanted to go to a different school.  I honestly didn't think it was a big deal at all, but it was a big deal for Scarlett so we took the opportunity to help her learn in that moment.  Mrs. Meldrum was so sweet and said she forgave her and gave her a hug.  Scarlett really does care about doing the right thing and is always trying to help her sisters follow the rules too.  She is a great example in our home.  Her primary teacher called me a few weeks ago just to tell me how she appreciates having Scarlett in her class and how she's always folding her arms in the hallway or following the rules.  We love our little Scarlett girl!

Scarlett with some of her friends at school. She also got a "Crazy Sock Day" dress down sticker at school so she chose these cool socks. One day we heard a little sound, Scarlett told me "That sounds like a little bird, far away, chirping, and it echos." And you know what, it did! I love her little mind!

Toledo Zoo

Scarlett's big field trip this year was to the Toledo Zoo.  She was so excited to ride on a school bus!  haha!  I have several mommy friends who were chaperones so they texted me a ton of great pictures from the trip!  I think it's so sweet and funny when Scarlett does her "cute" pose (bottom left picture - with her hands clasped in front, head tilted and foot popped).  

My mom friend Megan told me that Scarlett sat next to her on the bus (cause her daughter didn't want to) and most of the kids fell asleep on the ride home!  Also they took a picture of Scarlett in front of a "Scarlet Bird".

When they went to the petting pond the kids were allowed to touch the sting rays.  There was a sign that said "If you have a shellfish allergy, do not touch!"  So Scarlett, knowing her allergies, followed the rules and did not touch.  The chaperones said she was a little sad so they spent the time telling her jokes and making her feel better.  So glad for such kind friends who care about the feelings of my little 6 year old.  

School "Moosical"

Jake's birthday happened to be the same night as Scarlett's school kindergarten musical.  Scarlett auditioned a few weeks prior.  I picked out the part with the most speaking lines for her (haha!) and she got it!  We have been practicing her lines every night.  A few days before the performance I heard the twirls in the toy room saying Scarlett's lines!  haha!  I guess they have been memorizing with her.

The musical was called E-I-E-I-Oops!  It was difficult to follow in person, but after reading the script basically there is a cow that just won't "moo" so they try a bunch of things and finally at the end it moos!  

Jake recorded the whole thing.  I'm sad that they didn't put the kids on a riser cause it was hard to see her the whole time.  If you want to watch the whole thing, great!  If not, her lines can be found at these times: 5:27, 5:45, 10:02, 15:02, & 20:35.  Before her lines she looks at me.  Since she had so many lines I made up a hand signal to help her remember what the current line was supposed to be.  So she looks over to me and I do the hand signal.  If you notice she often mouths "I know" to me, like basically, "Mom, stop doing the hand sign cause I know what the next line is."  haha!  Sassy!  We also practiced saying her lines with actions and emotions.  At the beginning she was so nervous and robotic, but towards the end she was a lot more comfortable.  The very last line the script says to point to the audience, so we practiced pointing at dad.  So fun!  I think the guy sitting in front of Jake was a little caught off guard cause he thought she was pointing to him!

Kaylie, Amber and Laura came to watch Scarlett perform.  We love our Michigan framily!  We are blessed with such great friends.  We told the twirls we were going to see "the show" well they used the projector screen to display a picture for each act of the musical.  The twirls kept thinking there was going to be an actual "show" to watch on the screen.  I think it took like 10 minutes before they finally realized that the singing and talking kids were the show.

Scarlett and her friends.  I didn't have a plaid shirt for her to wear so I asked my friends if they had one she could borrow.  My friend Jenni (who's older than me) had one of her shirts that Scarlett wore.  Jenni is so tiny!

Field Day

Scarlett enjoyed her field day at school.  I love that instead of face painting she asked for a rainbow on her knee.  I love this girl and her out-of-the-box thinking!  What a great problem solver!

She wrote these cute notes for her teachers at school and primary.

Citizenship Assembly
Scarlett got a citizenship award for the trimester and one for the whole year.  I was so impressed that I got everyone to school before 8am!

My friend sent her little girl, Ruby, over to play with the twirls during the assembly.  I love that their outfits kinda match!  I had to use all the tricks, snacks and games I had in the diaper bag to keep all 4 girls quiet the whole hour, but they did a great job!

Two extra things to share with you.  On the back of one of Scarlett's assignments I found this love letter to Kody.  If you look close you can see that she drew them kissing.  Oh my.  Not ready for this!!!  In case you are wondering who Kody is, he's in the citizenship assembly pictures with Scarlett.  He's wearing a red shirt with a black lightning bolt on it.

Also, Scarlett's teacher sent this letter before they began their end-of-year testing.  I got teary when I read it, so sweet!

Mrs. Roy Memorial Tree
I got an email from the school saying that they were going to have a memorial service for Mrs. Katie Roy.  I had to move around a bunch of appointments and get a babysitter with only a day's notice - but I got it all figured out.

I got to the school a few min early and went to the office cause I wasn't sure where it would be.  In the office was Mrs. Roy's husband, her parents and other family.  I just kind of stayed off to the side, not wanting to intrude on this tender time for them all.  Her mom, Mrs. Horvath, and I made eye contact.  She recognized me and came over to give me a hug.  We spoke for a few minutes.  She told me that someone told her I made the school memory book and she just loved it.  Especially the last picture of Katie hiding from a student in the classroom after school.  I told her I had all the digital photos, I got her email and sent them to her so they could have them.

She told me that after the ballet finale she and her family went to Florida for a much needed break from Michigan.  While they were there they really felt like Katie was with them and watching over them.  There were a few moments she shared, but my favorite was the story about Christmas socks.  At Katie's funeral her father-in-law spoke about how Katie LOVED Christmas and also LOVED Christmas socks.  He pulled up his pant leg to show up that he was wearing Christmas socks for Katie.  Well, Mrs. Horvath and her family went to dinner one night on their vacation, it was May in Florida.  They were waiting for a table then the hostess came out from behind her podium to take them to their seats.  The hostess was wearing shorts with knee-high Christmas socks!!!  In May!  In the hot Florida humidity!  What a tender mercy for their family!  She felt like Katie was trying to tell them that she was with them.  

After chatting with her mom they led us all outside to the corner of the building.  They had set up a few chairs and had the k-2nd grade classes file in and sit on the ground.  They asked the students to wear pink that day in honor of Mrs. Roy.  Scarlett and I wore our special pink shirts from ballet that were in honor of Miss Katie.  I was impressed at all the pink!  

The principal told everyone that they wanted to do something special in her honor that would help the students and staff remember her for years to come.  They decided to plant a tree.  I can't remember what kind but it had the word "princess" in the name of the tree.  It makes pink flowers in the spring and has red/pink leaves in the fall.  They ordered a special memory stone at the base of the tree.  Mrs. Henry and her husband refinished a bench special to sit next to the tree.  

After sharing a few thoughts, the principal turned the time over to the students.  For the next half hour or so the students got the opportunity to line up and share a quick memory or thought they had of Mrs. Roy if they wanted.  Scarlett got up and said "Mrs. Roy was the best teacher and she always taught me new things."  The whole thing was very sweet and wonderful to hear how many lives she touched.  Several other staff members shared memories as well.  One of her very close friends (who was the one who got her the job at this school) shared some beautiful memories.  One of my favorite things that she shared was how she realized that the grief we feel after someone passes is just all the love we have for them that we didn't get a chance to share.  

Mrs. Henry gave everyone in Mrs. Roy's class a pink carnation to take home to remember her this summer.  Scarlett was sad cause we were leaving on vacation a few days later and she didn't want her flower to die, so we are drying it in her closet so she can enjoy it when we get home.

This is Mr. Roy with his late wife's class.  And the other picture is Mrs. Roy's parents looking at her memorial tree. 

I left the memorial and ran to Target.  I had a babysitter, so I needed to get a few errands done before I went home.  I was shopping and trying to figure out what all I needed.  Some lady was rude to me in the $1 bin section, just what I needed, sheesh.  I made my way back to the diapers and I found a quiet little shelf and I just sat down.  I just had so many emotions from the past hour and I needed to just be still and process what I was feeling.  I just sat and pondered all the beautiful memories that were shared and the light that she left in this world.  Finally someone came in the aisle and I stood up to keep shopping.  I started walking down the main aisle and I thought to myself "I really just need a hug right now."  Literally seconds later I looked over and saw my friend Noel and her son shopping!  I waved hi and went over to her.  She asked me how I was and I just started to cry.  She gave me the best, tight hug and then we chatted for a bit.  I felt so much better after seeing her.  It was exactly what I needed!  After I finally left to continue my errands I said a silent prayer to our loving Heavenly Father and all His tender mercies in our lives.  Even those small things that get us through our day or help us know that we are not alone in our journey.  

I had asked one of my Laurels, Elizabeth, to babysit that day.  She brought her 10 yr old niece, who was visiting her from out of town, to help her babysit the 3 younger girls.  I asked the twirls if they had fun with them.  Siena said she wanted to play with "Elizabeth and Snow White" again soon.  Haha!  I think the girl's name was actually Noel (coincidence) but Siena I guess renamed her to Snow White!  haha!