The last few months have flown by! Angie has graduated from pre-school (about which I have very mixed feelings)! Anika has learned to walk, Leah has learned to throw a tantrum at every turn, and Laurel's second-grade year is wrapping up! All the time I had been looking forward to with the warm weather has ben eaten up in yard work, and my yard still looks terrible! Well at least the grass is surviving! And those flowers Shana planted in the front garden, (that is something I could never have done myself thank you)! My black thumb continues to give me grief.
Over the school year I was able to volunteer about 8 hours a month at either Laurels' or Angelinne's schools. I have never done that much before, but that time was priceless! I really feel like I got to know the kids in their classes, and that was fun! Part of the volunteer time at Angie's school was spent at Policy Council where I met lots of neat people! The board of trustees and the entire Head Start program couldn't function without the Policy Council where the policies and other goings on are approved by the parents. We voted on things like the new hires, the menu of food going to the kids, the repairs needed by the various bulidings, etc. We had trainings and reports presented to us by some really neat people. It was great to see how important the kids' well-being is to the program manager and her staff. Sometimes I would think that they even go a little overboard on safety and procedures, but all is for the kids best interest. They are each so precious and the teachers work so hard, and are so patient with the kids. I will really miss them! I really think Angie's teachers gave her special priviliges. They let her take things home that I'm sure they didn't give the other kids. One time one teacher said she wanted a cupcake to take home and when we got outside she gave it to Angie (they had a previous secret arrangement, so as not to make the other kids think it was unfair)! They had the coolest craft supplies, puzzles, puppets, building blocks and science toys! I wished I could stay and play too! But most of the time I had to get going to Laurel's class to read to the Spanish Dual Immersion class. I learned as much as they did, I'm sure! And Laurel loved having me there! I made some new friends, and had play-dates with some old ones! And I hope I don't loose my momentum this summer because as much as I like being lazy, I can't shake the feeling that all this dicipline and structure is good for us. I've seen some big changes this year and I'd like to see more!