And just like that…Kindergarten is done!

I feel like it was just yesterday that I was a nervous wreck sending Owen off to school…

I was nervous about who would look after him, who would help with his lunch, who would tie his shoes, who would make sure that he drank enough water and used the restroom.  He was also nervous…but didn’t say much about it.  Being the brave boy that he has learned to be. 

As the year went on I quickly realized just HOW brave Owen was.  He was so easily adaptable to his environment.  He was learning so much every day.  Not just academically but also socially and emotionally.  I learned that kindergarten is tough.  The kids are being pushed to limits they have never been pushed to before.  He was figuring out what friendship really was and what always being kind meant too…even to the kids that were little bastards.

He was awarded the very first gold star on the 2nd day of school for “just being a good helper” – says Owen.  But he went on to get 7 gold stars throughout the year.  And was given an award for excelling at every awards assembly!  He was growing in more ways than one!  I was extremely proud of him.  He was proving to be the “best boy ever” (we have told him that before bed every night since he was a baby…and its was coming true!…in our eyes anyway!)

  

I loved seeing him learn his site words, his letters and numbers, reading levels increase, etc., etc.  BUT the very first award he received was one that I will never forget!

Owen was given the Highland Kindergarten Virtue Award…and the kinder their word was Friendship.  They taught the kids what being a friend was and tried to make sure they were always focusing on friendship.  Each grade level works on a different “virtue”.  My Owen was honored for always being a good friend.  Yeah I cried listening to the teacher give him that award.  He was the AM kinder kid and a little girl named Ella was given it for the PM class.  How fitting.

That award came with a free ice cream from Farrell’s…I was excited, I mean Owen was excited  ;)

But the year was a great one.  I’m so happy he had Mrs. Lumba…she was an amazing teacher.

They had parties for most major holidays, a field trip to the Irvine Regional park and all kinds of activities at school too.
Open House, Back to School Night, Highland Country Fair, 100 mile club, Muffins and Mothers, Highland’s Mini Relay for Life,
100th day of school, etc etc.

I hear people say that kindergarten isn’t about fun anymore and the little kids are pushed too hard on tests and academics now that common core is out.  I have to say that I think Owen’s kinder teacher did an AMAZING job doing what she needed to do but also allowing the kids to have fun and play.  It was a perfect balance!! I appreciate her and all the hard work she put into my child! I will forever be grateful!

 

 

I have to say it was a great year!! Its hard being a working mom though.  Some of the pictures up above were sent to me from other parents and my own mother.  Its hard having my own students to teach and not be able to be in Owen’s classroom weekly to help out.  He would ask me to be a helper like so-and-so’s mom…and it hurt me to tell him I couldn’t.  I made it to as much as I could. Never missed something important!  I hope he doesn’t hold it against me his whole life. lol Therapy here we come! lol

But Owen is pumped for 1st grade…but of course I’m a little nervous…again! I’m not sure why but I am.  I know he’ll adjust to the full day schedule, eating at school rather than at his daycare, making new friends while keeping some old ones. Learning to tie is his shoes AND use the restroom (which he didn’t use most of the year btw!  He was terrified to use the restroom at school and be “too loud” and get in trouble by the boss…his words….sad huh!  I had to really work on his to use the restroom when he had to pee or he’d get sick from holding it all day!)  Oh the struggle is real haha.

His last day was great.  Mrs. Lumba made memory books for every child/parent…they were so AWESOME!  They had projects and pictures in there. Some things I never even knew he had worked on!  It was great to see…and keep forever.

 

School’s out for the SUMMMMMMMERRRR baby!

And see how much my little man grew this year. holy cow.