Last 4th Grade Field Trip

Today was the last full day of fourth grade for Drew.  The afternoon was spent hanging out at Rehm Park, playing a water version of duck, duck, goose.  There was also a water balloon toss, which Drew and his partner won.

Notice the length of Drew's hair.  He's not had a real hair cut in four months (we did force a bang trim when the head flinging a la Justin Bieber became an intolerable obsession).  Tomorrow:  Off with his hair!!!

Road Trip to SciTech

Today I chaperoned Irving's 4th graders at the SciTech Museum in Aurora.  I think this was my third trip there (you kinda start losing track of these things when it's your third kid going on these excursions).  At any rate, the exhibits are fascinating and interactive.  From how lasers work to giant bubble stations to the house that Ari and Ruth (and others) built, this was a fantastic way to spend a cool, rainy day.  Here are some of my favorite pics: 

Morning 4 Square

Every morning before the school bell rings, a group of third grade boys, led by Drew and SiMi, play 4-square.  It's certainly not the 4-square I played growing up.  This game has its own set of rules that the boys all understand, but are foreign to those who don't play.  Terms like "back stop," "chicken feet," "king's eye," "old man" and "happy town" are thrown around to set up the rules of the game.  I'll be honest here:  after watching countless numbers of these matches this school year, I still don't fully understand all the rules and exceptions.  The boys who participate, however, know exactly what's going on.  Occasionally a player is called out and contests the call.  A small argument ensues.  Then the captain of the square will ask those playing and those waiting in line, "Who thinks so-and-so's out?"  The boys raise their hands (or not).  Majority rules.

This 4-square ritual has gone on all year.  Neither wind nor snow nor ice has stopped the game.  As long as the students are allowed to wait outside, the boys (and occasionally, a girl or two) have played on.  Nothing has stopped them.  As the school year winds to a close, I wonder if this ritual can stand its biggest pause yet:  summer break.  Only time will tell.

Awake-Over

I think the term "sleepover" is an oxymoron, especially when describing what went on at Irving School between last night and this morning.   A large group of Irving staff, students and parents spent the night in the school.  I helped chaperone.  During the choice activity time, I was in the library coordinating reading and board games.  Here are some scenes:

After a late night snack, the kids settled down in their respective rooms and watched movies.  I was assigned to supervise the the 2nd-4th grade boys.  Let me just say, when there are over thirty 8, 9, 10 and 11 year-old sweaty boys contained in one very warm tech room, the scent essence de locker room is a bit overwhelming.  The boys chose to watch the Christmas movie Elf, and one by one they starting dozing off.  There were some chaperones who fell asleep, and a few of us who stayed awake all night.

Highlights of the overnight hours included pizza ordered just after midnight; 2am apple juice run to Ultra Foods; Wii bowling at 3am; catching up with other third grade parents while listening to the first birds chirping as it neared 4am; watching the subtle changes in the sky as the inky black night slowly faded into dawn.

By 6am it was time to start brewing coffee and thinking about breakfast.  By 8:30 this morning I was back home and ready for bed.  I had a lot of fun chaperoning this year, and have decided that this event could be best described as an awake-over, not a sleepover.

You Can Dance if You Want To

This afternoon I volunteered at Irving's afternoon dance party. This fall, the school has been focusing on positive behavior, and the dance party was a reward for how well behaved the kids have been. What a great way to end the first trimester!

Drew dressed up a bit, wearing a polo shirt instead of his regular t-shirt, but the shorts stayed. He and his friends had blast dancing to Beat It, The Electric Slide, and many other dance favorites.

The S.W.A.T. Team

A couple of weeks ago, Mr. Gray asked if there was anyone who hadn't yet decided on a Halloween costume. Drew and three other boys raised their hands. Mr. Gray said he wanted to talk to them after class to help them come up with ideas. The group decided to dress up as a S.W.A.T. team. The boys had so much fun at the annual Irving School Halloween parade! It was raining so the parade was held inside the school, through the halls and into the auditorium instead of outside on the sidewalk. This is such a fun tradition!

An Irving Tradition

Mr. Sak has been teaching at Irving School for awhile now, and Drew was lucky enough to have him for a teacher this year.

Mr. Sak has a tradition on the last day of school: at least one student from his class gets his head shaved. Drew came home a few days ago asking if he could be the one. I said yes and signed the permission slip.

Drew and Chris H. were all smiles as they showed off Mr. Sak's handiwork!

As Drew and I left Mr. Sak's classroom, we walked down the stairs near the 1st grade pod area. We ran into Ms. Gedvillas, Drew's 1st grade teacher. She looked at Drew and said, "Look at you - Mr. Sak did your hair! My boys had Mr. Sak shave their heads when they had him as a teacher."

Drew was all smiles as we passed the art room, where we saw Ms. Linne. "You must've had Mr. Sak this year! My brother had his head shaved when he was in Mr. Sak's class too!"

Tonight at the end of school year party at Rehm Park, several older boys approached Drew and said, "Mr. Sak did my hair too when I had him as a teacher!"

By the time Drew went to bed tonight, he realized that getting his head shaved by Mr. Sak was pretty special, and he's proud to be a part of such a cool Irving School legacy. What a great way to start the summer!