The older you get the more you dread the first day of school. Madeline, on the other hand, was so excited to head back to school so that she could be with her friends all day. Mike and I along with my parents all headed to the elementary school to wish Madeline off on her first day of school. I love how the elementary school has all the kids line up on the playground in their classes for the first day. It is a time for the parents to see which kids are in their class and to be part of a fun send off. It was a real treat to have Grandma Anne and Grandpa Franz there this year. The older girls choose to sleep in. Surprise Surprise! So, naturally we took a group photo the next day when the older girls had to go to school. 

ABBY
10th grade, Sophomore, Theatre Club, HS Musical, Honors World Literature, Chemistry, German 2, AP US Government, Geometry, Lifelong Sports, Study Hall, Seminary
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Excited about being part of the theatre club
Most concerned about tests
Favorite class is Theatre 3 and AP Gov

Madeline started kindergarten this year. She was so excited at Back-to-School night on Friday where we got to see her classroom and meet her teacher, Mrs. Boeding. She found her seat and beamed at her pink pencil box. She loved the dollhouse and told me how excited she was to play with that. On Monday Madeline had her first day of school while the older girls started the next day. However, Emma and Abby agreed to get dressed up in their first day of school outfits to take some photos with Madeline before we drove her to school. Mike, Peter, Abby, Myisha and I all drove Madeline to school and walked her to meet her new class. She was a little nervous but also excited. There were no tears when we said goodbye and only smiles as she followed her teacher to her new classroom. Emma and Andrew would have been there, but Emma had to be at the high school to help with the new freshman and Andrew had to be at work. 
 
Abby and Emma had good first days as well, although they told me later that their first day of school wasn’t as exciting as Madeline’s first day. The middle school and high school teachers don’t waste any time and they came home with homework and many syllabuses to sign.   

​The first day of school was online this year. None of us anticipated that this school year would look this way, but COVID-19 has really shaken things up. The kids will start a hybrid learning format the middle of September! They will attend in-person on certain days and online learning the other days. So far online hasn't been all that bad. I get to be a fly on the wall to see and hear what my kids are doing and learning. I loved listening to Emma and Peter play their instruments during Jazz. Even on another level of the house I can still hear it and I love it. One added bonus is the ability to login to class from any remote destination. Emma took advantage of the Teams app on her phone and logged into class right after her doctor apt while she was still in the car. How cool is that? During their 5-minute breaks I get cool insights into their day. That is something that I don't get very often when they are in the classroom at their school. As for Madeline, she just goes with the flow. She is loving having lots of school time with me and quietly helping me clean up the house while the kids are studying. Eventually they will need to get back into the classroom, but for now, we are looking at the positive side of online schooling during this COVID year.
 
ABBY: 
7th grade, Team 714, PPA Swim Club, Art, Language Arts, Drama, Spanish, PE, Pre-Algebra B, Music, Science, Social Studies, 7th grade Tech
Excited about wearing pajamas to school while it’s online    
Most concerned about getting good grades
Favorite class is Drama
 
 
EMMA: 
9th grade, Freshman, Cross-Country team, Swim Club, Run Club, Violin, Piano, Jazz Ensemble, Honors Lit, Honors Biology, Honors World History, German 1, Geometry, Seminary, Study Hall
Excited about German, Science, and Cross-Country    
Most concerned getting good grades
Favorite class is Honors Biology 
 
 
PETER: 
12th grade, Senior, Cross-Country Team, Swim Team, Swim Club, Pit Crew for Theatre, Cyber Patriot, German NHS, Seminary, AP Euro, AP German, AP Calculus, Senior Lit, Civics, Advanced Jazz Ensemble, Rocky Mountain High PE, Business Law
Excited about Cross-Country and Swim Seasons       
Most concerned COVID ruining everything
Favorite class is Rocky Mountain High

ABBY
Abby was excited to finally join the ranks of the older kids by joining Emma at Challenger Middle School.  She was the most excited to be starting this adventure with her A-team friends: Addy, Avery, August, Anna, and Olivia and to be on a team with some pretty great teachers.  On the first day of school she was not interested in Mike and I walking her to the bus stop.  She quickly sped down the sidewalk and waved without looking back.  Abby started school the day before the other kids.  

6th grade, Team 614, Cross-Country Team, Rapids Swim Team, Voice Lessons, Piano, Make-up wearer, Social Butterfly, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Pre-Algebra A, PE, Gateway I, Drama, World Language, and Music.  

​Excited about going on High Trails.        
Most concerned about doing math and having Ms. Murray.         
Favorite class is PE.

​EMMA
Emma was excited to finally be at the top of her school as an 8th grader, get straight A’s, and to gear up for cross-country season.  

8th grade, Team 814, Cross-Country Team, Kokopelli JOXC, Rapids Swim Team, Violin, Piano, Saxophone, HS Orchestra, Silver Tones Choir Group, Advanced Art, Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Algebra 1, and PE.  
 
Excited about her science class and participating in the HS Orchestra.  
Most concerned about getting straight A’s.        
Favorite class is social studies and language arts because the teachers are great.

PETER
Peter was excited to see his friends and be on the cross-country team again but he wasn’t that thrilled for his hardest year at Pine Creek HS.  As a Junior, Peter will be taking tough classes and preparing himself for the ACT and SAT.  

11th grade, Cross-Country Team, State Running Team, Rapids Swim Team, Varsity Swim Team, Advanced Jazz Ensemble, Seminary, H Pre-Calculs, US History, AP Physics, American Lit & Comp, Weights & Fitness, H German 4, and Programming 2.
 
Excited about Cross-Country and Swim Seasons       
Most concerned about doing well on the ACT and SAT and his AP Physics class         
Favorite class is H German 4

After a very busy summer of fun vacationing in California and Utah, attending camps, going on hikes, and participating in swim team, the kids were reluctant to go back to school.  However, I know that Andrew was excited to start his Senior Year, Emma and Peter were excited to NOT be in the youngest grade in their respective schools, and Abby was thrilled to be at the top of her school as a 5th grader.  Abby was the only one to start school on August 15th this year.  The rest of the kids started a day later on August 16th.  Everyone had a great first day of school and were pretty excited to see their friends, have new classes and teachers, and have a fresh start.  

ABBY:
5th Grade . Mrs. Lynch . Landsharks Cross Country Team . Rapids Swim Team . Piano . Voice Lessons . Stake Children's Choir, Selected to be in Mary Poppins, the school musical, as Mrs. Smythe . Excited about going on the Ameritowne field trip . Most concerned about understanding Math . Favorite class is Writing and Science