This month was full of school happenings both with Emma at Pine Creek HS and Madeline at Mountain View ES. At the beginning of the month Emma was inducted into the National English Honors Society. Her English teacher for the second year in a row, Mrs. Gefreh, encouraged her to apply. It was so fun watching her become part of a fun group of kids. 

After a year of no indoor concerts, it was really fun to be able to watch Emma play with the orchestra for their mid-fall concert. Since both Andrew and Peter were visiting during their fall break they came and watched her perform and had so much fun seeing Mrs. Margrave after the concert.

At the end of the month Madeline's class had a Halloween party and I went in to take photos and help with the cookie decorating. It was cute seeing all of the kids dressed up in their costumes. Madeline was dressed up as Little Red Riding Hood this year. Madeline's favorite part of the day was eating her decorated sugar cookie and recording the song, "Five Little Pumpkins" on her iPad.

With pretty much all the concerts being canceled this school year due to all the COVID restrictions, I was so excited that the kids high school decided to hold all spring concerts outside. Emma and Peter had their Jazz Concert out on the balcony on the side of the school and it was amazing. Emma played with the beginning Jazz Band and Peter played both trumpet and piano with the Advanced Jazz Band. Both kids did an amazing job. It was fun to be able to sit on the grass outside and enjoy the fruits of their labors from practicing all year both at home on Microsoft Teams and in school when they went back to hybrid learning. 

Today was Andrew's very last Jazz Band concert at the high school. I can't even begin to explain what a difference Jazz and Mrs. Margrave (or Flynn as the students called her) made in Andrew's life. Andrew really resonated with the Jazz style of music and he truly developed a passion for music through this program. He walked into the jazz program as a freshman, not knowing very much about jazz music or how to even play it. He picked things up very quickly and by his junior year, he joined the Advanced Jazz Band. I am so grateful that Andrew found something that resonated with him. This last concert was so much fun to watch. Andrew finally decided to solo in one of the songs. He always shied away from solos, so I was thrilled to see him solo once before he graduated. I will miss watching Andrew play the trombone. 

One of Andrew's college essays was dedicated to Jazz music and the things he learned how to play Jazz music:
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While I have many different interests, I find music, especially Jazz music, to be the most engaging experience that I get to enjoy on a daily basis. I have always been a huge fan of music, but Jazz music peaked my interest more than any other type of music. In Jazz, there are no limits to your creativity; you can express your emotions through the ways that you play. Each song that I hear is a new story, a new experience. I often find myself losing track of time whenever I listen to or play Jazz.
            
During my freshman year in high school, I had the opportunity to join the high school Jazz band as a trombonist. I had always wanted to know more about Jazz, but I had only dreamed about playing it. Learning how to play was not easy. It took many hours of hard work to begin to develop my skills, which inspired me to learn even more. A defining opportunity came when our class went to see the Dizzy Gillespie big band. I used every moment to study how these great musicians played, from their sound to their posture. Later that night, we were able to work with these musicians and learn from their experience with Jazz music. Although we were only able to work with them for thirty minutes, I learned some new techniques. One of their trombonists told me that the best way to learn Jazz was to watch good musicians play live.
            
Since then, I have been able to work with all sorts of Jazz bands and musicians from all over the state. Having an opportunity to learn more about Jazz feels like Christmas to me. Even now, I am in a music honors society where I take every opportunity I can to teach others about Jazz. I also play in our High School’s advanced Jazz band, which was created just this year. I listen to Jazz music every day and it never gets old. I’ve learned so much about music in general because of my love for Jazz music, and I will never forget the things I have learned about hard work and the feelings that come from playing Jazz.  

​Abby participated in the ES musical again and was thrilled when she got a speaking part.  She was cast as Ms. Smythe, the bank chairman’s secretary. Even though she only had one real speaking part she was beyond excited to be a part of the Mary Poppins Jr. musical where she got to sing and act with many of her friends who were also in the play.  It was such a joy to watch her devotion to not only the mandatory rehearsals but also her commitment to practice at home.  All of the kids did such a great job in all of their performances.  I was fortunate enough to watch the daytime performance with Emma and Madeline where I got to take photos again for the parents.  Then Mike and I enjoyed the evening show together.  We are so proud of Abby for putting herself out there to participate in these amazing musicals that her ES puts on every year.

​Abby participated in the ES musical this year and was one of the cards in Alice in Wonderland Jr.  She was so thrilled to finally be doing something she loved.  It was not uncommon for her to be singing all the songs from Alice in Wonderland around the house.  She loved the practices and being able to sing and act with some of her friends.  We even signed her up for voice lessons with Deanna Kirkham.  The day of the musical came and I had the opportunity to see it twice that day.  I was completely amazed and blown away by how talented all of those kids were.  I loved seeing Abby on that stage.  She looked so calm and so natural up there.  It was fun to be able to take pictures for the musical cast and crew this year.