Fun Run Update

 Avery's school Fun Run was this past Thursday.  For the week leading up to the big day, she was so pumped about getting pledges and raising money for the school.  The "boosterthon" team that put on the event came by their classroom every morning and gave out prizes to students that got more pledges.  The school provided t-shirts for the run - it's the 10 year anniversary for the school.

That morning on the way to school, Avery had a worried look on her face.  She told me she was nervous about running enough laps "to make a difference for the school".  This is where I must say, Bless her heart!!  Such a special girl.
Parents were invited, but Robert and I couldn't make it.  Fortunately, her bff mom was out there and she snapped some photos for us.

Cutest runner ever!

She's going strong!

Gotta keep hydrated between laps.

Here you can see the tag on their backs where the teachers marked off each lap they ran.

Avery did it!!  35 laps! We really appreciate all the family that supported her.  The whole thing was a great learning experience and a fun way to raise money.  Much better than buying expensive wrapping paper or plastic trinkets right??!

Avery's Fun Run for school

CLICK TO SUPPORT ME
Avery's school (Elon Park Elementary) is hosting a fundraiser next week.  The students will run/walk laps and hopefully get sponsors to donate money for each lap.
We've been told this is the main fundraiser for the year and it's quick and easy.  So if you feel inclined, Avery would love to have your support!
Avery's donation page

She is enjoying school and making new friends.  I can't believe she rides the bus (I think that's the scariest part for me), but her friend Lilly and her older sister ride the same bus so that's comforting :)
Her teacher shares feedback about behavior and class activities through an app called Class Dojo.  Each day we can see on our phone when points are added (or subtracted) for following directions, staying on task, walking quietly in the halls, etc.  The only thing missing is web cameras in the classroom!
But we do get photos sometimes like this:

Columbus Day art project

Sorting and then eating marshmellows

Science project with apples

Science project with pumpkins

Dance Recital

Avery had her yearly dance recital earlier this month.  This will be her last session of "Daisy Dance" since she won't be full time at Kiddie Academy after August (but let's not think that yet, I don't want to cry today).  She does really enjoy dancing so we will have start some after school activities (but I don't want to think about juggling that either - yikes!).
Avery is the oldest dancer this year.  The girls are wearing fairy wings for the ballet routine and lion headbands for the tap routine.  
First video is the welcome / warm up song.
Second video is ballet dancing to a song from Tinker Bell movie I think
Third video is tap dancing - one girl has to go potty and Avery loses her headband.

So here are the videos!!

    



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The girls were very cute and we are so proud of our tiny dancer.  

Her teacher, Ms. Penny

We are Thankful

This past Friday at school, Avery and her class got a chance to help some children who don't get a big Thanksgiving meal.  A team from Servants With a Heart came to the school and let the children help pack bags of food.  They made meals from rice and dehydrated vegetables that when boiled, will provide six servings of food to a family.

Luckily, they were doing this when I went to pick Avery up, so I got some quick pics with my phone.  Everyone in the room (including me) had to wear a hairnet.  Avery's job was to weigh the bags and add a bit more or remove a bit to get it on target.  Then she handed the bag to Lily to be sealed up.

It was nice for them to learn about and get a real chance to help other children around the world.  It's never too early to learn about giving back and realize how lucky we are this Thanksgiving.

Field Trip

You may recall, Avery is a Dogwood now and that means her class goes on field trips throughout the year.  They had the first one 2 weeks ago.  They loaded up the bus (very exciting - I think they could have just drove around the parking lot and the kids would have been thrilled) and headed to the pumpkin patch.

Everyone brought in a t-shirt and the class tie-dyed them the week before.  Easier for the teachers to do a head count I guess.

The rest of the pictures were taken by the teachers and posted in the hallway at school.  I "made copies" with my cell phone so excuse the quality.  Still very cute!  There was a corn maze, wagon ride, fire truck slide, strawberry slushy time, and of course they took home a pumpkin.  Avery rode on the bus beside Jackson, she said he was silly.

Name That Tune

Avery gets at least 15 minutes every day (at school, not at home, just to clarify) of Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.  She has been singing around the house a lot recently and it's nothing I remember from my preschool days.  It's called "Liang Zhi Lao Hu" which translates to "Two Tigers", apparently a common Mandarin nursery rhyme.  She sings it the same way every time so it's seem right to me! 

English Translation:  
Two tigers, Two tigers, 
Run so fast, Run so fast, (Avery acts out this line)
One has no eyes, One has no tail, 
So strange, So strange 

(to the tune of Frere Jacques)

It makes about as much sense as the traditional English nursery rhymes....

Our little Dogwood

Avery was very excited yesterday to become a dogwood.  She let out a happy scream when she saw her name on the cubby in the classroom.  When I picker her up, I asked what she did for her first day as a doogwood.... "played with Lily".. of course!