School Pics 2020

The schools managed to coordinate the usual individual photos in person this year, safely.  Here is what our 3rd grader and 6th grader look like now. Happy and healthy!

2020 stay-at-home for the kids

2020 has been a life changing year.  There have been so many changes to our way of life and as we learn about the COVID19 and as it spreads in the community, we have had to adjust our lives accordingly and teach the kids a new way to be.

Overall, I am so proud of how the kids have adapted to all of the changes with ease.  In the spring, they had a sudden switch to remote learning and the schools were not prepared.  It was essentially an unorganized mix of online systems on which they assigned work and it did not keep them engaged for long each day, and it made me worry about their education.  After summer, with a lot of feedback from the parents, the district heard that they needed to keep the kids occupied for the usual school hours with more "rigor", so they created a new way of educating and are now teaching virtually from 8am-2pm.  Our schools have done an excellent job and the kids are doing fine with the remote school.  But, it is impossible to please everyone.

Our family has been very fortunate.  One of the most important things that the kids have learned is to appreciate each other.  Aside from the occasional (masked & distanced) play dates with outside friends, we have all been hunkering down at home.  Other than class time, they have been enjoying the same video games, tv shows, sports, games and books together.  They are close enough in age that they have similar interests.  While fiercely competitive, at least they can connect with each other and have each others' companionship.  I would like them to remember this for life because someday they may be the only family that one another have, and we have always hoped that they will be there for each another and take care of each other.

Halloween - The Mandalorian and Cheshire Cat

We didn't do any trick-or treating or get any trick or treaters this year.  Penny had the idea to tape off our house entry with caution tape and create a crime scene.  So, we did that also.  

Other than that, I set up a scavenger hunt inside the house with full sized candies at every stop and we watched the animated movie, Coraline, which is supposed to be ok for 9 and up, but Max was still scared by it.  He is not quite 9, so there is that...

First Day of School 2020

School is home and home is school this year, until further notice.  It is amazing that remote learning is possible and I am grateful for the district and the school's effort at taking on this huge challenge!  One thing is for sure, growth does not stop.  Look at these big kids!  3rd grade and 6th grade!

Summer - Pool!

With the current state of things, we have been mostly staying at home and keeping to ourselves.  I thought that we could follow a routine like during school time and keep up with math and writing.  But, getting the kids to follow a routine is very difficult.  We are off of our routine from waking up time to bedtime.  

Penny really wanted to go swimming, but the high school pool where we normally go attracts crowds and hasn't opened yet anyway.  While randomly searching for pools, I found a membership only pool in the area and quickly jumped on the bandwagon and joined.  It turned out to be a good investment and we have been going everyday (sometimes twice a day).  Because what is a hot summer without pool time?

They are both making funny faces...

Penny moves on to middle school!

COVID-19

Other than grocery store trips and walks around the neighborhood, we have been staying at home since March 16th.  There has been a slight increase in fighting between the kids from seeing too much of each other, but otherwise it has been tolerable.

School has been cancelled for the rest of the school year and "online learning" so far has consisted of one hour, once a week for each of the kids.  I hate to be critical and I know that this is a challenge for the teachers, but I expect more support from school.  I can't imagine how difficult this must be for families where both parents are working or single-parent homes.  Home schooling two different grades simultaneously has been a full time job, and although I'm trying, I know that I'm not doing a great job.  I asked Max's teacher for more information about the math curriculum remaining for the school year, so that I can make sure that he learns/understands the concepts that are expected to be mastered.  The answer I got was basically, "no, we can't share it"...

This week was "spring break" and the kids and I were supposed to go to Costanoa in Pescadero for two nights while dad was away at a golf tournament.  Of course, that all was cancelled.  So, Penny and I improvised and planned a "Hawaii at home" day and decorated the kitchen and planned to cook Hawaiian foods for breakfast and dinner. Penny even created an experience for dad and Max, where they were in a plane, arriving in Hawaii. Picture from that and others are below.

Cutting felt for an art project

P.E. video time

Painting eggs early

We are growing hydroponic tomatoes

Homemade play dough

Football training with dad

Welcome to Hawaii

School is out and Penny's 11th birthday!

On March 13, our school district announced that school will close until at least 4/13!  So, last week Penny and Max had a home school schedule with mom and Penny had virtual extracurricular classes (violin, voice, piano and Japanese).  Max had no baseball and no Japanese class.

Penny also had to cancel her birthday party with friends and had a quiet celebration at home instead.  She had several gifts promised but didn't actually receive anything on her birthday.  She made delicious vanilla cupcakes with a whipped cream frosting.

2019-2020 school pics