Adios Primer Grado

First grade was a big year for you, son.  The beginning of the school year was very anxiety-producing for you.  I've never seen you look so miserable and be so stressed as the first day of school.  Thankfully the extreme anxiety calmed down after that first day was over, and you settled into your classroom, realizing you had another great, nurturing teacher and a room full of friends.

Picture taken AFTER school on the 1st day

You grew in many ways this year.  Your Spanish reading has really taken off and your vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds.  You are starting to read chapter books in Spanish and doing very well in comprehension and of course, your favorite, math.  You really enjoy your matematicas rapids, and are proud that you lead the class in advancing through each fact sheet.

You loved recreo and playing tetherball and soccer with your friends.  Two of the boys in your class happen to be on your same soccer team in our neighborhood, so you guys have really bonded.  You continue to dominate in sports and have a great aptitude for memorizing sports trivia and watching games.  You also played baseball this year, in the Sunnyside league (go A's), and you enjoyed that too.

Gracias a Sra. Torres para todo!

We were really blessed to have Sra. Torres this year, who kept up a wonderful facade all year that she doesn't know English!  This was especially impressive since we saw her often outside of school, at soccer games and events.  She was very nurturing and encouraging and provided a secure place for you, even during some tough times.

The hardest part of the year for you was coming back home from our trip to the Philippines in January and starting school back up again and getting into routines.  It wasn't really that school was hard, for some reason you just chose that time to challenge us on a lot of our family rules and expectations.  Doing chores, practicing piano, helping out, doing homework were all very difficult for you to accept.  And you got very angry at us & at yourself.  There were lots of prayers going up during this time, and thankfully, after several weeks of battling over things that were previously not an issue, you settled back in.  I really hope that we don't go through a rough patch like that ever again (or at least not for a very long time).  As you get older, I notice that you seem to be able to verbalize feelings you have (fears, anger, etc.) more and I think this helps a lot.  No matter what you may think or feel, we really want what's best for you & pray that we'll raise you in a way that helps you be the person God created you to be.

On your class field trip to the zoo with some of your buddies

As the school year comes to a close, I can say we've all had some great accomplishments.  We are SO incredibly proud of the sensitive and talented boy that you are.  You get along well with others and try your best.  We couldn't ask for more!  Here's to a great summer together!