Sophomore and Senior

The days are long, but the years are short.

Senior orientation.

First time driving alone together - in the middle of Ida.....

Sophomore orientation

First day of school together.

My heart.

#allthelasts

We thought that there would be so many more lasts when I started this post back in September, but here they all are.  What a year for Emily.

Last first day of school at JPII

Last Bernie Ward Soccer Tournament

Last cross country practice

Last cross country race

Last JPII Christmas Concert 

Last Father Daughter Dance 

Final home basketball game. 

8th graders at the final home basketball game.

Last day of 8th grade - last day ever at JPII

At Last - Graduation

Emily graduated on Thursday in a very small ceremony.  The graduation was originally scheduled for early June but had to be postponed because of COVID-19.  In conjunction with the state, the Diocese allowed for graduations of small numbers, beginning on July 6th and suddenly, we had a graduation scheduled for the 9th.
With two weeks remaining in the school year, Emily was one of three students in a virtual tie for valedictorian (all within two decimal points of each other) but when the final grades came out, she ended up out of the running completely.  I think that Lee and I were more disappointed than she was - but she knows that getting both academic and music scholarships to high school were more important.  We've been joking for weeks about how she's embarrassed the family name by only getting an Honors Cord, but we are definitely just joking.  We are proud of her years at JPII and we are so looking forward to watching her spread her wings and soar in high school

As a side note, we took these photos on a different day (the school had a photo day for graduates).  Each student was allowed only two guests and because Elizabeth had a conflict, Lee took her to where she needed to be and Aunty Strom was Emily's other guest.

It was a brutal 95 degrees and oppressively humid when we headed to the ceremony. 

Officially a graduate. 

Last Day of Sophomore Year

There is no doubt about it, Elizabeth struggled far more with distance learning than Emily.  The first couple of weeks were very difficult for her, and the only saving grace with the school adjusting it's schedule and the fact that she had actual classes every day - real instruction and interaction with her teachers and classmates over FaceTime each and every day.  After a little over a month of struggling, Elizabeth was able to pull herself together and get into a routine that worked for her, salvaging both her spirit and her grades.  She was able to get her best grades of the these last two years in the 4th quarter and kept her GPA above a 4.0.  She is really looking forward to getting back to school and her friends in August.

This is what studying for finals and completing final projects looked like for over a week.

As she sent off each of her final projects/assignments, she sent each of her teachers a personal note, thanking them for the effort and kindness they showed her this year and telling them how much she appreciated them.  This was one of her favorite responses - her math teacher, widely known as the best but most difficult math teacher in the school, is the mother of one of her best friends.  She single-handedly guided Elizabeth through an incredibly difficult year of math.

Last Day of 8th Grade

These last few months have not exactly been easy, but this girl rolled with the punches.  Despite missing out on her 8th grade semi-formal, 8th grade banquet, class trips to New York City and Holiday Hill, her final season of school sports and countless other memories and milestones, Emily never missed a beat and never stopped smiling.  Even when the projects and tests piled up the last two weeks of school, she just kept plugging away.  Here she is, up early on her final day of middle school, because she wanted to get in some extra studying, having spent the week taking other teats and finishing up other final projects.  We are love her so much and while we are so sad to see this chapter end, we can't wait to see what the future brings.  #allthelasts.

 

COVID-19 Diaries: Week 15

I definitely got off track with what I thought were going to be weekly summaries of our pandemic life.  It got a little bit difficult to write about nothing and/or the same thing every week.  But we are starting to edge closer to normal here in Connecticut.  Our governor, of whom I am no fan, has done a tremendous job, both with the closings and the gradual re-openings.  We are a few days into Stage II of re-opening and that means the playing fields are starting to open up, practices are beginning to resume and the girls' lives are starting to look a little bit more normal.  The Y opened for customers on Monday and Lee is back to the Fitness Center, although he will not be training clients for a while. As for me, it looks like we will not be going back to the office for several more months, although I am planning to go in one day this week.

Admitted Students' Night was held via Zoom this year, but that didn't seem to bother Emily. 

She was a pro with NWC trivia and won first place - and a sweet Vineyard Vines bag! 

Lots of sunbathing in the backyard.... 

Emily's work was featured in the virtual Middle School Art Show 

Memorial Day festivities with our "COVID pod" of friends.  Our girls workout together 2-3 days a week and we've been playing by the rules since March and so when the governor began easing restrictions, we were able to get together for some fun after the girls' morning workout. 

8th Grade Semi Formal

Emily was supposed to attend her 8th grade semi formal in mid-March, often the hi-light of their final year at JPII.  It was postponed (likely cancelled) due to COVID19, just one of many important events that Emily will miss out on this spring. The yearbook coordinator asked all of the 8th graders to dress up in their semi formal outfits so she could still feature them in the yearbook, so she got all dressed up late last week. So looked so beautiful - it breaks my heart that she and her friends likely won't be able to experience this awesome event.