Not homeschooling Emily any more

It's Labor Day weekend, and the weather is HOT!  All three of us get a nice long weekend, so we're just relaxing and enjoying home.  This afternoon Emily and I washed the dogs, Sheba and Hershey, by putting on swimsuits and playing in the sprinklers with them.  I think we had more fun than the dogs.  A little while ago Wayne opened the pool, and the three of us jumped into the cold water.  At this time of year, when days grow shorter, the pool temperature drops, even on the hottest of days.  I can't even remember the last time I jumped into a cold pool--years, I'm sure!

I may keep up this blog sporadically, as a creative outlet, but the focus will shift to more general themes.  First, though, I'll update you on the education front.

We considered having Emily homeschool her junior and senior years through a local charter school with an active support group.  We weighed possibilities, and considered how each weekday would play out.  Every way we weighed it, Emily would be home alone two days each week.  As loyal as I am to the concept of homeschooling, that didn't seem healthy.  Since I can't quit my job, or go part time, we checked other options, and settled on an alternative program through the local high school.

The program is called "Middle College", and is open to juniors and seniors in high school.  The students meet in a classroom at the junior college for daily high school classes (English and history), taught by a dedicated high school teacher.  These high school classes are five days a week from 8 to 11 am.  After that, each student attends the college courses of their choice (approved by a high school counselor).  Middle College students must meet the same graduation requirements as high school students, and they will graduate along with their high school peers.  Emily says there are 22 students in her classroom.  She loves her teacher, Randy Nixon, and I think she will thrive in this program.  Among other advantages, it provides Emily with a strong English and writing mentor.  I still believe Emily was born to be an author, but she is not convinced.  Whatever she decides to do, I have no doubt she will excel!

Sweet 16. . .a story in pictures

Fast forward. . .

. . .to April 1st, 2010. Obviously keeping this blog up-to-date is not successfully high on my to-do list. It's spring vacation for Emily, and Wayne and I have the week off, also. For me it is a delicious oasis from the daily grind of work. I just read my last entry, and there is a fair bit of catching up to do.

Instead of taking a trip this spring break, we're enjoying our home, shopping for needed summer clothes, and spring cleaning.

This has been a good year for Emily. Last year she felt displaced and short on "belonging" anywhere. This year, she really enjoys "Beyond Basic" school and Mother Lode Youth Symphony. . .and feels a sense of connection. Last school year, during frequent bouts of "we can't do this anymore" and "where in the world will Emily finish high school" we concocted a plan. The plan has been consistent for about a year: finish 10th grade at home, then attend Rio Lindo Academy for one year in their accelerated program, graduating in 2011. The plan hasn't changed, and we've worked toward it, and planned for it, for a long time.

A couple weeks ago we attended Monterey Bay Academy's recruitment program called "academy days". It consisted of a Sunday afternoon through Monday afternoon campus tour to convey the flavor of campus life to prospective new students. We saw buildings, met students, heard music, and met teachers in their classrooms. We saw MUCH to be impressed with. I loved the library, and the English program alone would be a selling point. I was less impressed with music played in a building they call "Set in Stone". It had a pretty strong "disco" flavor. Who knew I was a closet conservative? My negative reaction surprised me, since I love lively music, and like to clean out cupboards propelled by Lady Gaga and Steppenwolf in high volume. We came away from the tour in a state of ambivalence, and returned home divided equally into thirds as far as the "where to go to school next year" question goes. Emily saw much to like, but is not a "beachy" sort of girl, and Monterey Bay Academy is a decidedly "beachy" sort of place.

After sleeping on the idea of boarding school some more, and some self-examination regarding the importance of graduating from a Seventh-day Adventist school, we came to the conclusion that it probably doesn't matter so much in the grand scheme of things. We told Emily the decision is hers--she could attend either one of the two boarding schools, or stay home. It took about three days for her to decide to stay home.

So, there you have it--another unexpected decision about where to go to school next year.

She's a sophomore!

What the heck happened?  One day I was gathering books like "Ping" and "Madeline" to use for our "Five in a Row" homeschool curriculum, and the next day I turn around to find Emily towering over me at 5'6", taking drivers' ed, and moderating a facebook group for the youth symphony where she is concert mistress.  Again I say, what happened???

I know exactly what happened.  Ten years happened.  I was there for all of them, and present for the passage of each unique day.  That's how it goes, and all we have is "the present"--a gift, if we remember to see it as such.

Today is a special gift.  I'm off work, being lazy, and listening to the thunder crash and the soft rain falling outside the bedroom window.  This might be Chilly kitten's first rainfall!  He's sitting by the screen, looking out at the leaf-covered ground; the last thunder crash made him poof up mightily and look at me with his great round eyes.  It feels like the kind of storm that happens on the East Coast, but not so often here.  I love the smell of rain!

Emily didn't want to return to the junior academy for her 10th grade year, and it feels too early for her to go to boarding school.  I related the angst that went into deciding where she should be educated this year in an earlier post, so I won't revisit the subject.  This year she's homeschooling again, for the last time.

Sophomore subjects are:  English language arts, Algebra II, Chemistry, French II, Art, Music, Drivers' ed and training, and P.E.  Emily attends "Beyond Basic" classes three mornings a week for English, Algebra, and Chemistry.  She'll also have an art class there, but for now art is with our good friend Shona. Music is covered by violin and piano, plus our new little community handbell choir.  P.E. will be swimming with TCA when it resumes in October.  For now P.E. is exercise in any form, whenever she does it.  French II is an online course (with an instructor) called "Power Speak", and I think she's doing well with it.  Drivers' Ed is also online, and after she has her permit, it will include lessons with the local driving school.

Now, I will get off the computer and enjoy the thunder and lightning show on this warm and rainy day!

Summer. . .Summery. . .Summary

June, July, and August didn't just fly by, but they moved quickly enough that I didn't make time to post on the blog.  I don't say "have time", because we all have time for what matters most.  Now, as I transform to a working full-time, homeschooling mother and wife, I struggle to identify my top priorities. Apparently blogging is a secondary matter!

Emily's summer was filled with:

• volunteering at Vacation Bible School, leading a group of preschoolers
  
• volunteering at the Humane Society. . .not often, but often enough to grow attached to a kitten there, who now resides with us.  His name is Achilles, and we call him Chilly for short. . .or "kitten", or "hey, stop chewing on the cords", or "stop climbing the screens", or "leave Sassy alone", or "stop trying to eat Hershey's food", or "stop chewing on my nose". Chilly has introduced an element of chaos to our otherwise orderly home. . .probably good for all of us.
  
• swimming at the fitness center with the youth swim team, "TCA"
  
• continuing violin and piano lessons, and practicing
  
• swimming in our pool 
  
• caring for kids (too old to be regarded as "babysitting") and giving a couple violin lessons
  
• camping with our good friends the Larsens at Wright's Lake
  
• attending Pacific Quest, academic summer camp, for the second and last year. . .this year's subjects were "psychology" and "French"
  
• keeping up with friends on Facebook
  
• getting together with friends. . .a few times, anyway
  
• finishing the summer by going to Discovery Kingdom, formerly known as Marine World, with some friends, and riding crazy roller coasters
  

Wayne's summer was filled with:

• changing jobs as a result of the state budget changes
  
• filling in the gaps made by my transition to full-time work
  
• being a general "everything to everyone" kind of guy at home
  

My summer was filled with:

• working
  
• working
  
• and most especially, working
  
• camping, and going to Discovery Kingdom, but skipping the crazy roller coasters
  
• finishing my one and only special craft project--a digital scrapbook/yearbook for Emily's freshman year. . . .it turned out gorgeous, and I'm ready to start the next one

My work changed from part time (20 hours/week) to full time, and my job description is no longer "home health field nurse" and "chart auditor".  It is now "intake coordinator".  My workplace underwent a metamorphosis as the local Visiting Nurse Association merged with our hospital- based home health agency. The hospital system purchased VNA from the county.  Our staff doubled (think "blended family"), and we moved to VNA's office.  We lost a long-time well-loved office nurse during this time, and eventually I was moved into her role, but cannot fill her shoes.

Life is filled with change.  I'd probably never choose change, but in the current economic climate, it seemed prudent to seize the job opportunity when it was available.  There is joy in the change. I don't work weekends, holidays, or nights; I don't take call; I get more money, and our family gets insurance benefits.  Oh, and most importantly, I love the people I work with.

Technically I wouldn't say that I am homeschooling Emily right now.  She's schooling herself with help, but I'll cover that in the next post.

Last Day of School 2008-2009!

Exactly one week ago was the official last day of school for Emily's charter school--the day we stopped taking attendance.  Yesterday was the last day of school for "Basic Training".  Next week is the last handbell practice.  The following week is 8th grade graduation for the junior academy, and the official start of "summer vacation" for friends in school.  It's hard to know when to celebrate the "last day of school"!

We opted to celebrate yesterday!  Basic Training had a pizza lunch and water fight (also known as "clean the parking lot"), but water fights aren't Emily's cup of tea.  I picked her up early to go for a bookstore splurge, and we came home with four new books!  Then we went to Starbucks for a frozen drink treat.  Last evening we went for pizza (I hadn't yet written the previous post).

Summer activities will include:  swim team, volunteering at the Humane Society (4th summer in a row), French tutoring (receiving end) and practice, and finishing incomplete work in home ec and health classes.  She will attend "Pacific Quest" at PUC, and she might take some art lessons, too.  Here is a link to the lovely lady who taught home ec design, and who is teaching art: http://www.shonamacomber.com/

With the economy in its current state, and the challenges accompanying it, we're considering how to pay for senior academy and college. The plan we've concocted is this:  Emily will finish high school in three years, so for 2010-2011 she will attend an Adventist boarding school as a junior/senior (accelerated program).  After graduating she'll live at home for a year, attend junior college, and work to save money for college.  The boarding academy is just about as expensive as college was way back when I was a student! Our plans are accompanied by many prayers for guidance and wisdom, and as we have demonstrated, we're always open to new ideas!

We would consider finishing high school with homeschooling, except for social dynamics.  Emily has expressed that she doesn't feel she "belongs" anywhere. She has grown up her whole life feeling part of the group of kids at church her age.  When she was a young homeschooler we had a cohesive group of homeschool friends.  When she went to school she was a part of that. Eighth grade--in school--saw the end of "belonging".  Our church community, while large, probably isn't large enough!  The dynamics led us out of the school, and this blog has recounted some of the struggles.  The year began well, and ended well, with a slump in the middle. But the sense of belonging is no longer at church, and except for home, is not anywhere else, either. So, we're considering boarding school to give Emily an opportunity to fully belong in a group again.

But, for now, hooray, it's glorious spring!  The pool water is getting warmer, and the sweet spring air is circulating in rooms we had closed off for the cold months.  It's time to make strawberry jam and plant a garden!