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!