1st Achievements

Sadie is really enjoying 1st grade and her first year at CAC. One of her favorite classes is Art. This is the first year (ever? or at least in a long time, I'm not sure) that CAC has offered Art at the elementary level. Her art teacher, Mrs. Hutchins, is like me - she spends her mornings at the elementary schools and her afternoons at the high school. She is really sweet and has been very welcoming to me as a new teacher (she is a veteran) and Sadie just loves her!

Periodically the art classes' latest works are posted in the halls throughout the school. Every once in a while I think to take a photo of the ones I can tell are Sadie's (or ones she tells me are hers). Eventually, we will get a portfolio with all her work in it, but here are a few projects from the first nine weeks (August and September; remember, I am playing catch up, so scroll down to other posts from today if you have been checking for updates on here):

Harold and the Purple Crayon:

Maybe it is because I am her mom, but I think Sadie's rendition of Harold is dead on... Check out a photo of him on Google images and compare. Just search "Harold and the purple crayon" and click Images. (Then tell me I am right!) She misspelled "purple" but that can slide... Ha!

Here is her artwork after reading the book, Crazy Hair. Their assignment was to draw themselves with, what else? Crazy hair...

Lastly: Clifford, the big red dog. I think this was just before the Elementary Book Fair. "He" even came to visit during Chapel a few mornings to help advertise for the sale. This is Sadie's watercolor rendition. Again, spot on, in my humble and unbiased opinion anyway...

She said Mrs. Hutchins would show them how to draw Harold and Clifford by drawing them step-by-step on the board. I think Sadie did a great job following along!

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Another thing I love about this school (other than the fact that they attend Chapel every morning) is the fact that the students take leadership roles in Chapel each morning. Classes, by grade, rotate throughout the year, taking turns each week leading the prayer and songs and reading Scripture (boys) and leading the Pledge and a patriotic song (girls).

Back in September, it was the first grade's turn. Sadie and her girlfriends, Laura and Ashley (the twins) and Allison were picked to lead the Pledge of Allegiance and The Star Spangled Banner.

Here they are, sitting in the front row, ready to lead (scroll down for video of their "performance")!

After the pledge and song, but before Chapel announcements, the principal, Mrs. Cruce, always make a point to talk to each person who helped lead Chapel. I love how she looks each of them in the eye, shakes their hand, calls them by name, and is specific about what she is praising them for. "Thank you so much for leading the pledge today. You spoke up loudly and stood at attention, etc..." It really makes the kids feel good and proud of their accomplishment. Well done, Mrs. Cruce!

Then Mrs. Cruce asks if it is anyone's birthday that day. It just happened to be Sadie's teacher's on the day Sadie led. Mrs. Nelms had to stand up front while we all sang to her (and the 6th graders did a slow motion version of The Wave in honor of her "old age"... When it is a kid's birthday, they do The Wave at normal speed in their pews). We love Mrs. Nelms and all she does with her first graders!

After announcements, the boys who led the prayer and songs usually lead a closing song for everyone to sing as they exit the auditorium and head back to their classrooms. The students sing it, literally, until they enter their classrooms upstairs (and it is usually "Cast Your Burdens" on the days I am there and it sticks in my head all day long which is a good thing and a bad thing...).

But this time, they led "Our God is an Awesome God" and had all the leaders of the day, boys and girls, lead it from the stage. I took a picture then, of course, realized I should also get a video. So the video below is mid song, but you can still see them do the hand motions/sign language for the song.

Sadie just informed me that her class will be leading in Chapel again next week! She helps on Thursday with the Pledge and Patriotic Song (it is a different one every day, kinda on a rotating basis as well, and I have learned a new one: There are Many Flags. Do you know it? I had never heard it before.). I am grateful that Mrs. Nelms schedules Sadie to do it on the days I am there at her school, not while I am scheduled to be at the other elementary school. She is so considerate.

I am excited about the life lessons (practical and spiritual) that Sadie is learning this year at CAC. Her confidence is soaring (though, I do not believe it has ever been lacking...) and she really seems to have adjusted well after being so sad to leave her last school. Go CAC!

Here is the video of the girls leading the Pledge and song. You just need to watch the first 15 seconds or so. I had no idea my voice was so stinking loud. I should have simply mouthed the song... I was holding my phone by my chest to kind of "hide" it and so it really picked up my voice! I apologize in advance, should you care to listen to more than you need to...

Here are the last few seconds of the song, Our God is an Awesome God. So cute!