Okay, peeps.
This pic is officially one of my favorites of all time--thanks to a Mama friend, who managed to get Chicklet to smile for realsies--whilst dressed up and standing next to both of us parents!
Believe it or not, I rarely print or frame photos. Like, I literally don't have any around the main areas of the house.
But you can better bet that bad boy will be printed and slapped up on a wall somewhere--even if it's just on Chicklet's felt board in her room so Mama and Daddy can stare down at her all the live-long day!
Okay. Now. To rewind...
The unfortunate part of already living through another spawn's middle school journey is knowing about all the milestones that might occur along the way. Nothing is truly a surprise--though everything happens in a new and exciting way for each child and their unique path.
All that to say...the hubby and I were aware of the EOY (end of year) awards ceremonies that take place during the final week of school and involve students by invitation only.
Of course, there are many ways a student can qualify for recognition during any given school year--many of those ways involving Fine Arts participation--but color me shocked and shaken and so stinking proud from the top of my head to the tips of my toes that Chicklet's recognition was due to...
Straight A's/ Honor Roll!
I'll be honest: I never ever tracked grades in elementary school. Truly. I knew how the kiddos were performing based on teacher feedback, benchmark testing and any papers that came home in their backpacks. But I certainly never felt the need to micro-follow the posted grades of their daily work--or any test work, for that matter.
So I was absolutely delighted and impressed when both Chica and Chicklet "graduated" from elementary in 5th grade with Straight A achievement awards. :) I mean...what a feat!
But of course, middle school levels up in a major way, and I've always been realistic with my understanding that it would/will become harder and harder to maintain this type of academic performance.
And, yet...Chicklet pulled it off!!!
Again, I try not to micro-check the status of my kiddos' middle school grades, either--beyond a routine, bi-weekly check-in to make sure they don't have missing assignments, or that they haven't gone off the rails, ha.
But nine weeks over nine weeks, Chicklet keep performing at such a steady and beautiful level that I started to wish--for her sake--that she'd be able to pull off that perfect record, simply for the PRIDE of knowing she could and she did.
And I think her smile at the ceremony said it all. :)
It's no secret on this here blog that my beloved middle-born has a big, beautiful dyslexic brain and has worked so freaking hard for every academic achievement she's earned.
Without prior experience navigating middle school as the advocate for a child with special learning accommodations, I was fearful about this major transition from elementary to middle school. There are always horror stories out there of children getting lost in the shuffle or not receiving the kind of support they need.
And yet...at every turn, I continue to be so pleased with our school district--and my staunch belief that if you put good in, you'll get good out.
At least, that's certainly been the case for our household and each of my kiddos' academic journeys.
In particular, Chicklet was placed in the perfect math learning environment, this year. A smaller classroom with co-teachers,to provide more direct support of the students.
The main teacher was even one of Chicklet's favorites this year, and that's saying something, considering he taught the subject she loathes the most.
He offered steady before and after school tutoring, parent check-ins, a lot of comic relief during class, and Chicklet had the unique math opportunity of feeling like the star amongst her fellow classmates--even tutoring some of them during class when she was clicking particularly well with the unit material.
I can't say enough things about knowing your child is looked after and placed on a right-sized path--which I truly believe Chicklet was, this year.
Honestly, I don't expect a golden year like this to happen again.
It would be highly improbably for Chicklet to sail smoothly through another middle school year without any kind of academic snag, so I'm trying to hold this one close to my heart and tell myself to appreciate it for all that it's given.
I'm particularly grateful for Chicklet's academic steadiness this year because it's certainly been a more tumultuous social and emotional one for her--as she would readily agree.
Had we been required to battle on multiple fronts, we'd have been crawling to make it through (well, we kind of were, anyway, but you get my point).
Instead, our girl ended the year tall and proud in her achievement (even if she did try to diminish the accomplishment of Straight A's, telling me, "it's not really that hard"), and we couldn't have felt more pride in her hard work.
Side note: I adore that Chicklet stole one of Chica's dresses for the event--and pulled it off so beautifully! How it looked like I totally different vibe on both of them, I'll never understand. Sisterhood of the Traveling Dress, perhaps? ;)
Side-side note: It's heinous to look a the pics above and recognize just how much Chicklet's has grown and physically changed within a span of just nine months. It's humbling and WILD.
In case it's not obvious at this point in the post...
I'm just so incredibly proud of my girl, and I'm hoping this EOY high note will carry her through the summer--and well into the upcoming school year.
She's an AMAZING kid, and I'll continue to do everything I can to tell her so, every single day.
More catch-up posts soon, peeps!
Over and out.
P.S. It tickles me to no end that my camera-averse, don't-talk-about-me kid is featured on three out of the top five posts, right now. Her Confirmation post, her Dance Recital Post, and the glorious pic of our Memorial Day Weekend.
So. Freaking. Fantastic.
Go, Chicklet, GO!
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