Ben's Writing with Friend Jack

(Written by Ben) During Second grade, I met some new friends, including Jack Calhoun. He's very funny, smart, and kind. We became really good friends, and then I had an idea. In order for us to bond better, we must write a book. I'm a great superhero book creator, because I have a really creative mind. (Speaking of superhero books I am making a book about Lava Lizard right now in challenge). So, Jack and I started a book. We thought of a bunch of superhero names with my superhero maker paper, which is where you have a name and an adjective that starts with the same letter as the name. We ended up thinking an doing pig man. I wrote the book, he drew the pictures. We mad six books, until the end of the school year, and then we got split up to reach the death of Pig Man. RIP Pig Man... Rest in Peace :_(.

H Soccer Tournament

Another soccer tournament for me is in the books. Once again playing for Northside Soccer Academy, I had a successful and fun year. At our freezing cold tournament, we played as well as we could play. In our first game, Saturday morning, we played very well but lost in the last minute, 3-2. In our second game, Saturday afternoon, we won 2-0, in which one of the players from the other team got a red card and then reacted by running into the woods before his mom ran after him. Sunday morning we demolished the other team 11-0. I SCORED TWO GOALS!!! 😄😄 We were headed back to the championship! 

To celebrate and have lunch, a lot of the players and their families went to lunch together at Chili's, where we watched football and had fun. (I am on the right side and the 2nd from the beginning).

But then, it was on to the championship. We didn't play very well in the 1st half, but didn't allow any goals. The score: 0-0. In the 2nd half, they scored a quick goal and then with six minutes left, they scored again. We all thought it was over. What happened next was unreal. We scored 2 quick goals on two easy counter plays. It then was tied, 2-2, but we had other plans, to win. They turned the ball over and my teammate, Charlie, delivered a powerful shot from the right side into the net. 3-2, us. The ref's whistle blew after the ensuing kickoff. We WON!!! 

After receiving our 1st-place gold medals, we posed for some pictures.

Go Northside!!

H's Grandparents' Day

On Friday, Westminster's Lower School celebrated Grandparents' Day.  Hayes had Papa, Grandmommy and Granddaddy join him for a morning at school.  

Hayes walked them through all of his classes and introduces them to his teachers, including his homeroom teacher Mrs. Hurst.  

They even were able to capture a quick selfie before the day came to a close.

With Grandparents Day rotating back to the Middle School next year, they will all be able to make a return visit to check out Hayes's new surroundings in 6th grade.  

Kickball Rules

Ben came home from school the other day talking about how chaotic a game of kickball was during recess.  I suggested that he could try to come up with some basic rules to bring order to the game.  He ran with this idea and came up with the following list which he then took to school and implemented successfully:

E's Art in Westminster's Permanent Art Collection & Selected for Art Show

Last Friday, I attended a reception honoring the middle school students whose art was selected to become a part of the school's permanent art collection.  The invitation below arrived in the mail, with pictures of each of the pieces that were selected to be added.  

The school selected Eleanor's 3D piece that can be seen in the bottom row below.

Here it is displayed in an exhibit case at the front of the school.

This recognition comes after another one of her pieces was chosen last winter for a middle school art exhibit in the school's performing arts center.  She was not exactly thrilled be in the photo but her Matisse-like piece is to her right.  

H Birthday Celebration

With Hayes's birthday falling the week of July 4th, we always struggle with finding a date to celebrate his birthday with friends. This year, we finally put something on the calendar for early September!  He invited some of his "old" friends and some of his "new" friends from Westminster to his celebration at the Main Event.  The boys started with an hour of bowling and lunch, 

then an energy surge provided by a sugary cake (with a basketball theme in case you were curious)

before heading to play laser tag before it was all over.  It was a very sweet group of boys and Hayes had a ball with all of them!

Hayes and Eleanor's First Days of School

Though I'm nearly a month late, here are Eleanor's and Hayes' first day of school pics.  Eleanor started on Monday, August 15, 

and Hayes began his first year at Westminster on Tuesday, August 16.  His first day was a "spirit day" so they were allowed to wear Westminster t-shirts instead of the usual dress code of collared shirts and dress shorts or pants.

I know they will both have great years!