Open House

Today Valley View held an Open House for the entire school. They had a food truck, a huge bake sale, and every classroom, teacher, and activity was open and available. Aurora has wonderful teachers and second grade truly is the perfect combination of fun and learning. We got to talk to her new music teacher and play games in the GT classroom, but more than anything this ended up being an opportunity for Aurora to show Clark her classrooms and he loved every minute of it!

He was so excited to sit in his big sister's chair

There were experiments and handmade instruments at every table

Aurora made this game in GT; Dog vs. Cat

I learned that while she won't be able to play an instrument until Middle School, she can join the percussion ensemble or choir as early as next year. In GT (Gifted & Talented) they've been focusing on gaming strategy, which includes lessons in blocking your opponents from winning (think, tic-tac-toe style games) and making up their own games! She's really enjoying the program and I'm so happy that she got in. 

Today Aurora also joined the "lunch bunch," which (I think) must be the counseling office's way of getting shy or mean kids to form positive friendships. Aurora just wants to make friends with everybody so she opted in. It made me realize how much she's just like me. I've been spending a lot of energy these last few months trying to find groups and committees to join at my new job. I've found a regular workout group, joined the Green Team, and I opt in to every training, lunch & learn, and networking opportunity presented. That is clearly not the norm at the County. The moment I saw Aurora's eyes light up at the idea of joining the percussion ensemble, I saw myself in her in a way that I'd never really noticed before. 

Oh, and then there was this:

... which seems to have confirmed for Julian that Aurora is definitely related to his family as well. Yes indeed. What an awesome Open House!