Our Odyssey of the Mind adventure is headed into it's last lap...we leave in the morning for University of Maryland for the World Finals Competition. We compete on Sunday just after noon with our performance and again on Tuesday for Spontaneous. There are 59 teams in our division from all over the US as well as South Korea, Germany, Mexico, Cuba, Singapore, Hong Kong, Poland and China. We are the second team to perform overall, not sure if that's a good slot or a bad slot, but either way i know they will give it their all!
If you are bored and there are no good videos on YouTube some of the ceremonies are being broadcast on the web the opening ceremony and awards may be fun to check out. Opening ceremony is 7:30 eastern time on Saturday night and awards are on Tuesday at 7:30 pm eastern time.
We have plans to visit Mount Vernon on Friday, the US Capitol and Kennedy Center on Monday and will see all the monuments and hopefully lots of things at the Smithsonian museums on Monday as well.
Will let you know how we do if I can post while we are there and will have lots to share when we get back for sure!
Thanks to eveyrone who has helped us get there and for all the good luck wishes!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
Middle School?
OK don't really want to talk about this.....but Thursday was Emily's last day of elementary school! YIKES! She has been attending Benchmark Elementary School in Phoenix since third grade and it has been the most amazing, giving, nurturing, inspiring environment you could ever want a school to be. Emily and I both have made wonderful friends here in the last four years, and we will miss being there!
Wednesday morning was the promotion ceremony for the 6th grade class of 2008. The school principals Carole Challoner and Barbara Darroch put on a beautiful celebration of this class and it was a joy to see all these kids now young adults be recognized! The ceremony was held in the school courtyard and it was the only day this week that was not way to hot or way to cold, and aside from a little wind the morning was perfect. The 45 students walked in to Pomp and Circumstance and were introduced as a class and congratulated on making it to this day. Then each student was called forward individually to receive their certificate and shake hands with the principals, then each gave a short speech about themselves. Each told how long they had attended Benchmark, what they thought they would be doing in 10 years, where they would have graduated from, who the most most important role model has been to them in their life, and what they thought made them special. Emily's is below.....
"My name is Emily Flook, and I have attended Benchmark for four years. In ten years I will have graduated from Arizona State University, and I will be a Dermatologist. My most important role model is my Grandpa, because he shows me that I can be whatever I want to be, and Mrs Marui (her third grade teacher) I am special because I am nice to a fault and I am a good friend."
It was touching to hear her talk about herself this way, and to hear what all her friends who I've watched grow up speak too. Trying to get a copy of a video of the ceremony but don't have it yet.
After all the students were announced a few special awards were given out, part of the class performed a song and dance, and the strings group which Emily is a member of played two songs.
The celebration was followed by a nice reception for the kids, teachers, families and friends. After which the kids went on their last field trip as a class to the new Chronicles of Narnia movie (two thumbs up from Emily).
Monday of last week she went to the Great Hearts Academies offices Chandler to take a math placement test for her new school Scottsdale Prep Academy where she will start 7th grade in August. Until then we are looking forward to a fun summer and a little slower pace.
I am so proud of her for the creative, beautiful, caring young girl she is becoming!
I have a few pictures from the ceremony, but they are a little washed out, i was in the shade and they were sitting in the sun, but you can get the jist of the day!
Giving her speech.
Strings group waiting to play.
Emily and Lauren.
Wednesday morning was the promotion ceremony for the 6th grade class of 2008. The school principals Carole Challoner and Barbara Darroch put on a beautiful celebration of this class and it was a joy to see all these kids now young adults be recognized! The ceremony was held in the school courtyard and it was the only day this week that was not way to hot or way to cold, and aside from a little wind the morning was perfect. The 45 students walked in to Pomp and Circumstance and were introduced as a class and congratulated on making it to this day. Then each student was called forward individually to receive their certificate and shake hands with the principals, then each gave a short speech about themselves. Each told how long they had attended Benchmark, what they thought they would be doing in 10 years, where they would have graduated from, who the most most important role model has been to them in their life, and what they thought made them special. Emily's is below.....
"My name is Emily Flook, and I have attended Benchmark for four years. In ten years I will have graduated from Arizona State University, and I will be a Dermatologist. My most important role model is my Grandpa, because he shows me that I can be whatever I want to be, and Mrs Marui (her third grade teacher) I am special because I am nice to a fault and I am a good friend."
It was touching to hear her talk about herself this way, and to hear what all her friends who I've watched grow up speak too. Trying to get a copy of a video of the ceremony but don't have it yet.
After all the students were announced a few special awards were given out, part of the class performed a song and dance, and the strings group which Emily is a member of played two songs.
The celebration was followed by a nice reception for the kids, teachers, families and friends. After which the kids went on their last field trip as a class to the new Chronicles of Narnia movie (two thumbs up from Emily).
Monday of last week she went to the Great Hearts Academies offices Chandler to take a math placement test for her new school Scottsdale Prep Academy where she will start 7th grade in August. Until then we are looking forward to a fun summer and a little slower pace.
I am so proud of her for the creative, beautiful, caring young girl she is becoming!
I have a few pictures from the ceremony, but they are a little washed out, i was in the shade and they were sitting in the sun, but you can get the jist of the day!
Giving her speech.
Strings group waiting to play.
Emily and Lauren.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
New Shoes...
There aren't many things better than getting new shoes! Emily got some really cute new Converse hightops this weekend, not sure I've ever had a pair of shoes this cute! 
Thought this video was appropriate...Love Paolo Nutini.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Catalina
One of the greatest things about Emily's school is the end of the year field trip!
All the classes in grades 3-6 go on great multi day field trips that relate to things they have studied all year. Well they save the most fun for 6th grade....Emily got home Friday night from a three day trip to Catalina Island on the Tallship American Pride. The kids spent three nights on the boat and Catalina, they out to the island from Long Beach. They were split into crews that worked together on chores on the boat including hoisting the sails, and lots of marine biology projects and experiments. The visited the towns of Avalon, Two Harbors where they learned about the towns with a walking scavenger hunt with their crew. They kayaked in the ocean, went on a glass bottom boat, had time to enjoy the beach and had a bonfire and barbecue the last night.
Here is a picture of the boat looking back from the shore of Catalina.
Hoisting the sails with Azia and Kylie
Emily and crew member Kyle (you will notice that Kyle was somehow convinced to let the girls paint his nails).
Emily with friends Erol and Austin, in the souvenir of choice a lifeguard sweatshirt.
Emily and Ms. Piccotti.
Kayakers Emily and Lauren.
Emily and Emily
Smores at the bonfire.
The only downside to the trip was several of the kids Emily included got a first hand taste of sea sickness, but it didn't seem to damper the fun at all!
The kids have been so excited about this trip and it was everything they had hoped. I met Emily at the airport on Friday night with about 45 other parents waiting for their kids. They all returned sunburned, tired and full of stories about this great trip!
Thanks to Mrs Piccotti, Ms Yazzi, Mrs. Dilly and the two brave dads who chaperoned this wonderful trip, and to Benchmark for always providing such fantastic experiences!
All the classes in grades 3-6 go on great multi day field trips that relate to things they have studied all year. Well they save the most fun for 6th grade....Emily got home Friday night from a three day trip to Catalina Island on the Tallship American Pride. The kids spent three nights on the boat and Catalina, they out to the island from Long Beach. They were split into crews that worked together on chores on the boat including hoisting the sails, and lots of marine biology projects and experiments. The visited the towns of Avalon, Two Harbors where they learned about the towns with a walking scavenger hunt with their crew. They kayaked in the ocean, went on a glass bottom boat, had time to enjoy the beach and had a bonfire and barbecue the last night.
Here is a picture of the boat looking back from the shore of Catalina.
Hoisting the sails with Azia and Kylie
Emily and crew member Kyle (you will notice that Kyle was somehow convinced to let the girls paint his nails).
Emily with friends Erol and Austin, in the souvenir of choice a lifeguard sweatshirt.
Emily and Ms. Piccotti.
Kayakers Emily and Lauren.
Emily and Emily
Smores at the bonfire.
The only downside to the trip was several of the kids Emily included got a first hand taste of sea sickness, but it didn't seem to damper the fun at all!
The kids have been so excited about this trip and it was everything they had hoped. I met Emily at the airport on Friday night with about 45 other parents waiting for their kids. They all returned sunburned, tired and full of stories about this great trip!
Thanks to Mrs Piccotti, Ms Yazzi, Mrs. Dilly and the two brave dads who chaperoned this wonderful trip, and to Benchmark for always providing such fantastic experiences!
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