6th Grade Graduation

Last Thursday, Darrius' school had their Promotion Ceremony. The kids in teh 6th grade are leaving behind elementary school and headed to the big league - Middle School. I don't know where the time has gone. It feels like just yesterday I was registering D for kindergarten. My baby is no longer a baby.

The graduates seats

Of course, with the last name starting with W, you're destined to sit in the back

Darrius' "graduation" certificate

D got the Presidential Fitness certificate

The grandparents came out to celebrate the occassion

After the ceremony, there was cake and punch at the school. Afterwards, we went to Darrius' favorite restaurant, Bertucci's, for some brick-oven pizza. Once lunch was over, the grandparents headed home and I became a taxi for 4 ex-sixth graders. They had their graduation party at a bowling alley.

Now it's summer and Darrius will be attending summer camp. He also has homework that will count as his first English test grade. I still can't believe he's going to middle school. Time truly goes by too fast.

Family and Pizza Night

Every year at Franconia, the 6th grade class hosts a fundraiser. This fundraiser always coincides with the Book Fair. The school orders pizza and sells slices or whole pizzas at a discounted price. There's also a bake sale where you can buy cookies, brownies and cupcakes for $.50. The purpose of this fund raiser is to raise money for the 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony and the 6th grade gift. Every 6th grader is required to sign up for a "shift" to help set up, sell pizza and baked goods or clean up.The fundraiser is held in the cafeteria. Darrius and I have gone every year. Last year, while sitting in the cafeteria and eating our pizza, Darrius was telling me how excited he was about working the fundraiser when he becomes a 6th grader.

Darrius taking an order

Cheese! Mr. Pizza Man

We had a great time. I bought D two books at the book fair (of course they weren't chapter books). And they were serving my favorite pizza - Papa John's.

Back to School

Monday Darrius went back to school. His school -Franconia Elementary - officially started the new school year on August 3rd. Since we were on vacation last week, Darriu's first day was August 10th. This is Darrius' last year in elementary school. He's a 6th grader and I can hardly believe it. This is also the first year where Darrius will not be in before and after school care. He will be riding the bus to and from school. When he gets home in the afternoon, he will be home alone until I get home from work. He did great his first day. He called me when he was at the bus stop and called me once he was home. I worried all day yesterday. I know he can handle it but he's my baby. And I know that there are children out there who were latchkey kids at an earlier age than Darrius. When Alfred brought up the subject of letting D take the bus, I was hesitant. I didn't think he was mature enough. And I thought it would be safer to keep him in before and after care. But then I thought about it. I was in the 6th grade when we moved to Virginia and I became a latchkey kid. My mom didn't work when we lived in Memphis so she was at the bus stop in the morning and in the afternoon. Once we moved to VA and she had to get a job, I had to become more self-reliant. I was responsible for waking myself up, getting dressed, doing my hair and getting to school on time. I walked to school, taking a shortcut through the woods. There were a couple of times where I didn't make it to school on time but I blamed my walking partner. It was never my fault. ;-)

I guess Darrius is mature enough to handle the responsibility of getting himself to school. I did it at his age. Next week he turns 11. I can hardly believe it. It seems like yesterday he was just starting kindergarten. Time has flown.

D's first day at school was almost without incident until last night, when he realized he left his math book at school. Not a good way to start off your first day. I'm hoping this isn't a preview of how it's going to be all year. He is so unorganized; he has consistently left homework, books, supplies at school throughout his elementary school career. I've seen his desk at school and it's a wonder if he can find anything in that mess! His backpack is just as bad. I need to figure out a way to get this boy organized, at least by the time he enters high school!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a great year. I am praying for no parent-teacher conferences! I just want one grade without me having to go to one of those things. They are never for anything good.

I've told Darrius that I want him to not repeat any of his usual bad habits this school year. He said he'll try. I guess that's better than nothing.