Abby Completes Third Grade

The girls finished school on June 10th. Ever since our Spring Break in mid-March we were ready for summer break, so going all the way into June was like torture! The girls did well and still love school so that's a bonus. Abby took her first big STAAR test this year in April. She did great. High grades in both sections. She was very stressed about it as they prepared, but she ended up doing really well and we were all happy with her results. She spent the last 6 or so weeks after the test learning new things, but Tyler and I just kept saying, "well, she already took the test, so whatever" if she had to miss class or anything like that. They put so much on those STAAR tests, it seems a bit ridiculous, but at least she did well, so we didn't have to stress.

 

I know we did an entry around Abby's birthday in December that included the activities from the first half of the year, so here's what happened in Third grade from January to the end of the year. We start with picture day. I told the girls we wouldn't be buying any school pictures, but that we could take our own pictures, so after dressing up for the day, we went outside and took some nature-background shots. Here are Abby's. And the best part - they were all free!!

 In March, the school had their Fine Arts Night that included a Talent Show. The Honor Choir sang in the talent show and they sang a couple of songs. The kids' pick and favorite song they sang was Let it Go from Frozen. They sang really well. 

 They also display art pictures and have activities you can do in some of the classrooms. Here is Abby with her flower art drawing. The kids were also able to make tambourines with plates and beans, clay sculptures, self-portraits with paint, and some stain-glass window type pictures with aluminum foil. We had fun seeing all our friends who were also there and the kids had fun creating masterpieces.

 

Abby's final choir concert was in May and they sang songs from famous musicals like The Music Man, Wicked, and Grease to name a few. They each had speaking parts too, so it was very involved but a lot of fun. Abby wants me to include that her line for the program was, "That's right! Do you know what the 'M' stands for?" They had props and even some dance numbers. Here's the whole choir, Abby is on the left, about the third one in.

We took a couple pictures afterwards with her friends, so here's Abby with her closest friend from class, Abbigail. They moved in last summer and are moving again this summer, but it was fun for them to hang out this year - the two Abby's. And the second picture with some of Abby's other friends, from the left - Fatima, Alex, Abby, and Skye.

 

Abbigail had her 9th birthday party after school one day and invited Abby and Conner from their class. They had pizza and got to ride go-carts. Abby had a blast and these are the pictures Abbigail's mom sent to me.

 

This is another one of Abby's friends who is moving this summer. Alyssa lived one street over and they became good friends that way and through Activity Days at church. They had a going away swim party right after school was out to say goodbye and have one last fun time.

 

I was the room-mom for Abby's class this year along with Abbigail's mom. We brought cupcakes, pizza, and movies for their last day party. Here is one final picture of Abby's third grade class.

Mrs. McIntosh's room was full of boxes and empty shelves because she is moving up to teach 5th grade next year, so hopefully Abby will have her again in a couple of years. Abby had a great year with lots of new friends and learning many new things. Some of things she would remember about third grade includes learning cursive, the times tables, writing current events, and taking the STAAR test. She also did reports on Chester Arthur, the 21st president of the US and a travel brochure on the state of UT.

 

And here is our annual side-by-side pictures of Abby's first and last day of 3rd grade. We were happy to get one more picture with Abby's teacher Mrs. McIntosh, but I forgot to get one of Abby by herself that last day, so this is what I have - from Aug 2013 to Jun 2014.