Class of 2010

I have been dreading this day all school year while, at the same time, anxiously awaiting it. It sure was bittersweet. So proud of all of Taylor's elementary school accomplishments, but nervous and sad that middle school is around the corner.

Taylor has been such a wonderful role model for Allison- dedicated to her school work, self-motivated and responsible.

She has been a loyal friend to all of the girls she has met from Kinder through 5th grade.

The stage was officially set- CLASS OF 2010

Waiting for the ceremony to begin

Mr. McTasney welcomed students, staff and parents and gave a short speech to the kids about making good choices and choosing positive influences in their lives.

Taylor received the Presidential Academic Excellence Award

She was also called up to shake hands with Mrs. Atkinson, Miss Ault and Mr. McTasney.

The students sang a few songs that choked me up a bit about life lessons. I especially loved the one about following the lessons of a poem hanging on the kindergarten wall.

After the ceremony, we moved in the MPR for cookies and lemonade. Each student had a cute poster hanging on rope that displayed a 5th grade individual and group photo along with a poem about kites:

"KITES"

I see children as kites...

You spend a lifetime trying to get them

off the ground. You run with them until you're both

breathless...they crash...they hit the rooftop...you patch

and comfort, adjust and teach. You watch them lifted

by the wind and assure them that someday they'll fly.

Finally they are airborne, they need more string and you

keep letting it out. But with each twist of the ball of twine,

there is a sadness that goes with the joy. The kite becomes

more distant, and you know it won't be long before that

beautiful creature will snap the lifeline that binds you

together and will soar as it is meant to soar, free and alone.

Only then do you know that your job is done.

-Erma Bombeck

After 3 amazing years with Mrs. Atkinson, we will miss her bunches!!

It was so nice having Grandma and Papa here to share in the special day.

One proud Daddy

We pulled Taylor out of school and took her to a delicious lunch at Harry's (her favorite spot).

I love you Taylor B. and am so excited to see what you will accomplish in middle school!

Staff vs. 5th Grade Softball Game

The end of the year festivities continued with today's Staff vs. 5th grade softball game. It has become a school tradition. Each class is assigned an inning to each get an "at bat" and time on the field. All of the the other grade levels sat in the outfield to cheer the players on and a DJ acted as announcer and DJ. In between innings, everyone enjoyed the Electric Slide, Chicken Dance and fun songs to sing along to. Taylor waiting for her class to be up to bat.

Allison froze in the outfield until the June Gloom burned off.

Mr. McTasney with Mrs. Lawrence and Mrs. Molstre (love the socks!)

Mrs. Falciano playing outfield

Mrs. Atkinson was pretty busy as the 2nd baseman

Taylor is up next...

She got a beautiful hit and made it safely to 1st base!

Mrs. Atkinson trying to push her off 2nd base :)

Time for the field

Shelby, Courtney, Demi and Taylor enjoy snowcones after their inning

Taylor, Cassidy, Hannah, Jaden and Shelby

Final Score: 5th Grade-24 Staff-9

Great job Students!

June Gloom

We have been anticipating our 1st beach day of the season for weeks now and when we saw how hot Temecula was scheduled to be this weekend, we knew this was the perfect opportunity. As we loaded up the car early, it was already plenty hot at home and stayed sunny until the last mile of our drive to Moonlight Beach. Then the gray cloud cover took over, but we were optimistic that it would burn off by lunch time. Matt, Hank, Leslie and I spent the first 2 hours bundled up in towels while the crazy kids braved the waves. Everytime they came out of the water, their lips were chattering and goosebumps covered their little bodies. Lauren asked Hank to bury them to keep warm. Dads are busy digging.

Towels blocking the sand

Leslie pulling their hair back

The girls only lasted for a matter of minutes this time. Reanna was the first out, quickly followed by Allison.

They were buried pretty deep which made getting out difficult.

Since the burying didn't last long, our last attempt was hot chocolate. But by 1:30, we were craving the Temecula sun (I never thought I would say that) and headed back to our house where the pool and 90 degree air were waiting for us. Our summer officially begins next week and I hope that June Gloom disappears before July!

5th Grade Pool Party

I can hardly believe the 5th grade End of the Year activities are officially underway. I get emotional just writing about it. At the end of last year I remember thinking it will soon be Taylor's turn to take part in the events, but I can't believe it has arrived so soon. The festivities began with today's field trip to the CRC for a pool party. Taylor felt so weird arriving to school in her bathing suit, cover up and flip flops. The kids were all thrilled to see each other before boarding the bus.

Cassidy and Taylor on the bus

Summer and Taylor

Although I didn't chaperone, Taylor brought her camera and shared all of the day's events with us when she got home. The kids loved the DJ and the buffet of pizza, nachos, popcorn and soda. In between dives in the pool, they had fun doing the limbo, playing duck-duck-goose, relay races and dancing.

Courtney and Cassidy caught in mid air

Jaden doing a little dancing

Taylor has formed some amazing friendships at Tony Tobin. She loves these girls:
Shelby, Courtney, Jaden, Summer, Cassidy, Demi, Hannah and Macey

Popcorn with Pop

Even though Father's Day falls after school lets out, Mrs. Falciano is sweet enough to treat the dads to an afternoon in their honor before summer. The kids worked hard on cards and gifts and had the tables nicely set for the dads' arrivals.

Matt was given pop and popcorn as a snack. Allison made a cute shirt and tie card naming all of the reasons she loves her daddy:

I love you because you make me cheesebread.

I love it when my dad plays tricks on me.

My dad and I play Just Dance.

My dad and I go everywhere.

My dad and I like to swim in my pool.

My dad and I have fun when we play soccer.

My dad is the best dad ever.

They even had time for a little Pictureka!

Just For Grins

Mrs. McBride calls the 2nd grade Just For Grins show the bridge to 3rd grade. The classes have been practicing their songs for weeks and some of the students even had lines to memorize, including Allison. Each class wore a different colored shirt and they all sang songs to help bring a smile to our face. We listened to "City Life", "America the Beautiful", "It's a Wonderful World" and "Hakuna Matata" just to name a few. Allison and Lorien did great during their speaking part introducing their class song.

Great job girls!

Allison and Abby

Cooper and Allison

After the performance, the 2nd grade teachers crowded all of the kids on stage for a grade level photo.