We had an incredibly busy weekend June 11-12. I'm not sure how we're all still standing, but we are.
Science Olympiad
Saturday was the annual Science Olympiad competition at Pioneer High school. M competed in Circuit Wizardry, an electronics circuits-based event, and Write It Build It, where two students write about an object made of multiple odd parts, and another two students have to build that object based on those instructions. He trained hard for both events, and he and his teammates won a second-place medal for Circuit Wizardry.
K competed in four events: Rock Hunter, which involved learning about the structure, hardness, and uses for rocks and minerals; What Went By, which required students to identify endangered and extinct animals based on their habitat, location, diet, and other characteristics; Estimania, which is all about math, estimating distances and measurements, and estimating the results of difficult math problems (such as 992 x 4005); and Mystery Architecture, where the participants are given odd materials from which they need to build the tallest possible tower able to support a tennis ball.
K was a last-minute addition to the Mystery Architecture team - one of the participants was unable to compete in it due to a time conflict with another event.
K won two medals, both fourth place: Estimania and What Went By.
We're so proud of the work they did, the time they spent, the patience they had at the competition itself (they were there all day) and their (and their school's) sportsmanship.
Lawton school won the overall trophy for the 2nd/3rd grade events, which took place in the morning, and for the 4th/5th grade events, which took place in the afternoon.
I spent most of the day in the academic check-in area, helping to ensure everyone was on time to their events, answering questions, looking for missing fourth-graders in the Map Reading room, sweating more than should be healthy while neglecting to drink enough water, and enjoying helping about 1500 Ann Arbor-area students from 24 different schools. It was a great day for all, and I am proud of the students from all the schools who worked hard, studied, and showed up ready to compete. It is comforting to know that these kids will be running the country someday. I hope they hurry.
Soccer Headlines
On Sunday, M had his final soccer game of the year. It is also his final soccer game with the team he has been playing with for the last three years. His coaches for the last two years, Monty and Jim, have done a wonderful job teaching the players about working hard, being mentally tough, using your head as well as your body, as well as the rules and strategies for playing soccer. M is very lucky to have had these coaches as leaders and role models. We've met some coaches from other schools for whom we probably wouldn't want M playing.
K's last soccer game was last weekend (they had a game on Saturday, but K couldn't attend). His team won all but one game this season, and has shown a tremendous improvement. K has played well at defense and offense, and he is also fortunate to be coached by a parent who is, first and foremost, concerned with sportsmanship, athleticism, and fair play. K has learned a lot from his coach, and has grown as a player over the last year.
After M's final soccer game, K went to his piano teacher's awards party (M spent the time winding down from his soccer game and farewell party) and then we all went to our favorite picnic of the year, Food Gatherers' Grillin'. We had a peaceful dinner, walked around a little bit, did some shopping at the silent auction, and had some Zingerman's gelato and brownies for dessert.
It was a relaxing end to a hectic weekend.
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1 comment:
Congratulations to everyone!
Love,
Dad / Grandpa
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