Les Miserables with High Schoolers

The 10th grade class at John Adams Academy read the unabridged version of Les Miserables by Victor Hugo this year. They performed theatrical readings, acted out the chapters and went as friends to see the movie when it was released in November.

This past week Jeff and I went as chaperones with the high schoolers to see the 25th Anniversary of Les Miserables at the Sacramento Community Theater. There were 60 in our group and I'm proud to say that not only did they do a great job representing their school, they made us (as parents) proud as well. They were well groomed, dressed modestly and acted appropriately during the entire production. What a pleasure for us!

Here's a little preview of the production we saw...

And here is where all of the action took place... 

Tickets!!

While waiting for our car the actor who portrayed Jean Valjean came around the corner and was met enthusiastically by our group of Scholars - he signed programs and stood for photos - Awesome!

And then....the actor who portrayed Marius came jogging by and he also stopped for autographs and photos.  The girls were over the top thrilled to see him in his running gear :)

The Chaperones.  Woot!

This was a great way to wrap up the school year and a really fun way to spend time with high schoolers (especially our own!)

Teacher Appreciation - Thanks a Bundt'ch

It's Teacher Appreciation Week at my favorite school and I had the opportunity to make 50 bundtlets for our teachers to enjoy.  Oh my gosh, I love these!  I've made them before for the ladies at my church on Mother's Day and seriously, it doesn't take that long to make them.

I scoured Pinterest for a printable and thanks to the girls over at eighteen25 I found exactly what I wanted to use (see end of post for link)

I decided to use my favorite Lemon and Chocolate cake recipes to make the bundlets - 25 of each.   I used a citrus glaze for the Lemon bundlets...

and chocolate ganache...

along with a sugar glaze for the chocolate bundtlets.

Here they are packaged up and ready for delivery to our fabulous teachers.  Another mom from school printed the tags so it was less time consuming for me to assemble and package together.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

My inspiration:

 

Thanks a Bundt'ch printable

Happy Constitution Day - proud mommy moment (again)

Alex and California Congressman Tom McClintock

Constitution Day Master of Ceremonies

 

 

 

 

"Constitution" -  artwork by The John Adams Academy 10th grade Scholars

School ♥

 The John Adams Academies are restoring America's heritage by developing servant-leaders who are keepers and defenders of the principles of freedom for which our Founding Fathers pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor

Every Friday for the first nine weeks of school, my son Alex and his classmates have the opportunity to be mentors to lower grades as they learn about JAA's Core Values.  Since I'm at the school every Friday volunteering, I get to watch them in action.

I had to be covert with my iphone since he doesn't like to have photos taken of himself.   Alex is assigned to the Kindergarten.  Here he leads the kinder class into the assembly area

 and gives them each a high-five as they pass through "the gate" of Sophomores and Juniors who are cheering them on.

I didn't get a picture of him sitting with the kids at the assembly, but I did get to see him in the middle of the kids as he helped lead the kinder class cheer.  It is so stinkin' cute to watch my 15 year old son with 60 little kids as they all yell, "All for One and one for all!"

My 8th grade daughter Allie is so happy at her new school.  She has great friends who are kind, respectful, and encourage her to do great things. 

Who doesn't want that for their children?

NEW school days

My two youngest start school today. A new public charter school. It's a conservative, traditional, preserving-our-history kind of school and Jeff and I couldn't be more pleased about it.

We live in California and there are not many public schools here that are conservative or traditional or that believe in restoring America's heritage.

We went to orientation on  Friday.

We pledged allegience.   The last time I pledged allegience to our flag at a public school was when I was in elementary school - more than 35 YEARS ago!!!

We listened to an AWESOME inspirational quote of the day.

Our national anthem was sung by all.

My kids met their advisers, their teachers and a bunch of new kids that were friendly, modestly dressed, and excited to start school.  Let me tell you, as a parent the modestly dressed part was awesome.  No piercings, no tattoos, no shorts up to here and tanks down to there on the girls, and no underwear hanging out of jeans on the boys.  Just great kids excited to learn  and challenge themselves without the distractions of boobs and butt cracks.  (let's just get it out there).

My son was invited to start a percussion group for band.  He's over the moon excited about it and had the opportunity to meet with the Dean of Scholars to discuss his plans.

My daughter was scared to death about getting lost and not meeting any friends.  Both of her fears were quickly eliminated as she met a group of girls in her grade and they all helped each other out.

Day one and I know it's going to be a great year.

Here we go.