We are so proud of Jake!!! This week we received a letter in the mail that Jake had been chosen as Diamondback of the month (he goes to Fort Herriman Middle School and they are the Diamondbacks). We were invited to a breakfast on Thursday morning. It was so neat. The principal, counselors and teachers were there. There were also 11 other students who had been chosen (they choose 2 boys and 2 girls from every grade). The principal explained that being chosen is very prestigious because the process for being chosen is extremely rigorous. He said that every month the teachers each choose 4 boys and 4 girls from each grade that they think exemplify the "Rattle Characteristics/Traits" R: Respects Self and Others-A: Always in the Right Place-T: Totally Prepared-T:Takes Responsibility-L: Lives to Learn-E: Exhibits Character. He explained that they then take the students with the most votes and send out a list of them to the teachers and they vote on who they think should win. Then it comes down to the top 4 boys and 4 girls in each grade and there is one final vote. The 2 boys and 2 girls with the highest number of votes are chosen. I have to admit I was one proud mom!!! One of the counselors came up to Jake and me and quietly said, "You know, to ever receive this award is quite the honor, but it is most impressive in the first quarter of 7th grade because that means your son has made quite the impression on his teachers." She then went on to explain, " You see, we usually see the same names over and over again for this award of our very best students and once they are chosen they can't be picked again. For Jake to be picked at the beginning, with such fierce competition, is the greatest honor!" Then Jake's art teacher came up to me and said, "I have to tell you, your son is such a joy to have in my class. He is one of the nicest boys I have taught in all my years and he is just such a great kid. If I weren't done with my child-rearing years (she's probably mid 50s) I'd snatch him up and take him home with me." We ate our breakfast as the kids were called up one by one to receive their plaques and shake hands with everyone. Then they were also presented with a folder with letters from their teachers to them. I want to share some comments that were made about Jake by some of his teachers.
Ms. Van Heiden (math): "I can always count on you to do the right things at the right time."
Mrs. Strang (art): "He thinks before he speaks and is self-disciplined, always accountable for his actions. He is kind to others and has a really good sense of who he is and how he fits in."
Mrs. Anderson (english): "Your bright smile and witty sense of humor really make my day. You are a hard worker and a great example to all of us of what it means to, Live-to-Learn."
Mrs. Nielsen (history): "Jake, I think that you are a very exemplary student and you show your classmates how to behave in class. You are what I like to call a "quiet leader" and you have a strong influence on your peers."
It was such a great day for Jake and his parents are very proud of him!!!
Last Saturday Ryan's team played Brighton. It was a great game and Ryan got to be kicker again! He is a tough little lineman, and even though a lot of the players he goes against are bigger than him, he still dominates!!
This past Saturday into Sunday we had a great first snowstorm. Jake and Ryan were so excited to go in the backyard and play in the snow! I'm just glad this didn't come down until after our football games on Saturday!!!
Josh was asked by one of his teachers at school to participate in a writing workshop at UVU. She told him he is a terrific writer ( you have to have a teacher recommendation to go) and she thought it would be good for him. Josh is doing well and loving school at Paradigm. It has been a great experience and I am so glad we learned about this terrific Charter School!
Ryan's team played against Murray on Saturday and beat them 34-0! Ryan played most of the game, offensive line and defensive line and he was also the kicker. They had the entire team tryout to be kicker a few days before the first game back at the end of August. Ryan was the 2nd best and they have taken the top three and let them rotate being kicker. Ryan did an AWESOME job and kicked it right over their heads and then it would drop and bounce. Ryan loves being kicker!! Their team is undefeated and will go to playoffs for sure this year!!!
Jake is on the right leaning into the big kid.
This past Saturday was Jake's game against Bingham. The first half of Jake's game wasn't very great. Bingham's team is huge (several boys about 5 feet 9 inches and taller and well over 200 pounds) and they are really good. Jake has several boys on his team, all linemen, who have never played before. They got blown away by these giant Bingham players. The second half our team stepped it way up and we played really well. They did score on us once, but we held tight! If we played like we did the second half against Bingham in all of our games, we wouldn't have lost to Alta or Woods Cross. We lost 34-0 to Bingham. Last year we lost to Bingham by even more the first time, but then came back to beat them 13-0 in the Championship Game!! This Saturday is a very important game against Brighton. If we win we go to playoffs, if we lose, Brighton goes to playoffs.
GO SILVERWOLVES!!!
I haven't written much of anything lately, just made posts about football. Right now our life seems full of football. Between Jake and Ryan there are practices every night and we have games all day Saturday. Josh has been a great help this year in getting the kids to their practices. Since I teach piano Mon.-Thurs. I can't take the kids, but Josh is always willing to take them for me (16 year olds want to drive any chance they can get...hallelujah!). Last Saturday it was raining the whole time during both games and chilly! It's looking like this Saturday may be worse! Yuck! Oh well, that's football.
Last Saturday at the end of Jake's game, I left a little early because it was my yearly piano recital at Riverton Music. It was a great evening and my students made me so proud!!! Ben took Jake and Josh to the Priesthood session of General Conference. After, we all went out together to Baskin Robbins for ice cream! Because we didn't have church early the next morning we came home and watched a movie together. What a great night!! Sunday we took the kids and listened to conference as we drove up to Silver Lake to enjoy the beautiful fall colors. It was absolutely breathtaking and the kids all mentioned how much fun they had and how much they enjoyed being up in the mountains. I love Utah!!!!
Ryan is in the left corner in the bottom picture. Can you see how far he has pushed back this Viewmont kid? Way to go Ryan!!! Ryan's team is undefeated!!! 6-0!!!!
Jake!!!
This boy isn't going anywhere! Jake is an incredibly strong lineman. You can't get past him! It was freezing on Saturday and it rained the whole time (hence the grainy looking picture) and was totally muddy.
This is Ryan making a block against West Jordan! Ryan is having so much fun this year playing football!!!
This is Jake making his block! The night before this game, Jake had his finger smashed between two helmets and his fingernail lifted out of the nail bed. OUCH!!! It didn't stop him from playing an awesome game and keeping Viewmont away from the ball!!! This was Sept. 27 and it was really hot outside!!!Way to go Jake!!!
We are so proud of Jake!!! This week we received a letter in the mail that Jake had been chosen as Diamondback of the month (he goes to Fort Herriman Middle School and they are the Diamondbacks). We were invited to a breakfast on Thursday morning. It was so neat. The principal, counselors and teachers were there. There were also 11 other students who had been chosen (they choose 2 boys and 2 girls from every grade). The principal explained that being chosen is very prestigious because the process for being chosen is extremely rigorous. He said that every month the teachers each choose 4 boys and 4 girls from each grade that they think exemplify the "Rattle Characteristics/Traits" R: Respects Self and Others-A: Always in the Right Place-T: Totally Prepared-T:Takes Responsibility-L: Lives to Learn-E: Exhibits Character. He explained that they then take the students with the most votes and send out a list of them to the teachers and they vote on who they think should win. Then it comes down to the top 4 boys and 4 girls in each grade and there is one final vote. The 2 boys and 2 girls with the highest number of votes are chosen. I have to admit I was one proud mom!!! One of the counselors came up to Jake and me and quietly said, "You know, to ever receive this award is quite the honor, but it is most impressive in the first quarter of 7th grade because that means your son has made quite the impression on his teachers." She then went on to explain, " You see, we usually see the same names over and over again for this award of our very best students and once they are chosen they can't be picked again. For Jake to be picked at the beginning, with such fierce competition, is the greatest honor!" Then Jake's art teacher came up to me and said, "I have to tell you, your son is such a joy to have in my class. He is one of the nicest boys I have taught in all my years and he is just such a great kid. If I weren't done with my child-rearing years (she's probably mid 50s) I'd snatch him up and take him home with me." We ate our breakfast as the kids were called up one by one to receive their plaques and shake hands with everyone. Then they were also presented with a folder with letters from their teachers to them. I want to share some comments that were made about Jake by some of his teachers.
