Last day of School

Well today is the last day of School for Kerby and Kerlandy. I can not believe how well they have both done in school after only being enrolled for 4 months.

We enrolled them the end of February, after only being in the US under 2 months. We worked very hard with them on "school" work here at home just a few days after their arrival. They are both very interested in learning. It really blew my mind how quickly they have picked up the English Language.  When Kerlandy talks on the phone to her older brother Blondy in Haiti she can only speak English to him. She cannot remember enough Creole to talk to him. Kerby told us he has a hard time talking to him like he use to, he has to think about what he is saying a little more.  

We received a card from Kerby a week ago saying we were invited this morning to attend their little awards ceremony at school, that Kerby would be receiving an award.  When I told him how great that was it was funny, he said "Mom, I don't know what Award is". I explained to him what an award was and the should be very proud. Kerlandy asked me if he was going to get  a present.. LOL  Jonathan and I attended the awards ceremony this morning and I was so very excited when they called his name. Not only did he receive an award but he received 2 awards... In our Middle School they divide the 7th grade into two groups. They call them "teams".  Each team has teachers in each field, that way they all kinda work together. Its really a great way to do things.  Well Kerby received a Math Award for having the Highest percent in his whole team (1/2 of the 7th grade). We were not really expecting that, we knew he did very well in math and thought maybe the top 5, thats how many they usually pass out. When they started calling the names and number 5, 4, 3 we thought oh yaa he got the 2nd highest average.. Then still not his name.. HE GOT FIRST!!!!!  The whole school clapped so hard for him, I think EVERYONE loves Kerby!!!!  We were so very proud of him and what he accomplished in such a short time.. I had to leave after he received his award to head back to work and got a message not long later that he received another award in Art.. I had no idea about this one or I would have stuck around.  We are so very proud of Kerby and how well he has adapted to school and all the students and teachers say he is a JOY to be around.  Kerby will be going on to 8th grade next year. I think it will challenge him a lot, but I think he can do it.


Kerlandy will be finishing up her 4 months of 2nd grade with a wonderful teacher, who she just loves. She has done so good in school this year. The first week of school she came home with a list of 10 spelling words and 2 bonus words that I never dreamed she would be able to learn to spell in time for a test a few days later. Well her determination came through, she made a 104% on the very first test. and on EVERY test to come after that. (102% on one, but that was my fault. I taught her the wrong word. LOL)  Her reading skills have come a long way... When Kerlandy first came home in December she spoke pretty much NO English. So for a child to learn a second language as quick as she has and do so good in school it has just blown my mind.  We are so proud of her accomplishments this year.  I think she would get the Spelling award if they handed them out in her school.  Jonathan and I met with her teacher, guidance counceler, principal and a 3rd grade teacher the other day and we all decided it would be better for Kerlandy to stay in 2nd grade for next year. (We wanted to enroll her in 1st gr. this year anyway). They say that in 3rd grade they really do a LOT LOT of reading and writing. She still has a little bit of a hard time expressing on paper what she is trying to say, only because of the language. Some of this will take a little time. I could not imagine me going to a different country and learning their language this quickly to be able to express what I have just read on paper. WOW.  They showed us her test scores and she is testing very good. I know it will give her a better advantage if she gets to complete 2nd grade. I explained to her that all the other children had 10 months of 2nd grade and she only had 4 months. It would not really be fair for her to be in 3rd grade when she only had 4 months of second and she was just fine with that.

We are going to continue to work with the kids this summer on their reading skills and have them both to keep a journal to help with their writing. They have both reached a higher academic level than I could have ever dreamed of in such a short amount of time.

When most children are very excited that today is the last day of school, both Kerby and Kerlandy are sad, they WANT to go to school so bad, they love it!!!

Sorry my post are so random and kinda hard to follow, I get to typing and just don't stop.  LOL
Thank you for reading my blog. I hope to do better with my post in the future.