Another school visit

I was back at the high school yesterday morning for the once-a-semester civics fair. Students come by, we tell them about volunteering opportunities at the museum and ask them to give us their email so we can tell them more and see if they're actually interested in volunteering.

They did get a kick looking through the old yearbooks we brought along.

Here I am posing with some volunteers. Another staff member, R, was there but she was taking the picture.

Back to school

I was ready early Friday to be at the high school at 8 a.m. for a civics fair, trying to encourage students to volunteer with us. Here I am with our board president and operations manager. We had a few kids interested but it seemed they were all less energized than the students we saw last semester.

I couldn't resist sending this pic to E. I was searching for girls' sports photos later that day and came across this one, not identified at all. My manager said it looks like it's from the 1930s so I started going through all the 1930s yearbooks. Found it half-way through in the 1935 Tabula. Times have changed.

For the love of history

I recently took L's graduation sign from our garage to the museum for possible inclusion in the wall of signs we're creating as part of the high school's anniversary exhibit. We have a lot of old artifacts but they said it would be nice to have something from more recent years. They can borrow it, but I want it back. The garage looks a little bare without it. When I walked into work yesterday it was up on the wall. I've been tasked with writing captions for each of the 20-some artifacts.

We were so excited when the huskie mascot came along to drop it off. L said this picture is not to appear at the museum. She thinks she looks bad. Um, it was during a pandemic but OK. We might include the one of the huskie and the teacher walking toward the house with the sign in hand.

I asked a few of my mom friends if they had an OPRF graduation gown they were willing to donate. (We tossed L's a while ago). And I found one! She was happy that it would be going to the museum and thrilled it was now out of her house. And, to make it even better, her son was in the Class of 2019 which was the first class to wear cap and gowns. She even gave me the cap and tassel too. I told her I'd let her know if it makes it into the display so she can come see it.

Speaking of modern things, a neighbor was giving away this lacrosse practice jersey so I told her I'd take it and see if we could use it in the display. Turns out, E used to babysit her kids. Small world.

Busy Wednesday

Yeaterday was fhe first day of school for the local elementary school. Schubert's mom (along others) snuck out after their kids were asleep to do some inspirational sidewalk art.

For work, I spent a few hours in the morning at the high school for a volunteer fair. This cafeteria has been completely remodeled since L was a student. We gave students our spiel and asked them to give us their email address for more information. It was my job to put the names and email addresses in an Excel sheet. So many of the names and addresses were illegible.

This is a neat addition outside the auditorium. This concrete relief hung over the school's entrance when the building faced Ontario Street. I believe it was found in the school's basement. The entrance was changed to Scoville Avenue decades ago and Ontario Street was closed off to expand the building.

Since I was walking past the church I had to get some pictures of the roofers. We had storm damage last spring so the insurance is paying for the new roof and painting. It's about (sometimes over) 100 degrees today so I should have known my Facebook post about it would bring out all of the concern for the workers. (I think roofers know when to take breaks since it's always hot when you're roofing).

My afternoon project was researching this lantern projector for the high school's 150th anniversary exhibit. So interesting.

Time to unsubscribe

Guess I don’t need to be reading these daily OPRF bulletins anymore. I also got a Google classroom update for L's high school calculus class.

"Adoption" gift

L received the gift last night from her "sponsor" for being a graduating senior. Parents posted a picture of their graduate on a Facebook page and other parents and community members volunteered to "adopt/sponsor" them by getting them a surprise graduation gift. I made a gift for L's friend, M.

She got an insulated cup covered in flamingos and several gift cards.

And such a cute idea. L's sponsor put together a bag of four gifts and had a number taped on each one for 2020.

Burning the schoolwork

It was a beautiful night tonight so we sat outside and started a fire. L brought out her papers from senior years and tossed them into the fire. Not sure when we started this tradition but she loves it. Here she is going through her papers finding tests she graded for the Japanese class she helped out in. Guess those grades aren't of any use to those students now.

This is senior year on fire.

Virtual graduation day

Today was the day. Parents voted in May to try to do a "real" graduation ceremony in early August (I voted for a virtual ceremony ASAP). The school announced its plans then switched to a virtual graduation ceremony. So many unhappy parents on the Facebook page. L said the parents need to get over it. I wasn't even sure L wanted to watch the ceremony. The school sent out the graduation programs which we received yesterday.

Before the ceremony, a couple of L's friends dropped off graduation presents for her.

Her friend, A, got her this cute Disney bracelet with personalized charms on it.

We did end up watching the ceremony - until we saw L's picture. (If you watch it on YouTube she's at 1:01.23). We were asked to submit a picture in the cap and gown. Lots of people didn't so the school just used their yearbook photos. It was nice to hear all the kids' names without the cheers from those parents who just can't keep quiet. And we weren't sitting outside in the football stadium. I'd say that's two pluses for a virtual ceremony.

L was cheering on her friends!

Graduation cake

L didn't get a graduation dinner like her siblings, and her eighth-grade graduation was in the midst of my cancer treatments so we thought she deserved a cake. She got a huge ice cream cake from Baskin-Robbins. It's good but Andy says he prefers the Dairy Queen cakes, which actually have no cake, just ice cream. I think I know what we'll get him for Father's Day.

Graduation Day!

Today would have been L's graduation day. It was a beautiful day too.

We had her dress up in her cap and gown and drove to the high school to take some pictures. OK, a lot of pictures.

We took along a bag of confetti to get a picture or two of L celebrating.

It took a few tries to get it right.

I love the expression on her face. She looks so happy. I told her we'll have to bring the confetti to her U of I graduation in four years. We have a lot of confetti.

We walked around the entire school looking for places to take photos. Several people who seemed to be on their daily walks said, "Congratulations" as they walked by.

More confetti for the front of the school.

We even stopped by the bakery for a picture. She's been off work since mid-March and has been called back starting Tuesday. She's excited to be going back.

Cards from church

Our youth minister, G, dropped off graduation cards to L today from the church members.

L made these mugs for all the graduates at G's request so L knew she was getting one. She didn't know it would be full of candy!

Here's L with all the cards. A few had money, one had a Dunkin' gift card but most were filled with well wishes.

This one, from our friend, L.L., was so funny it made L laugh out loud.

Gown and diploma pick-up

L and her friend, N, drove to the high school today to get in line to pick up their graduation gowns, yearbook and a bag of "goodies." L came home and put the mortarboard on before getting out of the car. Made for a nice photo.

And here's the diploma! I'm planning to take her to the high school over the weekend to get some nice pics in her cap and gown. Graduation was supposed to be Sunday, the 31st.

This one a gift from the Student Council to the seniors. L said it's a nice thought but she wishes not everything that has Class of 2020 on it also has toilet paper rolls.

Gift from sensei

L got a package from sensei in the mail today. It's her name written in Japanese and a collection of the various writings she did in Japanese class. On the back of the name, sensei wrote a nice note to L. She said the word that reminded her most of L was "loyal."

"... When I think of all the wonderful qualities you have, it is hard to pick one word, but your loyalty stands out to me. You are always making sure that everyone feels accepted, you always try to find the good in everyone. We always came together because of you. Thank you for your kindness, compassion, thoughtfulness and sweetness. Your cake and cookies were delicious and sweet, but nothing compares to your own sweetness."

Porch deliveries

The preschool director dropped off some Spilt Milk pastries this morning as a thank you for the school year - banana bread, a scone, biscuit and three cookies. How sweet and yummy!

And sensei dropped off this stuffed llama the other day for L. She had left it in the Japanese room. We were planning to have a gift (she was the favorite teacher for all three kids) ready for her since we knew she was going to drop it off but she came by two days before we expected her. She gave us her address so I can at least mail her a card and said L can give her a present when they get to see each other again. Maybe sometime this summer? Muffles isn't amused by the llama.

Celebrating the graduates

L was up in time for church today. Our Christian Ed director sent out bingo cards for the kids to mark things off as they watched the service. Here's L showing off her bingo - a triple bingo, she claims. No prizes though.

The church celebrated all of its graduates today. They included videos from various church members and relatives to the grads.

Aunt Allison made a really sweet video for L.