Back to School 2025
Met their teachers and walked the kids to their classrooms at Open House. I think the biggest change this year is the new “No Cell Phones” policy state law which makes it so that L can’t see or check my messages between classes, but hopefully kids in general will be able to focus better in school.
L is now a 9th grader at Junior High (technically first year of high school?!). She is so excited for Art Class and a book club called “One More Chapter” in English. Her first day of school she made a friend in the back of Honors Math. It’s her first year of Seminary, which she walks to the building next door for and brings her heavy scriptures in her backpack. I’m honestly horrified at how much this child carries around with her at school all day. She’s playing viola in Orchestra and thankfully it’s her last class so she doesn’t need to lug her instrument for too long before boarding the bus to practice at home.
F starts 4th grade, and I can’t believe how grown up and adorably geeky he looks in his glasses, button down shirts, and wrist watch. “I wanted to dress up nice today,” he said his first day. He has been telling us how scared he is about the new school year since he doesn’t know any of his classmates and it’s his teacher’s first year, all brand new for him. Jer reminded him that getting to know people and making friends is F’s superpower! F was excited about learning Utah state history and Cursive this year.
W’s new 3rd grade teacher actually taught L a few years back. He was confident in being able to learn and do his work, and Jer and I are interested in seeing him grow in friendships this year.
Jer has 2 new classes he’s teaching this year: American Wars, and Latinos in Action (college prep). He says it will be a hard year doing 2 new classes without any extra prep time (to get stuff ready)- so maybe he will be taking work home for lesson plans and grading. He’s moved next door to a larger room since his buddy retired, and we helped him arrange his bookshelves and get his schedule together. He changed the chairs to have one side of the room facing the other. I’ve heard from several staff and previous students that he’s the best teacher and especially his political science/government class is a must. It makes me wish I could take his class just once.
I wanted the kids’ first day to be special, so I made some extra efforts: homemade breakfast (English muffin egg sandwiches and more), a fresh ready lunch, and taking them to school myself. There was so much traffic on the way to L’s school this morning but maybe she was just in the nick of time for her first class. The boys and I biked to their school this morning with plans to bike home after, even though I’m 6 months pregnant (haha! thank goodness for e-bikes on those uphills). There were lots of photo opportunities plus a Red Carpet welcoming them back.
I hope this is an amazing school year for our whole family!!
Love, Kat
