Kinard Family Chronicles: The End of an Era...School's Out and Summer's Here!

Sending Hailey to JK at St. Catherine's has been one of the best decisions we've made. She has matured socially, seems more confident and engages more in cooperative play with her friends. (This is a huge change from last year in the Green Room at SSP! She would sit at the craft table all. day. long. She was very focused, but didn't socialize much with her friends and wasn't interested in learning academic skills.) This year has given her the chance to become a leader, grow, explore, discover and learn, her way, in a safe and nurturing environment. To quote Mrs. Oken-Wright, "Hailey has a keen sense of inquiry and the disposition to follow her questions through to investigation." Spot on! Hailey is curious about everything and her ideas are BIG! This is how she learns and grows. She is our scientist, explorer, investigator, frog/bug/science/nature lover and this special year in JK has allowed her to explore her passions while sneaking in basic math/science/reading skills at the same time. Hailey is reading at a level D now and has made a good start toward independent reading! Kindergarten, here she comes! I know it sounds cliche, but I truly believe that this year has been a gift to her in so many ways, and I'm so sad to see it come to an end. These 12 girls will always have a special bond, and I look forward to watching them go through academic life together. (Just not too quickly I hope!)

JK Watermelon Social

2015 St. Catherine's JKers.

Hailey with her fabulous JK teachers, Ms. Martin, Mrs. Oken-Wright and Mrs. Geisbueller.

Watermelon and strawberry lemonade picnic!

Lainey and Avery loved hanging with the big JKers for the afternoon!

Hailey likes showing Lainey how fun JK is so she will be excited to go there in a year!

Hailey and her best JK buddy Hartley. Sadly, Hartley has a June birthday and is staying another year in JK. Hailey was heartbroken, but I have no doubt she will make a new best buddy in kindergarten!

It took a full school year, but Lainey finally warmed up to Lucy (the kindest, sweetest therapy dog ever!)

Hailey, saying her goodbyes to Lucy.

Gold/white day to surprise the teachers!

Hailey's Last day of JK

Last day of JK.

Lainey's usual spot, every morning. Waving goodbye to sissy as she leaves with Daddy for school.

They yell "Adios chica!"

Portfolio Presentation

The teachers do a great job of documenting each girls growth and work during the school year. Hailey's portfolio has pictures, quotes, stories and all of her work documented inside! It's a big deal when each JKers gets her portfolio. It means she is ready for kindergarten! They also get a daisy that they grew themselves in the outdoor classroom ;-)

JK graduate!

JK Picnic

Lainey and Avery got to walk across the street after SSP summer camp, to help Hailey celebrate her last day of school.

They love playing in the outdoor classroom.

Avery didn't venture too far from the snack table!

Avery had fun exploring the classroom too.

Mommy, holding back my tears on Hailey's last day of JK.

Last Meeting (Lainey got to join in too!)

Lower School End of the Year Program

The JKers sang for the graduating 4th graders ("fourthies")

They sang, "May the road rise to meet you." There wasn't a dry eye in the house!!

So long JK! Kindergarten, here she comes!

St Stephen's Spirit Night

The 3 Red Room amigos. Alexa, Allie and Lainey.

Avery had lots of fun with the bubbles!

Lainey and Alexa.

Hailey took advantage of the face painting! Can you guess what she is?!

It took Lulu a little while to warm up to the face painter. She just painted her arm at first.

Right before we left she found the courage to get the butterfly she wanted on her face.

Face painted buddies!

Hailey was excited to see her old St. Stephen's friend, Maddie at the picnic!

Sweaty, painted, dirty and tired! Spirit night success!

Red Room Summer Birthday's Picnic

Lainey got to celebrate her birthday with her other Red Room friends who have summer birthdays. They had cake, sang Happy Birthday and spent the rest of the afternoon on the playground!

We took advantage of the flexible JK schedule and took Hailey out of class for the party. It's so nice having them right across the street from each other!

Evident from Avery's face, it was pretty hot out the day! She can thank her Daddy for passing the lovely "sweaty jean" on to her.

Hailey and Alexa tried cooling off on the tire swing.

St. Stephen's End of the Year Program

Lainey did a great job singing with the rest of her friends at the End of the Year Program!

She was surprised to see her whole family there for the show (even big sister Hailey got to skip school for a bit (again!) to come support her little sister!)

As they were leaving, Avery got very sad watching her "Wainey" walk out without her. She started crying and yelling "Wainey! Wainey!"

Mrs. Marion, the head of school. got on the microphone and said, "I think we all feel like little Avery right now! It's so sad to watch them leave. They are growing up so quickly!"

Avery's Last Day of School

Avery Claire is a Toddler Morning Out - Wednesday graduate! She has no idea, but that's ok! She was just happy that we were all paying her extra attention that morning!