New School Year Like No Other

The big thing about this school year is that Katya is a SENIOR!

Yes! She is graduating High School and we cannot believe it. It just blows our minds that we have a kid who is about to go to college.

We knew this school year was going to be unlike any other and braced ourselves for all the changes. 

Katya decided to graduate EARLY, which means because she was done with her required high school subjects, she was going to graduate in January and then take a couple more classes through the local Wake Tech College for college credit. 

Normally, Seniors are celebrated throughout the school year at the school...well...it certainly is not happening this year as all grades started out as Virtual schooling.

Normally, the day before school starts, senior parking spots are decorated with chalk. This year, kids had their driveways decorated. A bit sad, a bit fun, but whatever makes it a bit more special--we'll take it.

 

Mark supervising the work.

I tried to participate at minimum because of lack of any artistic skills so I was only entrusted to draw my Ukrainian flag...

It was a great bonding family activity as we tried to draw all sorts of things related to Katya (including Tsitsipas).

Another picture of the three cute kids and all the cool things associated with Katya (like the Wicked witch).

First day of “school” was Aug 26th. The kids technically didn’t start school then--that was just an orientation for the first two weeks to make sure everyone knew how to do school online. 

Katya-12th grade (last year of High School). 

Mark--6th grade (first year of Middle School)

And no idea what happened to a picture of Alex on his own...

Alex--10th grade.

This is what school looked like all the time for Mark. And it was so sad to see him being online for so many hours...I thought and thought and thought and had everything prepared to homeschool him. He wanted it and I was ready for it, but just couldn’t pull the plug. When the teachers and the students got adjusted to the new schooling a bit better, things started to look a bit brighter... so I left him in school. 

As an update... Mark went to in person school for eight days total during the first semester. The kids are divided into three cohorts and he got to go once every three weeks. In person school was the highlight for sure.

And this is where the big kids “go to school”. Katya only had two classes online so it is mostly Alex just sitting up in the rec room and studying. High school kids have not been to school at all this first semester, but we have high hopes for the second one. It’s been a bit of a sad/painful transition, but these kids are resilient and doing their best. I know a lot of children are failing their classes right now...sadly... And I see my kids working hard to keep their grades up and to stay motivated. It’s definitely a challenge. 

 Praying and hoping that we get back to a bit more normal kind of learning soon.