Staff Appreciation Week

 All of last week was Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week at school.  The theme for the week was "Super Heroes".  The commons area was decorated with night city scenes and red telephone booths.  The students could leave treats/gifts for the teachers/staff all week in their pots outside their classrooms.  The teachers & staff were treated to lunch one day and a popcorn bar another day.  The students and staff were treated to cupcakes one day also.  Each staff member also received a $25 gift card to Target.

 The week ended on Friday with a elementary school assembly filled with games for the teachers and staff to participate in.  First up was a super hero relay race.  First each person had to put on a pair of glasses, a tie, and a suit coat.  Then pick up a brief case and enter a red phone booth to change into a super hero.

 Upon exiting the phone booth, each super hero had to leap over a building and then throw three rocks of kryptonite into a bucket.

 Next, ride a scooter between some buildings and end by building a structure six boxes high.

 All the participants were cheered on by the students in the bleachers.

 Next up, was a game of moving four rocks of kryptonite from one bucket to another, but you could only use two sticks to pick them up and move them.  If you look close you will see me moving my kryptonite.

 Then was a game of flinging balloons through the air and being caught in butterfly nets by your partner.  This was a tough and challenging game.

 Last was to throw hula hoops onto the blow-up boxing super hero.  They had to get eight hula hoops on the super hero.

 The finale' was a grand prize drawing of a gift donated by a local business.  Mrs. Moore's name was drawn and she was shocked at the prize of two tickets to see Jake Owen this summer during the Divots Summer Concert Series.

It was such a fun week!  It was a great way to bring in Spring and beat the cold, winter blahs.

Take care,
Michelle

What a 6-year old thinks about!

Justin and I were driving the home the other day after dropping Cara off at track practice and this is how part of our conversation went.

Justin:  Mom, why does Grandpa Korth have horses?

Me:  I think he just likes horses.  Why?

Justin:  Horses don't give you anything?

Me:  What do you mean?

Justin:  Well, chickens make you eggs.  Some cows give you milk and some you can eat.  But, horses give you nothing.  They just poop all over.

Me:  (laughing)  Well, we'll have to tell Grandpa to think about this.

Justin:  Okay, you call and tell him.

A while later I called Grandma Korth and told her about this little conversation.  She had a good laugh and said that she would tell Grandpa that horses give you nothing and explain.

Sometimes I wonder how his little brain works.  Another part of the conversation was about what he should be when he grew up.  Justin is considering a job at McDonalds or an artist because he likes to draw mice.  I told him that I think he would be good at building things because he likes to build with Legos.  He told me that he would think about it some more.  I told him that he had a while to think since he is only in Kindergarten.

Take care,
Michelle

The Mice Art Project

Our local art center is featuring on exhibit during the month of March the art work from all the schools in Norfolk.  The art work is from both public and parochial schools in Norfolk in grades Kindergarten through 12th.

 



Early in the school year, Mrs. Kraft, the art instructor at Norfolk Catholic, taught the Kindergarten students how to draw a mouse.  Justin was drawing mice all the time.  He loves art class!

Justin's mice picture is two above his head.

Yesterday we had a half day of school so in the afternoon we stopped by the Art Center to check out the art work.  In the lobby by the front door, we found Justin's artwork featuring mice. 

Take care,
Michelle

A Week of Lasts

This is a week of lasts at our house.  It is the last week of 5th Grade girls basketball, it is the last week of little kids wrestling and it is the last week of 7th Grade volleyball league.  With that being said, we have one last full weekend of all three.  Then it is time to move on to track and baseball.  Cara is already in her second week of track practice.

 

Bumping the ball.

 Last weekend Cara was back on the court Sunday for another 8 sets at volleyball league in Columbus.  They finished the day with a record of 4 and 4.  They started the day in 4th place out of 15 teams.  It just so happened that last Sunday they had to play both the #1 and #2 teams.

 Spiking the ball.

 Serving the ball.

 Bumping and passing the ball.

 Spiking again.

Coming off the court after winning a set.

 

Take care,

Michelle

Justin Wins A Trophy!

 Justin completed on Saturday morning in the Battle Creek Little Kids Wrestling Tournament.  He weighed in at 43.9 pounds.  He was placed in a four-man bracket - one kid from Wayne, one kid from Plainview, one kid from Norfolk Public and Justin.

 First up was the kid from Wayne.  Justin started out aggressive.  He took the kid down and came close to getting a pin, but instead he won by points.

 Next, was a kid from Plainview that Justin pinned pretty quick.  Notice his "T" position in the above photo.  Justin pointed out to us later that he did the "T" position more than once.  Now if he get the half Nelson on a more consistent basis he is going to be hard to beat.

 Last was a kid from Norfolk Public.  In the above photo, Justin is trying to complete a half Nelson.

 In this photo, Justin is shooting and going for the legs like he is taught.

 Finally, Justin was successful on getting another pin.

 Justin was all smiles at the top of the medal stand.  He is very proud of his championship trophy and took it to school today to show everyone.

Justin's good friend, Callen, also won a championship trophy in his weight class bracket.  They were both so happy and were shaking hands to congratulate each other.

Take care,
Michelle

Columbus League 7th Grade Volleyball

Cara and six of her 7th Grade classmates are participating in a volleyball league in Columbus.  Every Sunday in March they play four games from noon to 3:00.  The games are 25 minutes long, consisting of 2 sets to 15 points.  Their record is kept on number of sets won and lost.

Last Sunday our household was up early head to David City for 5th Grade basketball.  Add in the time change, and it was even earlier and everyone was tired.  After the first basketball game, Becky, Emma, Cara and I headed to Columbus for volleyball.  During the first week of volleyball the girls finished 4-4.  On Sunday, Coach Fischer told the girls that the goal for the day was to finish above .500.  These girls did not disappoint finishing the day 7 and 1!

 


In this photo, notice how double-jointed Cara's arms are.

The girls usually spend a little bit of time warming up between games.  When the girls are not playing a game, they are scheduled to be the refs for another game.  It helps them learn the game a little better.

This last Sunday the girls won by forfeit over Norfolk Public.  Then they played a Columbus Lakeview team and won two sets.  Next, they played against a Columbus Scotus team and won two sets.  The Norfolk Catholic girls are usually intimidated by the Columbus Scotus girls, but on Sunday they fought and won.  Columbus Scotus is known for a having great volleyball teams and winning high school championships in the state of Nebraska. Lastly, the girls played a team from Columbus Middle School splitting sets with them.

The girls played much better this weekend than the first weekend.  They served better, passed better, had fewer dropped balls, and fought every point and every win.  You know it is a good day when the parents are high fiving in the stands and everyone is wearing smiles!

These six girls are showing so much improvement from volleyball last fall.  We'll see how things go this Sunday when they hit the court again.

Take care,
Michelle

Norfolk Catholic Takedown Club Wrestling Tournament

Yes, I am still blogging this week about sporting events that the kids took part in last weekend.

 

 Saturday morning, Justin had to weigh-in between 8:00 and 8:30 to wrestle in the Norfolk Catholic Takedown Club Wrestling Tournament.  This was our home tournament and Justin was excited.  He was up bright and early and ready to wrestle.  He weighed in on Saturday morning at 45.8 pounds.

 First, Justin wrestled Zach, a Kindergartner in Justin's class.  Justin almost got pinned Zach, but didn't quite get there.  He won by points though.  Justin was aggressive and kept trying to score points.

 Next, Justin had to wrestle a kid from Columbus Lakeview.  Justin fought hard, but lost by getting pinned.

 Last, Justin wrestled a very experienced kid from Neligh Oakdale.  This kid picked Justin up and through Justin and himself down on the mat.  Justin got pinned.  That match left Justin in tears and very mad. 

 Wrestling may be tough, but Justin is learning sportsmanship.  Before every match he has to shake the opponents hand and after every match he has to shake hands with the opponent and the opponent's coach.  Justin has not given up and keeps fighting until the whistle blows.  He even wants to wrestle in a few more tournaments.

 Justin placed 3rd in his bracket and received another medal.  He paid $1 to have his medal engraved on the back with his name, the date, and how much he weighed. 

Take care,
Michelle

Weekend Scoop-Part II

 Justin started wrestling last week and had practice on Tuesday and Thursday night.  Then on Friday night, we took him to the Creighton Little Kids Wrestling Tournament.  Cousin Zac was in the locker room for his weigh-in of 45.2 pounds.  Zac asked Justin if he was ready to wrestle.  Uncle Randy was up on the stage and got Justin in the right bracket and on to the Mat #1 to compete.

 First match was against a wrestler from Crofton.  This little boy knew exactly what to do and was experienced.  Justin hung tough.  He rolled over from his back to his tummy to avoid the pin.  He tried to keep his shoulders off the mat.

 But, in the 3rd period, Justin was pinned by the other wrestler.  Justin was so mad that he had a few tears.  But, Dad told him to shake the other wrestler's hand, shake the other coach's hand, and to dry his tears because he had to wrestle another kid shortly.

 Next up was a little boy from Hartington Cedar Catholic.  Justin wrestled his little heart out.  He was aggressive and kept trying to roll the other boy over.

 This time Justin came out with a win by points.  He was smiling after this match.

Justin's highlight of the night was getting his 3rd place medal.  He was very happy and full of smiles.  Wrestling is not easy and he was exhausted afterwards.  Zac missed Justin's matches because he was dealing with blood issues on another mat, but we got a photo with him before we headed for home.  Uncle Randy was busy on the stage setting up brackets for the next rounds and announcing the winners.

Thanks for inviting Justin to his first wrestling tournament! 

Take care,
Michelle