Best Friend Comes Home

 It was smiles all around when a few weeks ago Allyson, Cara's best friend, came home from college on a surprise visit.  It was also BIG smiles because the volleyball team beat the #8 Battle Creek Bravettes in straight sets 25-18, 25-21, 25-18.

 Allyson goes to college at Kansas State and came home as a surprise for the weekend.  I received a text that afternoon that she was on her way and not to tell Cara about the surprise.  It may have been the hardest for Erica not to tell.

 Allyson is one of Cara's best friends and she is also one of Erica's best friends and big sister.  Allyson has given Erica so many rides to and from volleyball practice last year and to and from work this last summer.  She is like another daughter at our house.  She will come in and eat supper with us.  Allyson is one of the nicest teens I know.  Plus, I owe her a college care package.

Take care,
Michelle

Fall Music Concert

 All junior high students are required to take music.  Most of them do not enjoy the class.  Their enjoyment is very evident when they have a concert.

 The 8th Grade performed "Sing a Mighty Song!", "For Good" (From Wicked), and "Riversong A Celtic Celebration".  They will be attending a choral clinic in a couple weeks where they will perform these songs again.  Therefore, this was a practice for the clinic.

Take care,
Michelle

Norfolk Public Tournament

 After finishing Cara's college visit at USD, we headed back home to make it to part of Ashlin's end of season volleyball tournament at Norfolk Public.

 First the girls competed in pool play and came out as the #1 team.  Therefore, they played Humphrey St. Francis in the championship game.

 The girls lost in straight sets, but a 2nd place trophy isn't bad to end the season!

 The 7th Grade girls also finished 2nd in the tournament, so, two trophies were added to the trophy cases at Norfolk Catholic.  It was a great season for the junior high girls.  I see potential in their future.

This marks the end of junior high volleyball for this Leader household.  After six continuous years of having a junior high volleyball player, we say goodbye.  Ashlin is ready to move up to high school ball.  I do wonder what position is in her future.  This year she played both setter and hitter.  Go Lady Knights!!!

Take care,

Michelle

College Visit #2

College visit #2 was to the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.  

 We left early on a Saturday morning because registration for the day was at 8:30.  Cara checked in with her admissions representative and then was met by the coyote mascot.  I couldn't let this photo opportunity pass.  I asked the coyote if I could take his photo with my daughter and got a head nod.  Then we ate breakfast and looked over the itinerary for the day.  There were a couple other students from Norfolk Catholic visiting that day also.

 First up was our welcome and first session at the Andrew E. Lee Memorial Medicine and Science Building.  There was a welcome by an admissions representative and then one of the Deans of Science talked about the various science majors available to students. Cara and Emma are both looking into science majors, so, our itineraries were similar.

 After the session, Cara checked out the tables by major in the lobby.  Cara talked to a professor about Social Work, a student about Addiction and Prevention and a professor regarding Medical Lab.  Cara is still deciding on a major, but these are leading the pack.  The Social Work professor invited Cara to come on a Tuesday or Thursday and sit in on some classes.  Addiction and Prevention in drugs/alcohol is offered as a major at USD.  Very few colleges offer this as a major and this area of study is growing rapidly.

 Then we were off to tour the dorms.  First, we toured a dorm that most freshmen live in and then we toured an apartment style dorm for upper classmen.  Students are required to live on campus for the first two years at USD.

 After touring the dorms, we checked out tables set up for activities and organizations on campus such as: sororities, honor classes, international travel, etc.  Then we had lunch and discussed our day. This campus is small and very pretty.  

Cara has applied to USD, but has not heard back if she has been accepted yet. She has some big decisions to make in the next few months, such as, what to major in and where to attend college.  Which college is the best fit?

Take care,
Michelle

Beating Scotus

The 8th Grade girls have had a very good volleyball season.  A measuring stick for the girls is how they play against Scotus.  The volleyball program at Scotus is one of the best in the state.  There program is consistently good year after year.

 The 8th Grade boys would show up at volleyball games after football practice to cheer on the girls.  This sign starting showing up at games about halfway through the season and was held up high if the girls had a block. These boys were known for cheering loud and disturbing the opposing team.

 Back to the Scotus game -- This year the game was held at Norfolk Catholic in Burns Gym.  Scotus has so many girls out for volleyball that they field a new team of 12-14 girls for each game.  We played 7B, 7A, 8B and 8A games.  Norfolk Catholic came out on the winning end of each game except for 8B.

 This game marked my last official game as bookkeeper for the junior high volleyball girls after keeping book for six years.  Cara volunteered me for this position when she was a 7th grader and I have done it each year since because we always had a junior high player.  But, this is the end of junior high for Ashlin.  Although, I found out that Cara has volunteered me to move up and help keep book for the high school freshmen next year.

Take care,
Michelle

Senior Photo Sneak Peak

Cara had her senior photos taken in August.  There are so many good photos to choose from.  Cara chose to have one of the neighborhood kids, Keaton Eisenmenger do her photos.  Keaton was home on break from The Young Americans and took Cara's photos.  Keaton started KE Photography as a way to work his way through college, but also a way to explore his hobby.  These are just three photos of about 200 that Keaton took.

Take care,
Michelle

Young Americans

Justin participated in The Young Americans workshop for three days at Norfolk Catholic.  This workshop was open to 3rd-12th Grade students at our school and surrounding schools.  There were 241 participants in the workshop. The Young Americans group puts on a workshop at Norfolk Catholic every three years.  Finally, Justin was old enough to give it a try! 

 The Young Americans is a group of young people ranging in age from 18-23+ that travel the world spreading the joy of music and encouraging kids to participate in the arts.  

 The workshop was on Sunday afternoon from 2-6, Monday from 8-5:30 and Tuesday from 3:30-5:30.  Then on Tuesday night they put on a performance from 7-9.  The first hour of the show is performed by The Young Americans group and during the second hour of the show the students perform the show.  It is a high energy and fast paced show.  The theme of the show was Broadway.  Grandpa and Grandma Leader, Grandma Korth, Keith, Erica, Ashlin and I enjoyed the show!  Cara missed the show due to a volleyball game out of town and she really wanted to see the show. But, the bus pulled in shortly after the performance and Justin, Ashlin and I high-fived the girls as they got off the bus after bringing home two "W's"!  It was smiles all around!!!

 Justin was a little shy and unsure going into the workshop.  But, he had so much fun singing and dancing.  The workshop is fast paced and quite a bit is thrown at them in a short amount of time.  Justin learned songs in five languages.

In The Young American group that came to Norfolk Catholic were four performers from Norfolk.  Two alumni from Norfolk Catholic and two alumni from Norfolk Public.  Keaton Eisenmenger has been with The Young Americans for the past year.

It just so happens that Keaton grew up on the block over from our house.  He grew up babysitting for out kids and yes, changing Justin's diapers.  Keaton couldn't believe how old Justin is and was so happy to see Justin be a part of the workshop!

 As is tradition, a neighborhood photo is taken after events.  It cracks me up because these kids know to find each other for the photo.  True friends forever!!!

Take care,
Michelle

Gaining Confidence

Yes, we are living in the gym!  Yes, we have bleacher butt!  Thank goodness we have bleacher chairs because my back wouldn't be able to take it.

 The varsity girls have one of the toughest schedules in the state.  We moved down a class this year, but their schedule is still the same as if they were still C1.  They started the year 0-6 before gaining some confidence and picking up some quality wins.  

 Lately though the girls have avenged one of those early season losses to a ranked team and beat another ranked team in their district.

 They are coming together as a team which is great to see!  They are supporting each other and there have been many team trips to McDonald's after games to team bond and hash out problems.  There is no giving up on the court either.  They are fighting to the end in every match!

We are on the down hill slide for the season with less than a month to go.  Regular season games this week and next, then conference tournament, followed by sub-districts the next week.  

Ashlin finishes her junior high volleyball season this week.  This junior high season is also my last season being the bookkeeper for the volleyball team.  With Ashlin moving to high school next year, this will be the end of six years of keeping book for Coach Freese.

Take care,
Michelle