Courtney's Award

At the end of the year at Snow Canyon Middle School we have an awards night.  Awards are given out from each department and then there are perfect attendance, principals choice, GPA, and other awards given to students.  This year we couldn't have the awards night because of Covid so our principal decided to have each teacher choose 2 students to give an award to and then the entire department would go to the student's home to give them the award (following social distancing). 

I was the one who got to compile the list of what student would get what award.  It was a hard job because many students were nominated for numerous awards but they could only receive one.  I had to figure out who should get what award and then make it possible for the most students to get something.

Courtney was nominated for the Business Office Specialist award.  When she found out I was the one compiling the list she told me to make sure she wasn't getting one.  But the way it all worked out, she was the one to receive the BOS award.  I kind of gave her a heads up so she would know to stay home when her teacher came over.  She wasn't happy with me but she got a medal, certificate, and a FAT cookie (which made it all worth it!).  The teacher said Courtney didn't look to happy to have them at our house but she survived.

If you are wondering what BOS is, it's the class where they are able to get MicroSoft Office Certified.  She also received college credit for the course and passed her certifications with flying colors!

Graduation Gifts

Ethan has been getting a ton of thoughtful gifts from family and friends for his graduation.  People have been so wonderful to make him feel special and loved.  He has received candy, money, socks, etc.  This gift is from a neighbor and was one of my favorites.  I laughed so hard!!

Mother's Day Morningside

Our Bishop arranged a Mother's Day Morningside.  Ethan was asked to speak along with 2 other young men in our ward who also have their mission calls.  He only had to speak for 5 minutes but he did a great job.  He spoke on Mary, Christ's mother, and what she had to go through to be a mother.  He was in our bedroom on the computer using Zoom and we were in the living room on another computer using Zoom to watch.  One of our neighbors sent a screen shot of Ethan to me.  Ethan didn't want us to record it or anything so I didn't, but thankfully someone else took a pic.

Ice Cream Cake

Ethan has always wanted an ice cream cake, so we got one for his graduation.  We went to Red Lobster (a weird experience during Covid) and then we went home to have ice cream.  It was fun to surprise him with it!

Ethan acts like graduating isn't that big a deal, and it probably doesn't feel like it since this semester hasn't been normal and he only had 6 credits, but it is a BIG DEAL!!

Success Academy Graduation (official video is at the end)

Graduations were done virtually this year.  It was strange.  We drove to DSU where Ethan got in line to do his walk through.  They kept all the graduates 6 feet apart (or at least they tried, a little bit) and had them walk as they video taped them.  They didn't announce their name, they just had them walk.

Ethan had all the leis on from family and friends.

Here is his walk from our perspective:

Here were his memories and where he will be in 5 years:

Then his friends wanted pictures and all social distancing went out the window.  Haha!!  The parents were all laughing because we were the ones to tell them to get together.  It's crazy because these kids have been together for the last 2 years and there are only 40 of them.  So they become really close and good friends.  It has been fun to watch him go to dances and stuff with the kids in this group.

I wanted pictures with the DSU campus sign so we drove to that and Ethan, being an amazing sport that he is, put up with pictures there too.

The final graduation video:

Thoughts from the Graduates - This is a video of the interviews they did with the graduates.

That's how Success Academy did graduation.  The DSU graduation for his Associates Degree will be in December so he won't participate in that one.

Leis

St George has a huge Polynesian influence.  This is very apparent when it's time for graduation.  Each high school sells leis and Etsy shops pop up all over trying to sell leis to parents of graduates.  There are candy leis, money leis, ribbon leis, flower leis, and everything else you can think of.  It's really crazy.

We made candy leis for Ethan's friends and I took money Julie sent me for Ethan and made a money lei for him from her.  It turned out pretty cute.  YouTube is amazing at teaching how to make graduation leis.

Dinner

Since the kids are home and everything has been cancelled, things have been a lot more relaxed.  It has been amazing.  I decided the kids need to be more diligent in cooking their dinner nights.  Ethan always cooks something with shrimp, Courtney usually makes something that is pasta, Bryan cooks stirfry, and I figure out something that everyone will like so there aren't any arguments.

Here is Ethan's goofy grin as he shows off his shrimp scampi he made.