School Daze

We've had two full weeks of classes now, and it makes me wonder if summer even happened. At least this August has been fairly cool compared to most.

HEALING
Before I get too far along I should report that Jenna is doing well. She endured a lot of pain initially, which brought nausea along with it, but that seems to have subsided for the most part. She's still wearing a leg brace that keeps her knee straight while walking, but she is able to move round and do most things for herself now.

She has an apartment at school this year. Juniors are eligible for those. She and Macy, her roommate from the last two years, are still together, and they've added two other good friends, Mattie and Katie. We moved most of Jenna's furniture on Thursday, and Vicki dropped her off at school yesterday. Her classes start Tuesday.

Jenna will be hobbling around campus for a few weeks. She opted to leave her car at home until she can bend her knee a little better.

SCHOOL SCHEDULES
One of the biggest blessings of being at Davidson Academy is that I get to see the boys during their school day. I try to give them plenty of space to be themselves without my presence being a large shadow, but still, it's nice to see them around. This is Ben's senior year, so I'd better soak it up with him.

Ben's schedule is pretty rigorous again this year. He's signed up for AP Calculus, Economics (as an independent study), AP English Literature, Foundations of Christian Faith, AP Physics II, Graphic Design, Comparative Worldview, Current Events, and Senior Research Project (some of these are semester courses).

The Senior Project is sort of a capstone course at DA where seniors get to choose a topic for research. Then they have to write a research paper as well as deliver an oral presentation. This seems to overtake life for most seniors, so I'm sure I will report on this over the next few months.

Nate is entering his sophomore year and will be studying Algebra II Honors, Chemistry Honors, English II Honors, Health, Spanish II, US Government, World History, and New Testament (again, some of these are semester courses).

I am teaching my 8th grade STEM class again, and this spring I am going to offer a high school version as an elective. I am moving to a new classroom in a new portable behind the school. Unfortunately, the portable isn't ready yet, so for the last two weeks I've been teaching on the stage in the gym. Not ideal, but we've made it work.

The boys have also geared up to run Cross Country again this fall and have already logged some respectable times. Nate was within 20 seconds of his personal record yesterday. Ben is also looking forward to his final season on the basketball court this winter. It's going to be a full and busy year.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
We've celebrated two birthdays since I wrote last. Ben's birthday was on the 3rd. It's hard to believe that Thursday's Baby is now old enough to vote! The Cross Country team surprised him with donuts after practice that morning, and we celebrated with a meal over at Mom's that evening. I celebrated my 52nd birthday on the 13th. We had my family meal over at Mom's the day before.

Joe