Colton ~ 8th Grade

The 2019-2020 school year will be remembered for its unconventional end ... Covid-19 hit and the schools shut down physically, with the kids finishing up online at home.  The year had started off in some upheaval too ...

The year before, school boundaries had been redrawn. All school permits were revoked and students had to apply again if they were going to a school outside of their boundary.  That was us. Starting back with Landon, who had to permit to finish his 9th grade year at Elkridge after a boundary change in 2009. Elkridge HAD been the neighborhood school, but our area got switched to the Joel P boundary. After that first permit, we ended up permits for all the kids (Landon permitted to Herriman High, Cal&Keaton went on permit to West Hills and the Copper Hills, I switched Cooper and Colton from Columbia to Terra Linda, and from there to Elkridge ... Cooper got into Bingham High on permit). ANYWAY ... after playing the permit game, and discussing it with Colton, we decided to not even try for a permit to Elkridge again, but to just go to the boundary school. At this point, we were planning on West Jordan for his high school (after huge outcry, they ended up not changing the boundary much at CHHS and it is so overcrowded, I really had no hope of permitting Colton in) so it just made sense to make friends he'd stay with. He was reuniting with friends from Terra Linda, and even Columbia too. We were comfortable with our decision.

Then school registration rolled around ... and he was enrolled at Elkridge! Colton is an easy-going guy, so we figured it would be less work for everyone if we just went with it. I took him to the school and we found his locker and tried out the combination. We mapped out all his classes and did a walk-through, even though he was already familiar with the school from his 7th grade year. 

A few days before school started I got a call ... now that the error was known, he did need to make the switch to Joel P.  This had been our plan from the start, but after acclimating to the Elkridge idea, it was just a really frustrating situation. Joel P was great, and quickly got him registered and in classes. We got a map and made the rounds so he'd know where to go on his first day. It all turned out okay, but it was a stressful start to the school year.

I asked Colton to write up his memories ...

My eighth grade year started off quite confusing as I first thought that I would be going to Joel P. Jensen. I was on a permit for Elk Ridge during my seventh grade year because my brother was already going there. I had already decided that I wanted to go to JPJMS for my next year of middle school so I wouldn’t have to be on a permit and also because the friends I make there will be going to the same high school as me later on. However, about a week until the school year started, there had been a mixup and I was still registered at Elk Ridge. I had received my schedule there and we had gone to check out where my classes were. Although I was looking forward to going to JPJMS, I was fine with having to be at Elk Ridge for another year since I already had lots of friends there and knew my way around. With less than a week to go before the school year started, I had gotten notified that Elk Ridge had made a mistake and already revoked my permit earlier in the school year, meaning I would have to go to JPJMS instead. This really upset me since I had already thought that I would be going there before and my plans had already gotten changed.

 Like the start of the year, the end of the year was also crazy. COVID-19 had swept over the globe and schools started to shut down, including Joel P. Jensen. Most teachers set up their classes on Canvas where students can do their work and turn it in. Students were able to do any class on their schedule at any time. This worked out really well for me because I didn’t have any time wasted unlike actually being at the school. Depending on the work assigned in the class, I could finish up the class in five to ten minutes, sometimes in only two or three if the work was easy enough. On the other hand, if I got the same work that I could do in two minutes online in actual school, the class period would still last 45 minutes. On one particular day, I remember starting school a couple of minutes before 8:00 in the morning and I finished at 8:05, it was the end of the week and I had already done the work for Friday in most of my classes, there were only two classes that I still had work to do, and I was able to easily complete them in under 10 minutes. That was what the start and end of my eighth grade year was like.

I had hoped he'd write a little more about the details throughout the year as well ... but apparently this writing assignment in summer stressed him out! I had to ask him for it many times! Here's a look at his last report card, which also captures classes/teachers which may be interesting to him in the future. 

He was able to be with his basketball buddies Gage and Collin in Math (he's a year younger, but in the advanced math, which he brought up a time or two until it became a running joke in the family).  His Spanish teacher Mrs. Spravzoff had also taught Landon (at Elkridge).  He never seemed to have much homework, and never asked for any assistance with projects. The grading system seemed odd this year, straight A or B, no A- or B+ ...

In addition to having an "active" class (team sports/fitness) both semesters, he also stayed after for intramurals several times a week.  Although I think we had some neighborhood kids going to the school too, it was just easier for me to drive him to/from school than to attempt a carpool.  7800 S would be really backed up during the morning commute, so I'd go around the back way and drive down a side street, dropping him off and having him then walk to the crosswalk and to the school. After school I had him walk down the street to a nearby church building and I'd pick him up there, avoiding much of the traffic (I'd pick him up at the school after intramurals). 

Joel P started/ended earlier than Elkridge ... 7:25-2:25, so he had to get up a little earlier this year.

When Coronavirus concerns hit ... it was a Wednesday (March 11) when the NBA shut down (a Utah player testing positive) when it became "real".  School went on Thursday and Friday (the 13th)... and after school was out that day, it was announced that there would be a move to online learning for a few weeks. The teachers had a couple to scramble and try to alter lesson plans. I think because Cooper was already online, that the transition was slightly easier for us. I already had a good look at online learning and how it worked. Some parents complained on Facebook about how much work their kids had, but Colton never seemed to have much. He'd sleep in a little, get started by 8:00 or so, and was often done by 10:00.  I do recall one "oh no" moment, as he'd made a presentation in Google Slides and was just doing the finishing touches, he and I were chatting (my workspace was in the same room as his desk) when suddenly, the words he'd written started deleting. It was like someone was hitting the delete button (we do think maybe it got pressed and stuck?) and we both watched as his entire presentation disappeared. We switched out the keyboard.

I wasn't at all surprised when it was officially announced that the kids would not be returning to school this school year.  At one point, he and went by the school so he could go in and get his gym clothes and lock from the locker room. He didn't have anything in his school locker (these silly boys never used their lockers, just carried everything around with them all day).  It wasn't as impactful for us as for the poor seniors, and those playing spring sports. Tournaments, trips, prom, graduation ... all canceled. There were lots of "drive-by" things, graduation parade, etc.  We still haven't received his yearbook, but it should be coming.

The end of eighth grade ... 

May 2020

May - here's the highlights!

• A Getaway for Gray: Grayson went with a work buddy to St. George at the beginning of the month. Razor riding.
• Bridals: Cal and Kate went to St. George and got their bridals taken, and they turned out great. Kate had asked me to make some masks (provided me with the sunflower fabric) and I did, and they used them in a few of the photos. 
• Work: Gray said all this hasn't seemed to impact Symphony's business, and he's stayed super busy. He worked from home a couple of Fridays just to break things up. Landon received a promotion at LKL and is now working more with roofing than other materials. Keaton had been working with Cal at Camsen Electric, but had to take a couple days off because of his chest pain, and then Nike opened back up and scheduled him there. He tried working both jobs, but that is a loooong day. Unfortunately Nike isn't able to offer much flexibility either, and if he has to make a choice, he's decided to stick with the electrical for now (better pay, more/consistent hours, and of course, working with Cal!). He will really miss his Nike discount though ... and he's done a BIT of shopping while he still has it. He's given his two weeks, but has been working Nike, not Camsen here at the end of the month.
• Car Registered: Having some time during the day, Keaton FINALLY was able to finalize the registration of his car. The purchase was at the end of January! The title seemed to get lost and had to be reissued. Then of course there were the 8-hour waits at the DMV. They have opened up the lobby now, with appointments available, so he was able to get in and out and is finally legal and the whole car ordeal (starting Thanksgiving 2019, when his truck was hit) is over.
• Home Sweet Home: With Cal and Kate getting married here shortly, they need a place to live. They have been planning and saving and it made sense for them to look at buying rather than renting. They looked at a lot and made an offer and should close just days before the wedding. It's in Kearns, newly remodeled and should be nice for them. At the Blackham house, new shower heads were installed, and Cal broke a big hole in his wall (he just leaned, there is water damage, so it was weak).   Keaton cleaned up the house as he was hosting a party. 
• Dental & Doctor visits: Cal had a checkup on his foot ... while he feels fine, the xrays just don't show much healing progress. Another month in the boot and then they'll just assume it is scar tissue or something showing up on the x-ray, but that he SHOULD be good. Keaton had a scare during basketball with some chest pain (right side). He was barely able to move. He went to the Urgent Care to get it checked out. EKG and xray ... no broken rib, angina or blot clot. He was given some muscle relaxants and was told to take it easy. It took several days and then he felt almost back to normal. Played basketball again at the end of the month. He had an appointment made months ago at the dentist and went in for that. I'd had some bad tooth pain back in March, right when everything closed down. I probably could have/should have called for an emergency visit - I waited too long and had to have several visits with that troublesome tooth. Colton finally got in for a visit to the orthodontist and Gray had a telemed visit to get his blood pressure medication refilled.
• Maga Memories: Between Pammy's birthday, Mother's day and Memorial day, there were more than a few memories of Maga. There was a Blackham Zoom call, and each family had their own "Pammy food" (Dr. Pepper, Habit ... I made her cauliflower soup and Wacky cake). We went to the cemetery on Mother's day and drove past the old house. The Blackhams got together for Memorial Day for some family time and food.
• Haircut: FINALLY ... Coop consented to having his hair cut! I think the last trim had been back in October, and it was long. He said it was actually a little uncomfortable to sleep with it all (although I have more than him and I sleep fine). Salons were just barely starting to open, and I'd gathered a bunch of style options to let him leave a little length on top ... but then he just had Keaton buzz him.  When Landon needed a haircut ... he went to Aunt Olivia. He also shaved his beard (but not his mustache, mommy is not a fan). 
• Zumba: I'm back to three days a week consistently. One of the other buildings has given us the okay to go back in, so we do that on Mondays. Then I teach Tues/Fri in our church parking lot. Outdoors has been nice when the mornings were cool and there was a breeze. It's getting HOT though ...
• Been Blogging: Mom/Margie, Chris and Wendy have been working organizing and labeling photos and when memories would come up it was wondered how best to combine the words with the photos. Blogging came to mind for me - and I started a Westra blog for Mom for Mother's Day. Also one to keep track of current sibling updates and have also become reinvested in our own family blog. Attempt to leave a legacy ~ and the timing was good with life a little less busy with all the Covid shutdowns.
• Car Show: We "went" to a car show, but instead of walking around looking at all the parked cars, we parked along a specified route, and the cars drove past us, parade style (or Covid-19 style). The parade actually started (and ended ) right at the entrance to our neighborhood at the WJ Public Works building. 
• Games: Landon and Sol have been coming over to play games a lot. We bought a few new ones to try ... Exploding Unicorns, You've Got Crabs and Throw, Throw Burrito.  The kids taped out a square on the driveway for some 4-square one night, and went to the park to throw a football and frisbee. 
• Back to Basketball: Colton's Wolves team has started up practices and had a game and some scrimmages. They have more coming up. Basketball is back, but everything is rather far (downtownish or up in Lehi) so I haven't been to anything and don't really plan to. Colton just catches a ride with teammates. 
• School: Wrapping up the year. Colton was done around May 22 ... Cooper's classes were scheduled to the very end. He has one more test to take, then he's done. We'll return his laptop we rented - he wants us to buy him one for next year. Nothing to return for Colton, but he and I stopped by the school so he could run in and grab his stinky gym clothes left in his locker.