RLCA Field Hockey 2012 Video

A Really New School Year Begins

With last year's school-based drama now only a fading memory, the kids began the school year at the New Red Lion Christian Academy this week:  Aidan (1st), Amanda (6th), and Abby (8th) started on Thursday and Alex (10th) started today.

Greeting the kids was new leadership, some new teachers (and some familiar faces), new text books, new uniforms, new logos, and some refreshed facilities

Here's to a great year...

Happy Birthday Amanda

Vacation Bible School 2012

Many years ago, we began sending the kids to a great Vacation Bible School (VBS) program at White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church.  The program is always well run and well attended making it something the kids look forward to.  And this year was a special treat as cousins Nick and Brianna also attended.

The week-long program culminates with an outdoor concert put on by the kids which is promptly followed by an Ice Cream Social.  Yum.

Below are the songs that Aidan and Nick (top) and Amanda (bottom) performed.

Amanda's 2012 Awards

RLCA held their Elementary Awards ceremony on June 7.  Amanda really cleaned up this year, bringing home 5 separate awards:  The Principal's Award, The Christian Character & Sportsmanship Award, The Student Award, an award for Computer Class, and a Certificate of Excellence for Spanish Class.

Congratulations, Amanda!  Great work...!

Ms Amanda Goes to Washington

On May 17th, Amanda, along with her 5th grade class and Mom, embarked on the annual class trip to Washington DC.  Visits were made to the Lincoln Memorial, Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, Smithsonian Natural History, and Smithsonian American History.

Amanda on Stage

During the month of May, Amanda has found herself performing on stage multiple times.  The first time was on May 1st, at the RLCA Elementary Spring Program entitled "Who is Like the Lord?"

The evening kicked off with Amanda performing along with the RLCA After School Choir.  The selection below is entitled "A World of Music" and features and opening solo by Amanda.

After the ASC finished their portion of the evening, the main act began.  The selection below is entitled "Every Move I Make".  Here, Amanda participated in the choreography line.

Later in the month, on May 18th, Amanda, along with the 5th grade band, participated in the RLCA 2012 Spring Band concert.  The 5th grade band, comprised primarily of clarinets, performed a piece called "A New Wrinkle on Twinkle."

The Nina, The Pinta and the Vanishing Treasure

This week has been a busy one as far as school work goes.  Alex has been taking mid-terms and Abby has been putting together Travel Guides for 7 countries for Social Studies.

Amanda has been facing down 2 projects:  A poster for Día de Reyes in Puerto Rico, also known as Three Kings Day or the Epiphany, as well as the infamous 5th grade video book report.

Her book of choice is from the Alec Flint, Super Sleuth series by Jill Santopolo:  The Nina, the Pinta and the Vanishing Treasure.

Just a note:  If you recall, Abby did this project back in 2010 on the book 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass.  That video has been my family's 2nd most popular submission to YouTube amassing over 2400 views to date.  The original blog post for it can be found here if you're looking for a refresher.
 

2011 Christmas Programs

As Christmas approaches, so to do the school Christmas programs.

The season began back on December 6th with the RLCA program.  The evening began with a few selections by the After-School Choir featuring Amanda.  The video below highlights one called Rock 'n Roll Snowman.

Following the ASC was the main production entitled Christmas Hang Ups.  All of the children were dressed up as Christmas ornaments, hence Amanda wearing the bell costume in the following selection; On the First Day of Christmas.

Our second and final program this year was the GCA program featuring Aidan which took place on December 13th.  Due to the length of the program, I was actually able to include basically the entire Kindergarten portion below...

Merry Christmas...

Hey, Everybody! Its The Famous Molly Pitcher!

Hot on the heels of Halloween, Amanda got to play dress-up again.  Only this time, her effort wasn't for the sake of sugary confections but was instead for a grade.  As part of a biography project for school, Amanda was required to give an oral presentation while dressed as the subject of her report.

Amanda had chosen Molly Pitcher.  Molly, whose real name was Mary Ludwig Hays, was an American Revolutionary War hero who was credited with providing water to soldiers of the Continental Army as they would pass by her home.  History also tells how, when her husband was overcome with heat exhaustion at the Battle of Monmouth, Molly took over for him by swabbing and loading the canon for the rest of the day.

Soccer Wrap-up

This past Saturday, we put another GRPC Soccer season in the history books.  Aidan and Amanda both had really good years.

Aidan was a force to be reckoned with, scoring multiple times almost every game.  He also had some natural defender skills bubbling to the surface as we would see him frequently dart around the opposition to protect the goal.

Amanda spent a lot of the season playing midfielder.  While she would have liked some variety, she did play the position well and had a good time on the field with some good friends.

2011 Star of the Month

Amanda has again been awarded the Star of the Month award at RLCA.  The presentation took place on Friday, October 7th.

Awesome job, Amanda.  Congratulations.

Amanda's 10th

To celebrate Amanda's entry into the world of double-digit's, we followed up an earlier family get-together with a friend birthday party this past Friday.

The party kicked off at Blue Hen lanes and was followed up back at the house with a pizza dinner, presents, games and cupcakes.

Check the pics below. And, Happy Birthday, Amanda.

2010-11 Awards

As the school year at RLCA wound down, we found ourselves awash in various awards ceremonies for the kids.

Without listing everything out here, I just wanted to highlight that all three kids, Alex, Abigail and Amanda, were awarded the Principal's Award. This award is bestowed on students who achieved Honor Roll in all 4 marking periods. Congratulations, you three.

The below slideshow displays most, if not all, of their accolades.

Something else I wanted to highlight was some examples of the art that Alex and Abigail were awarded for. Neat stuff.

Music...from the Symphony to the Junkyard

On Friday, May 13th, RLCA presented the 2011 Spring Band concert for the Elementary and Middle schools.

The night kicked off with the Elementary Band, with Amanda on clarinet, presenting a few choice selections. The video below is from a song titled At the River.

After the Elementary band wrapped their portion of the night, the Middle School band took over the stage. With Abigail on clarinet and Alex on percussion, we were treated to a piece titled Junkyard Jam that featured some unconventional instruments.

Under God's Sea in 3D

On Tuesday, May 3rd, RLCA presented the 2011 Elementary Spring program. This year the show was entitled Under God's Sea in 3D. As always, before the show, the After-School Choir got to strut their stuff.

In clip featured below, the choir performs the song titled Live Out Loud that was originally written and recorded by Steven Curtis Chapman. Amanda had the privilege to be one of the first soloists.

Get to the Manger

On Tuesday, December 7th, Amanda took part in the RLCA Elementary Christmas Program, "Get to the Manger."

The 3rd number, No Way!, shown below, first features Amanda and some classmates doing a little silk work, followed by Amanda showing off her dancing skills (sorry she's a little hidden).

Way to go, Girl! Great work!

Star of the Month

Yesterday at Chapel, Amanda was presented with the Star of the Month award at RLCA. The award recognizes "Excellent academic achievement and outstanding Christian conduct."

Congratulations, Amanda. We are SO proud of you...!!!

Fall Sports Mayhem

Back in May, due to the volume of activities vying for our attention, I referred to the end of the school year as "the silly season" . Clearly I had forgotten what the fall season was like around here.

Aside from the GRPC non-comp soccer league which I mentioned in my last post, and all our usual busyness (school, home work, church, bible study, youth group, house church, etc, etc), we are also splitting our time between RLCA Middle School Soccer for Alex and RLCA Middle School Field Hockey for Abigail.

This is Alex's third season playing soccer for Red Lion. This year's team is quite young, comprised of a slew of 6th graders and Alex and his friend Zach (8th). As such, there's a lot of growth to be had. But the kids are having fun and improving with each outing. Alex's team's schedule and record is available here.


For Abigail, this is her debut year playing field hockey. And you wouldn't know it. She has gotten plenty of time on the field and has been caught up in the action quite a few times. Abigail's team's schedule and record is available here.

3/4 of a First Day of School

Well, the 2010-11 school year has mostly kicked off. Alex, Abigail, and Amanda started back at Red Lion today. Emotions ranged from excited (note who's wearing cheery colors) to depressed (note who's wearing black).

New for this year: Uniforms. While the initial cost is a bit of an ouchy, the payoff will come with decreased disagreements over appropriate dress during the morning prep time.

While Alex plans to continue his foray into the world of soccer, Abigail is hoping to follow in Mom's footsteps by securing a place on the Field hockey team. And Amanda should be taking up an instrument in band. Maybe. I think. More on this as it develops.