Caroline's Awards Ceremonies - May 14

OK, so it is the award season at the schools.  A real yawn, I mean thrill, for the parents.  Today we had the Japanese Awards and the AVID Program awards.
The Japanese Award ceremony was in the afternoon.  Caroline is just finishing Japanese II.
Here, some kids are giving their "testimonials" about the class.  Really cute.

Here is our beloved (seriously, we love him) Principal, Mr. Grade.  Yes, that is his real name.  He usually cries at the Japanese Award ceremony because he loves Ms. Teruya so much.  She works so hard for the kids.  She is from Okinawa so she also passes on a lot of Okinawan culture to the kids.

Each class came up and wrote a message to Ms. Teruya, in Hiragana and Kanji.

Then we had a poem to the parents. 

Here is Caroline getting ready to get her certificate.  To attend the award ceremony, you had to have at least a "B."  Caroline has made all As since she started two years ago.  We are very proud.

Ah, Middle School cafeterias...

Caroline was in the back row, if you squint and the lighting is right, you can see her by the flag.

The parents brought food for a great celebration afterwards.  It was worth it.  Lumpia, Yakisoba, yakitori so good.  I brought pigs in a blanket...They got eaten, good enough for the kids.

Bill found one of his marines.  He just helped her get into Office Candidate school.

Caroline accepting her certificate.  You can just see Ms. Teruya behind the podium.  She cries every year.  This time she did not make through the first 4 sentences.

Caroline and her friends.

From left to right:  Ana, Sammie, Megan, Katricia, Caroline, Mikayla

That night we had the AVID Program awards ceremony.  Jared was a tutor in the AVID program.  He would have really liked being here.  Mr. Niro is the 8th grade AVID teacher.  Jared worked with his classes.  Mr. Niro chose Caroline to give the last speech of the student testimonials.  Here he is getting the kids ready to start.

Caroline's friend Stacy hides her face when she sees me coming because I take so many pictures.  I am sure she was nervous because she was giving the first speech.  

I am bragging but Caroline nailed it!  You could hear her perfectly from the back of the gym.  She gave great eye contact.

Watch Caroline's speech!:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FFEgrGPDe0&feature=youtu.be

Caroline accepts her 3rd year Avid certificate.

From left to right:  Leann, Sarah, Ami, Caroline

Caroline and Mr. Niro

They are getting tired of the pictures...So I kept taking them.

Jared is really missed.  His co-worker, Ms. Arfsten made a "Flat Jared" to take around to all of the remaining AVID events.  It is hilarious.  She gave him that crazy mohawk thing that his wears now.  His gold watch, she even found the shoes he wears in a magazine and put them on Flat Jared.  
Apparently he is going to the AVID beach day too.

The students really miss Jared.  When the AVID tutors were recognized, they mentioned that Mr. Perez had gone back to college.  Then all of the kids went, "Aww, we really miss him."  You could hear it even in the back.
Here is Ms. Arfsten, Mr. Niro and his wife, Mrs. Niro.  She is the Guidance Counselor at the school.  We LOVE her.  She has been a gift to our family.  She is the one who got Jared the job at the school.

Bill finally got to meet Mr. and Mrs. Niro.  He went up and introduced himself to Mr. Niro and Mr. Niro's whole face changed as he said, "Your son...I really miss him."  Then the Principal, Mr Grade (YES, that is his real name) came up and they chatted about how great Jared has been.  Bill was so proud.
Some of the students took their own pictures with Flat Jared and posted the pictures on their Facebook page.

Caroline with Mr. and Mrs. Niro.  The formal shot...

Then the real one...By the way, Mrs. Niro is from Jacksonville, NC.  She went to White Oak HS like Jared.  Unbelievable right?

We love the Niros and Lester Middle School!  We are so grateful for every minute.