Extra Curricular Activities at School

Our boys have always excelled at school, probably because both of their parents are school teachers. For this reason, we have tried to participate in every extra-curricular activity that we can. This means extra time and additional work, but our boys have learned to love these programs.

Every year we have our boys enter the PTA Reflections program. In the past, we've done two categories for each boy, but this year Mark played Fall baseball, so we only had them enter one category each. Mom has been the Reflections Coordinator in the past, but this year she wasn't in charge, which was nice because she didn't have to gather judges and things like that. The theme for Reflections this year was "Within Reach," and both Mark and Dax wanted to take a photograph with Seth as the subject. Mark took his photo on a trip to Cascade Springs. He had Dad lift Seth up and reach out for leaf on a branch. The lighting turned out pretty well, and Mark won an Award of Excellence with his picture. Dax entered photography as well. One night we were driving past the cemetery in American Fork and the moon was super-bright. We stopped and Dax took a photo of Seth reaching out to grab the moon. Both boys wrote nice author's statements, and Dax also earned an Award of Excellence in the Reflection contest. It was another successful year, and they moved on to council, but did not win any awards there.

Mark and Dax both won an Award of Excellence for their entries. 

Here's Mark with his photo.

Dax also took a photo for Reflections.

This is Mark's photo!

This is Dax's photo. 

Dad's school had an assembly this year with a famous author, Brandon Mull. Since Mark made a great friend, Davis Mull, while at Highland last year, Mom checked Mark out and took him to the assembly. Brandon Mull, who has written several series for kids is Davis' uncle, and he did a very nice assembly. Afterward, Mark and Mom had a chance to talk to him and get their books signed. Mark liked meeting a famous author almost as much as Mom did!

Mark and Mom love Brandon Mull books.

Mom was so excited!

Mark was happy to get some of his books signed.

We were kind of slow on The Story Telling Festival this year, but both Mark and Dax participated. Mark told a story called Out By a Hare about a baseball game. He did an awesome job and the story was good enough to advance from class level, to grade level, and eventually to school level. He told his story at an assembly for grades 4-6 along with 5 other story tellers, two from each grade. His story was really well received, and he took Third Place. He was the only boy to even advance to the school level. Dax made up his own story for the Festival, which he titled Kerchunk. He introduced it as "A terrifying tale of terror..." In the story, a spider wearing a glove for a coat terrorized our family. Dax advanced from class level to grade level to school level as well. He told his story to the lower grades and took Second Place. We are so proud of our boys. I don't think either of us would have been able to stand in front of a crowd like that when we were kids and tell a story!

Dax told an awesome story! 

The only boy who told in K-3.

Mark was also the only boy on stage for grades 4-6.

Mark told a story about baseball. 

The storytellers from upper grades.

We took the boys for some ice cream after telling so well in front of the school.

Since they both placed in the school storytelling festival, they won a free book. 

Our school had a Veteran's Day Assembly and Dax really wanted Grandpa Ockey to come participate. The students were allowed to invite any veteran, so we convince Grandpa to come. He sat in the front with the other veterans while we watched inspiring videos, and sang patriotic songs including all the military branches' theme songs (no one knew the Coast Guard song very well). Then the Veterans walked through the student lined halls with their families. Our boys thought it was so special and we are so grateful for everyone who has served for our country.

Seth was excited to sit up front with Grandpa Ockey for the assembly.

The boys were allowed to walk through the halls with Grandpa for the Veteran's parade.

Dry Creek holds a race every year called the Turkey Trot for Thanksgiving. Dax is a two-time Turkey Trot winner and has brought home the grand prize, a turkey, of course, in both Kindergarten and 1st Grade. Mark placed in grades K-3 (he was at Highland in 4th Grade), but he has never managed to pull out a victory. This year, they lengthened out the race, so we weren't sure how the boys would do since it wasn't a sprint. Mark had to run a full lap around the playground. He led the first half of the race and ended up placing fourth for his grade level. Dax had to run across the field, and he practiced a lot. He didn't want to lose his title. In a photo finish he brought home the gold for the third consecutive year, so it looks like we can look forward to turkey dinner again!

Mark took off like a shot!

Mark was in the lead for most of the race!

Mark ran so well. 

Dax came from behind to win!

It was seriously a photo finish. 

Dax was so happy to keep his title. 

He is already planning how to win next year. 

We're grateful to our schools and teachers for all they do. We're especially grateful for extra-curricular activities that help our boys grow and stretch in new ways.