Carter's 7th Grade School Year (The Year of Corona COVID 19 Global Pandemic) & Makes NJHS

Post: 5/28/2020

Middle school remains to be difficult to get a glimpse into. So we have to settle for a few pics and stories here and there.

In the Fall, Carter had his first ever stressful moment with a situation with a teacher and being accused of cheating, but not what you would think. He found a scantron on the floor outside the room and brought it inside the classroom to give to the teacher. The classwork for the assignment had already been turned in and graded 2 days prior and the test using the scantron had not even been taken. I journal about this moment for all of to remember how we dealt with this weird event and being accused of things the you didn't do. The teacher's facts were so off, via emails with her, that we couldn't understand the accurate story, so Blake and I, emailed and assured her that we always support teacher's in moments like this and asked for a brief meeting just to better understand the significant accusations being made against Carter and why we were never called or even emailed about this. We had fully initiated all communciations  To our surprise, she ended up bringing in the school's academic advisor, to our meeting, which ended up being the best thing that ever happened. We listened, asked questions and at the end, we were confident that this teacher didn't have her facts straight, was confusing kids and seemed overwhelmed with teaching and her classes, which makes my heart go out to her. Although we knew Carter hadn't done anything, I was surprised with how emotional I got, when my son's character was being attached and he was being accused of things that were not true and didn't add up. The academic counselor agreed with Blake and I. We prayed and thought about this situation and were offered a schedule change to get Carter out of her class. With Carter's blessing, we decided not to run from this problem. We talked about how life is filled with problems like this, difficult and defensive people, assumptions and close mindedness, and we could run away. But that's not always the best decision. I am so proud of us and Carter for the way we handled this and I know we all will come out stronger! 

In January, Carter was nominated for National Junior Honor Society. This was his first official detailed application to fill out.

In early February, Carter had to choose his classes for 8th grade. He was pretty confident in what he wanted. With him being so dedicated to dual language Spanish classes, band and athletics, it doesn't leave him time to try out any other electives.

This was the first time being at 5th grade elective house and not having an incoming 6th grader, instead, Carter was performing with the Honors band for them!

The week of Spring Break, due to Corona Virus (COVID19) Global Pandemic, NEISD extended Spring Break for an additional week and then that next week the Governor of Texas closed down all Texas Schools until May 4. At this point I am assuming that school will be cancelled for the rest of the year.

Who knew when we tool this photo on Friday, March 6, that it would have been your last official day of traditional 7th grade?

You made National Junior Honor Society and we found out via old school mail!

It was super weird to do school and athletic locker clean out via a drive by, which included masks.

Your 2020 homeschool Corona experience memories wrapped up in one picture! Your original box, avacados, a garlic press, your apron, the table saw, the Mac Air Book Pro, your iPods, gray crocs, a jar of salsa and your Carter Creation logo!

Carter's First Track Season (7th Grade: 1600, 800 and Pole Vault)

Before basketball was even finished for Carter, he was getting excited about his first ever middle school track season. The moment the last basketball game needed, track practice started immediately. We really didn't know what to expect and were in a very go with the flow mentality. We just told Carter to tell us where he needed to be and when. There were a couple of "try out" days after school. When we casually talked to him about what events he wanted to try, he was confident that the longer distance 800m and 1600m (1 mile) were going to be his strength. Blake randomly told him how he tried pole vault when he was in middle school and it must have stuck with Carter because that is where he seemed to confidently focuse and he told the coaches that's what event he wanted to do. There were a ton of after school practices. Most days of the week in February, either at Lopez and eventually at Reagan High school for those boys that made the pole vault team. Practices were going until 5:30-5:45. Thank goodness, we found a carpool friend to take him from Lopez to Reagan most days and then we would pick them up and take them home, getting to his 6:30PM Classics soccer practices late. He really enjoyed it and was so focused. He made all 3 meets in the 3 events - 800,1600 and pole vault. 

Unexpectedly, Carter's last track season of his 7th grade year came March 4, the week before Spring Break, just before schools were closed down for the global pandemic of Corona Virus. We are super thankful that he got to fully experience 3 full track meets and he embraced and loved every moment.

Carter's 1 mile time at his first track meet.