A busy Saturday

Last week, we had quite the busy Saturday for Brooke.  She was participating in UIL Spelling.  She had to be there at 7:30 in the morning, event was at 8am.  Here's a pic of the 3 3rd grade spellers for her school before going in...

She did her spelling, which took a full hour!!!  She had to study 600 words ahead of time, and they asked for 65.  Her principal is the spelling coach for UIL and felt most confident in Brooke out of all her spelling kids.  Brooke always gets 100 on spelling words, without ever studying or looking at them.  I think some people are just naturally better spellers and Brooke is one of them.  However, we then had to come back after she was done spelling, at 12:00 for awards to see if she placed.  (this is a competition between her school and all the other elementary schools in the area - 12 or more I think? not real sure..)  They place the top 6.  Brooke got nothing.  WHAT?!  Everyone was shocked.  She was very disappointed.  Cried on the way home.  For disappointing herself and Mrs Happ.  I'm not sure what happened...she knew all the words, but I guess got test anxiety and choked.  However, apparently after the weekend passed, her principal was still feeling so unsettled about Brooke not placing.  So despite UIL rules and regulations, she went to the UIL coordinator and begged to look at the 3rd grade spelling again...she wanted to know what happened.  The UIL coordinator did do a little digging much to Mrs Happ's insistence and found out that there was indeed a mistake and they 'judged' Brooke's paper under a different student, as they don't have names on papers...they assign numbers.  So when the figuring was re-done, come to find out, Brooke got 2nd place!!!!  Or really, third as there was a tie for 1st, then Brooke was next.  So proud of her and so relieved to find out that she could be validated.  We were so thankful to have such a supportive principal that righted this wrong! :)

Here's the two of them in a picture taken at school once they righted the results and we found out Brooke placed.  They made a big to-do on morning announcements and will get her her medal and certificate soon.  So thankful for Mrs Happ!! (who says "Brooke is hers next year for spelling for sure!"...as in she will be coaching her again next year.  :) )

It was hard to come home at 1-1:30 and try to shake off the loss.  It had already been a longer day, getting up at 6am, but then to be so disappointed and she felt like a failure (not me saying that...this was her feelings)...however, she had to get over it, so to speak...because at 3:30 she had to be at Hymn Festival to play her piano pieces in front of a judge.

I couldn't watch (that view was from a window - I did peek) so I'm not sure how she did yet.  Here's a video taken before of her songs (cuz I like to document these kind of things...I know, I'm a dork)...


Angels We Have Heard on High...

 



And to have a not Christmas one, she did Holy Bible, Book Divine...


 



And we found out at her next piano lesson....despite her most horrible awful no good day (or start to the day), she still did amazing and rated a Superior rating!  (the best you can get).  Yay Brooke!!!

And to further go on a Brooke-loving post...the next week was the last week of the six weeks and awards day came and went.  She again received all A's and had perfect attendance.  Its no small feat to get all A's in 3rd grade anymore so we are quite proud!!!  :)

Here's another quick video I took of the morning announcements when Mrs Happ made a deal out of Brooke placing at UIL and her piano award!  (volume is really quiet though so you really have to turn it up!)