Middle School

Math has never been my forte,

so I am really glad it's Sheldon's!

And it looks like so far, it's a strong

point for 3 of our school kids!

Seriously, Natalie is in the math class in 8th

grade that I took in 10th grade and still have nightmares

about!

(And then I took only the minimum math

class requirement to graduate from BYU =)

Recently Natalie came home with a letter for nomination by her

Geometry teacher for a National Math Award.

She will be included in The US Achievement Academy

National Yearbook, which will qualify her to apply

for a college grant.

"College?" I thought. "Isn't that 4 1/2 years away?"

(Yes, only 4 1/2 years away, and those years will pass

way too quickly!)

I took the opportunity to go to the Commons at the middle school

and listen to

Natalie and some of her Honors Social Studies classmates give

speeches in front of their class and a

panel of 4 judges.

They each had to choose a current federal, local or state Constitutional issue,

and write up a bill proposal;

Natalie's was 4 pages typed. Then they used notecards for their

actual presentations (they had been encouraged to memorize a

lot of their speeches).

Topics ranged from gun control to same gender marriage adoption

to Natalie's topic of "keeping the phrase 'under God' in the pledge of

allegiance."

It was amazing to see her stand confidently in front of her peers, teacher, and the judges

(an 8th grade parent, an English teacher, an educational lawyer, and the district department

head of social studies)

and take a strong stand on a moral issue, but cover the topic completely and

respectfully.

There will be many more opportunities through her high school years to

stand out, stand up, and take a stand!