Jack moves up in rank in AFJROTC November 17, 2009
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Jack’s rank was advanced in AFJROTC to Staff Sergeant – SSGT. He said that first years are usually never advanced to this level. I’m still learning more about what his new responsibilities will be. He had to turn in items today to exchange for his new rank items for his uniform. I sound like I am speaking very unintelligently about this subject and indeed I am. I have a lot of learning left to go to understand ranks, rank advancement, what is entailed, what it all means, etc. Here starts that process.
Jack gets first alternate on ROTC drill team and drops drivers ed like a hot potato September 25, 2009
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I am SO proud of Jack. He wants desperately to take driver’s ed. He’s going to be 15 next month so this would be 12 months before he could drive. Although I think that taking the class this long before actually driving doesn’t make much sense, I remember the excitement of wanting to learn to drive so if he got into the class in October, I was going to let him take it. He was so excited that he had all the pickups arranged – even for when I am going to be out of town.
But, he’s been practicing with drill team and really likes it. He takes it very seriously and even practices at home. Yesterday, they told him that he would be first alternate on the team and he’s only a freshman. He was so excited that he dropped the idea of driver’s ed like a hot potato and rescheduled his transportation so he could fulfill his responsibility of drill team first alternate. Howard and I talked this morning and it just makes us so proud when they make good choices that represent the best priorities.
Jack gets inducted into OA September 23, 2009
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Last weekend Jack went with several other boys from the troop for his OA “ordeal”. I get the sense that they mystery surrounding the term ordeal is that way for a reason. Suffice it to say that he said they did LOTS of service and ate what he termed “scant” amounts of food – the worst of which was a lunch that consisted of 2 pieces of bread and one piece of bologna. He came home with his OA sash and proudly wore it to his next meeting.
Jack makes OA September 4, 2009
Posted by irisia in jack, jack accomplishments, jack boy scouts, Jack leadership.Tags: boy scouts, OA, order of the arrow
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Monday night, Jack found out he made OA. He’s really excited to go on the camping trip. I have to learn more about the indoctrination but it sounds like that gets done on the trip.
Jack spends his 5th week at Boy Scout Camp – and has so much to show for it. July 19, 2009
Posted by irisia in jack, jack accomplishments, jack boy scouts, Jack leadership.Tags: boy scout camp, boy scout summer camp, boy scouts, camp counselor, CIT, counselor in training, cub scouts, scout camp, scout summer camp
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I was so proud when Jack volunteered a full week at the local county Cub Scout camp in June. Then, he got ready to go on his annual Boy Scout camp summer trip to the state camp. Toward the end of the week, he let us know he was going to get to go back to C.I.T. I was really happy for him. He’s been talking about becoming a counselor at camp for about a year and this was a perfect opportunity for him to see if he would really like it. He loved it!
He was hoping to be asked back for a second week. We talk to his Troop Master who said it was very unlikely he would be invited back for a week because they only invite CIT’s back if they are completely ready to teach on their own. He didn’t mean that Jack couldn’t do it. He just knew from watching other boys invites that very few were invited back. Well, he was invited back. Then, he was invited back AGAIN! He will be on the business staff which I guess handles the money sort of stuff. I know they do snack bar and they also do the dining hall. I’m not sure what else.
The best reward was spending a couple hours with him on the way back after picking him up. He seemed like he had grown up a year. He had so much more confidence and just seemed so much more mature. He was very hoarse and said he had sung his heart out the night before leading a campfire because he was hoping to get counselor of the week but he didn’t get it. He was pretty bummed but I love the fact that he strives for things like this. Howard took him back today. I miss him but I’m so proud of him for what he’s doing.
Jack gets new posts at elections June 22, 2009
Posted by irisia in jack, jack accomplishments, jack boy scouts, Jack leadership.Tags: boy scouts patrol leader, camping coordinator
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At the elections, Jack was voted Patrol leader again and he also created a new post called camping coordinator. He thought there was a lot of opportunity to do a better job collecting money to have a really good count or participants so there is no over-spending on food.
Jack gets highest grade in Science and Reading, makes A honor roll June 16, 2009
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For the final marking period of his 8th grade year in middle school, Jack earned both A honor roll as well as the highest grade in both Science and Reading. In Science, he had the highest grade in the class. In Reading, he had the highest grade in all of her 8th grade reading classes. See below.
jack report card a honor roll
Reading:
Jack and Matt awarded school educational Renaissance Excellence awards June 16, 2009
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Jack and Matt were both awarded educational Renaissance awards for Jack’s 8th grade and Matt’s 7th grade. I believe this is a new program. It was great that both of the boys were awarded these educational excellence recognitions.
Here is the award:
Jack earns STAR Boy Scout Rank December 19, 2008
Posted by irisia in jack, jack accomplishments, jack boy scouts, Jack leadership.Tags: boy scout star rank, earning star boy scouts
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Last spring I was speaking with one of the Boy Scout leaders. I asked him about rank advancement and about what age the boys were when they made Eagle Scout. He told me that if they hit 16 and don’t have it, it’s likely they won’t do it because they become too interested in girls and driving and other stuff. This made sense. So, I started to encourage him, u-hum urge, um push him to make an aggressive goal for the next rank advancement. He set a goal of the end of the year to move from First Class to Star rank – and he did it!!!!!
He earned 6 merit badges including 4 Eagle-required badges. He was the first scribe at this troop, a role which is now being continued as he has a successor. He worked aggressively attending advancement manias to earn the Eagle Badges. Onward and upward to Life!!
With 23 miles at Ann Springs in Fort Mill, we finished the hiking merit badge December 7, 2008
Posted by irisia in jack, jack accomplishments, jack boy scouts.Tags: ann springs greenway, eagle merit badge, eagle required hiking merit badge, fort mill hiking, hiking merit badge
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WooHoo!!!!!! We finished the hiking eagle-required merit badge. What a great feeling. We hiked 23 miles at Ann Springs in Fort Mill which was the last requirement for the hiking merit badge. The location was very disappointing. The map was not only difficult to read but it was just wrong. We took one path which was supposed to be a hiking path and it dead-ended in the heart of a residential community. There were VERY few trail markers which made it difficult. When trails split, there were no clear signs. And, not the fault of the location, but it was incredibly muddy.
The best part is we made it through the entire merit badge with no rain, no snow and no significant injuries. There were a couple people who had a mile sprain but nothing that kept them from walking. Not intending any pun whatsoever, they boys were real troopers. They didn’t complain. They didn’t hem and haw. They just walked, and walked, and walked. I am so impressed with this group. Jack earned this eagle badge – I’m very proud.
