so proud of my boy

WARNING!   WARNING!   WARNING!

If you don't like reading braggy mom posts, you should cut your losses right now and stop reading.  This is a super-duper, humongous, child-centric, Mom-bragging post.


I had a great day as Mac's mom today.  If you read a couple days ago, you'll remember that I got to take the day off today to go to Mac's award ceremonies.  It was a very good day to be Mac's mom.

At the flag raising, Mac was recognized as the 3rd grader who best displays and lives the International Baccalaureate learner profile.  In case you didn't know, there are ten IB learner profile attributes.  For your education (and mine), they are:

• inquirers—their natural curiosity has been nurtured and they actively enjoy learning

• thinkers—they exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to solving complex problems

• communicators—they receive and express ideas and information confidently in more than one language

• risk-takers—they approach unfamiliar situations without anxiety and have the confidence to explore new ideas

• knowledgeable—they have explored themes that have global significance and have acquired a critical mass of knowledge

• principled—they have a sound grasp of the principles of moral reasoning and have acquired integrity, honesty and a sense of justice

• caring—they show sensitivity towards the needs and feelings of others, and have a sense of personal commitment to helping others

• open-minded—they respect the values of other individuals and cultures and seek to consider a range of points of view

• well-balanced—they understand the importance of physical and mental balance and personal well-being

• reflective—they give thoughtful consideration to their own learning by constructively analyzing their personal strengths and weaknesses.

I'm so proud of my sweet boy for this accomplishment.  WOW!

After a great breakfast with some girlfriends, I returned to school for the awards ceremony.  Mac received three awards at this ceremony.  Three awards!  My cup runneth over.

The first award Mac received was the Colombian Culture award for a 3rd grade Spanish as a Second Language student. He also won this award last year, so either nobody in the class cares for Colombian Culture or he just has a knack for it.  (Year 4 to the Brits is 3rd grade to us Americans.)

  

The second award he won was the 3rd grade boy PE award.  

Now I'm sure you're thinking to yourself right now, "Wow, Susan, you must be super-proud.  He was the best SSL Colombian culture student and he can run the fastest.  Big whoop."  

See Exhibit 1 above for evidence of my well-rounded son.  

And lest you have any doubts, please see Exhibit 4 below for further proof of how SMART my boy is.  

Full disclosure:  Although the award - "a real plaque" as Mac keeps saying in wonderment - says that he's first in class, the school has changed its policy on "first in class" awards to include the top 10% of the class in order to motivate students.  So there were five children who received "first in class" awards for the 3rd grade.  AND MY BOY WAS ONE OF THEM.

Did I mention how proud of my boy I am?  I love that kid and can't believe how lucky Jimmy and I are to have him as our son.  WOW.  

Two more wake-ups and we have a fourth grader in the house!