Even though we have been visiting the Reiman Gardens for years, there are always new art exhibitions on display. This amazing sculpture made from recycled materials is created by the artist, Dale Lewis and is part of his traveling exhibit, Lewis and Art exhibition.
Tag: Devon
2021 All State Music Festival
Even though Devon made it to All State last year, the rehearsals and concert were cancelled due to the pandemic, so technically this is his first year playing at the All State! He made an impressive 7th chair among 30 cellists. This is the 75th annual celebration and participants receive a special medal.
2021 All State Music Festival Audition
In his sophomore year, Devon earned a spot in the cello section of the 2021 All State Music Festival for the second year in a row. Due to the pandemic this was his first in-person audition.
Saying farewell to Mrs. Kanevski
Meet Mrs. Kanevski. She has been Devon’s piano teacher since 2017. Devon expressed to give piano competitions a try and we found Mrs. Kanevski. Many people who do not know her might think that she is very strict, since she is known in the area for having several students championing in the IMTA (Iowa Music Teachers’ Association) piano auditions. Not Mrs. Kanevski. She is the kindest, most patient and caring teacher I have known. She is quite the opposite of what you would expect. She prioritizes on her students, but never puts any pressure on them. Perhaps it is one of the reasons her students perform so well.
Unfortunately, Mrs. Kanevski was diagnosed with leukemia in 2020. She underwent chemotherapy and seemed to have some success with it. However, she had decided to leave Iowa to be closer to her family in Wisconsin. This was the last picture taken with Mrs Kanevski at her house in Ames, Iowa, before she left. As chemotherapy had stripped her immunity (she said that none of the previous vaccinations were effective after treatment), she and everyone around her always take precautions not to get her sick.
Even though she has given us a choice to switch to a different teacher (as she will not be teaching in person anymore), I cannot imagine going to anyone else. There are many piano teachers in the area, but there is only one Mrs. Kanevski. While she has the amazing ability of turning her students into great musicians, it is her positive and relentless attitude that make her unique. She is a role model for our children and us. We are very fortunate to have her as our son’s teacher.
Covid Vaccination
Devon and Connor received their first doses of the covid vaccination.
Homeschool PE
Since the pandemic started, lots of videos were popping up motivating people to work out at home. Here, the boys are doing step aerobics. We really enjoy working out with the videos and being exposed to so many different workout ideas.
Ninja Training
It can be a challenge to stay in shape during the pandemic lockdowns. The boys use the backyard ninja gym to stay in shape and keep active.
Using Labster
Very often, we complain about the pandemic on how it stops us from doing our normal activities or from going places. However, the pandemic also presented several opportunities that benefit many. Students and teachers can use Zoom at no cost. The USDA provided free school lunches to children regardless of their family income. With the lockdowns, museums such as the Louvre and the National Gallery of Art developed online tours so that visitors can continue to enjoy their virtual visits from home. Spectrum and Comcast offered short term free internet. Other organizations also offered free resources for parents and educators. For instance, BrainPop offered free access to their educational videos during this time. The Smithsonian website offered free resources to keep students engaged. This is how we stumbled upon Labster.
Labster is a virtual science lab simulation used by high schools and colleges. During this time, Labster allows free access to their program. While these labs can not replace actual science lab experiments, they are definitely the next best thing – being inexpensive to set up (in our case, it’s free), and enabling students to work in an engaging and safe space.
Homeschool P.E.
Our homeschool P.E. takes place every other day. It is even more significant during the pandemic as many activities were cancelled and we are spending more time in the house. We are fortunate to have trails around our home we could utilize.
Our Homeschool String Ensemble
Perhaps this is the picture in your mind when you hear “homeschool band”.
Well, I am all about shifting paradigms. This is us (picture above) on the first day of our homeschool string ensemble. In a typical year, the kids will be participating in the Des Moines Symphony Academy youth symphonies, but due to the pandemic, this has been cancelled, though the academy does offer an alternative online program. We decided to start our very own string ensemble. We will be practicing every day and meeting every Saturday. The kids have always enjoyed performing familiar movie soundtracks and music, and it is refreshing to get to pick the pieces you play. They also get an opportunity to be featured soloists, which would demand them to be better players. I am excited for the new school year.