7th GRADE ADVENTURES- Covid, Distance Learning and Transfers

 So far, the 2020, 2021 school year for Lex has been about adjusting to being new at his Warwick Middle School and navigating that while Distance Learning (What they call it when the kids log into classes from their chromebooks but they are at home).  It has been a year like no other for everyone we know...and we are not alone in the strange struggles and challenges presented.

But Lex has been adjusting rather well.  He has joined a Newcomers Group at School that meets every Monday on a Google Classroom Meet.  Here, he has found some new friends.  Additionally, Lex has reconnected with two friends from his previous time at Warwick Schools.  Socially, this has been great for him since the Covid Pandemic has everyone staying in, staying home and not out with friends.  Alex mainly socializes with his friends by Video-Gaming and talking to them through the Game System.  Lex has a PS-4, a Nintendo Switch and an X-Box 360 which the latter is at Dad's house.  Lex does gaming with his nephew Evan, his new friend also named Evan, his friend Luca and a buddy of Luca's, Juliette and also Dillon.  Not a bad social life for a 12 year old!

Lex also has pets.  His favorite in my opinion, is our Australian Shepherd named Cloud.  Lex and Cloud enjoy cuddling, running and playing together.  Cloud is 14 years old, so as an older dog, he is mainly sedentary.  But Cloud is funny and affectionate.  He really does make the family better.  We also have four cats, who's antics keep us all on our toes. Lex wants a German Shepherd.  We have been trying to help him understand the amount of work that a German Shepherd would be as a pet.  He is certain though, that it is what he wants.  Time will tell.

Other interests of Lex include playing Monopoly and other table top board games.  He also likes card games.  It's not ALL electronics.  Lex also enjoys guns and other weaponry.  He recently went on his first hunting trip with my husband's father, Papa Jim, whom Lex considers the best Grandpa ever!  They climbed a tree wearing harnesses, sat in wait of a deer that never showed...and then went to Cabela's where Lex bought his first pocket knife.

Lex has ADD- Attention Deficit Disorder, which affects him as a student.  He uses a low dose of stimulant medication to help make the long hours of concentration more effective.  Some days he can do well without it while others are a struggle.  But we pretty much use it daily during school and not on weekends.  As Lex has aged, his ADHD seems to have tapered a lot and his maturity helps him manage himself much better.

Lex has a great sense of humor.  He loves to tell jokes, to laugh and to watch comedy movies.  When Lex meets people, he likes to immediately turn into a ham (as I call it..basically he puts on the comedy routine).  He likes people to see that weird, off-beat personality straight away.  As his Mom, I like his clever wit.  As he has aged into a preteen, we have more in common in thought and opinions.  Lex and I enjoy getting into a good TV series together whenever we can.

Recently we binge- watched two great shows.  There is not much else to do aside from TV during COVID.  We watched "Sick Note", an off-beat British show that starred Rupert Grint.  It has two seasons and then also, we watched "Dash and Lily", a cute one season show about two teens at Christmas who defy the norm and meet by way of a notebook passed in secret.  Cool show...loved it.

So what is next for this boy?  Well...we hope that Warwick schools will re-open before the 7th grade ends.  It would be wonderful to see the teachers, kids, administration and the building staff all together again.  I think I speak for everyone everywhere when I say that as a community, it will be nice to be back together again.  Lex does need more socialization in person.  I am sure other kids his age do as well.  Hopefully, Lex will join a club, organization or group at school to help enhance his interests.  

Lex still gets to spend some time, although not a lot, with other family like his sisters Didi and Daly.  It is occasional since Covid, but usually Lex goes camping or has a short trip with each of them yearly.  We will see how 2021 unfolds for travel.  In the meantime, Lex enjoys buying cool stuff from Amazon and having it shipped here.  He loves money and hopes to make more money in 2021.  One of his goals is to eventually build a gaming computer of his own.

Lex has come a long way from the little tike he was when I first started this blog.  But he is still...

My Lex

~Lilac

Seventh Grader-Transfer Student

 This morning I was thinking about how Alex has had more food moods than any other kids I know.  I miss the great Broccoli fad of preschool.  He liked the little trees and  we had to send an entire bowl of them into the school as his Thanksgiving contribution.  He was about 4 then.  It didn't last long...next came hot dogs.  He really liked those hot dogs.  Hot Dogs during the Paw Sox games or at home.  Hot Dogs at Spike's...Until one day (about 3 years later), he didn't like them anymore.  In fact, he went from Hot Dogs to Hamburgers...then Hamburgers add Bacon.  Also eggs.  He liked his father's egg sandwiches and my egg salad.

These days, at 12 years old...Alex's food preferences are as strange as ever.  He loves pepperoni,  burgers and bacon.  He loves corn on the cob.  He enjoys chicken soup with carrots, blueberrise...and he loves anything chocolate, especially chocolate chip cookies.

Alex has had a lot of changes since January 2020 (so 7-8 months)We had moved to a new house, and away from our old town.  See in 2015, I brought the kids to live in West Warwick.  But in November 2019, we bought a house in Warwick, and moved.  My plan had been to continue to commute the kids to their existing Middle School (Deering) and High School (WWHS).  My daughter was going to graduate so this was the plan...

The plan was altered by Covid-19, a health pandemic that broke us all and forced us into our homes. The kids were new in their neighborhood.  Alex has not met ONE kid yet in our neighborhood...no friends.  Food, video games and family are the only thing he has...and his pets.  He loves them.

He helped us in the Springtime to plant gardens and design the yard.

I hope that in a year from now, I can see a new Boy.  A boy of 13, heading into 8th grade.  A boy who loves to get outdoors and run and be active- a boy who no longer needs his IEP at school, but with a bit of assistance from his 504 plan, can work independently at things, accomplishing things.

I further hope that Alex will grow to enjoy vegetables.

7 years post-preschool- He's Dalex now!

April 2020 Remote Schooling

March 30, 2020 at Conimicut Point Beach during the Covid 19

At the new house in Warwick, preparing the lawn & Garden

April 24, 2020- Friday

Today seemed like a good day to write in this blog again.

Alex is in the 6th grade now at Deering Middle School in West Warwick.  A few months ago, we purchased a house in Warwick RI.  Deering had gone to remote schooling (from home).  Prior to the start of remote schooling, I was committed to commuting the children to school and they would take the City bus home.  The RIPTA bus number 29 has a stop right at the corner of my front lawn.  Alex has attended Deering for two years now.  Previous to Deering, Alex attended and completed Greenbush Elementary in West Warwick for 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade.

A new journey will start soon...when the Covid-19 Pandemic passes and we can start to create a fresh start in our new community.  Alex will transfer to Public School here in Warwick RI.  At this time, he would be in line to start at Vet's Middle School in the 7th grade.  Alex has at least two childhood friends from Kindergarten and First grade. During K and 1st, we lived in Warwick and Alex attended JBF (John Brown Francis Elementary).  His two best buds were from there...and many other friends too.  I KNOW this reunion will evoke positive experiences for his new school transfer.  The kids will definitely reunite and it will be good!

Here ire some memories from the first elementary school Alex attended (JBF):

JBF was a great school

We moved from Warwick to an apartment in West Warwick.  We had some memorable times for the five years we lived in the apartment.  Alex was in my wedding and discovered his interests...ever-changing as they are at those ages.  His love for his pets, video games, board games, fishing and Dinosaurs.

Until my next update.  Love you more xxoo
Mama

My Lex in Preschool

My Lex is 4 and 1/2 and will be 5 in May!  2013 is off to a great start for Lex because he started preschool at Out & About Kids in Warwick in October 2012.  His PreK teacher is Mrs. Linda.  Lex is really good at writing his letters, numbers and name.  

Lex has a new home now too.  We moved in November and he has 2 Australian Shepherds and 2 cats at home.  He also has fish.  Lex loves to climb and ride bikes and sled.  He likes Bowling and the color yellow.  Lex likes to Play our Wii and play with cars.  He is going to take soccer this spring with his sister Annika in the Warwick Firefighters League.  Lex takes a gymnastics program every week at PreK called Stretch & Grow.

Lex has a new stepdad (soon to be) in his life, named Jamie.  Lex really loves Jamie and they play together alot.  We are planning a bowling birthday party for when he turns 5 and also we are going hiking in New Hampshire this summer.  This weekend, Jamie is taking Lex and the rest of us to Monster Jam!

Yay Lex!  We LOVE YOU baby!

Lex in 2013!

Hey everyone...so My Baby Lex has been betting so big.  He is 4 and 1/2 now and in Preschool.  His preschool work is really coming along well.  he writes, identifies shapes, colors, letters and numbers.  He is bright and sweet and fun! 

We moved to a new place in November 2013 and he calls it "Yellow House".  We have 2 dogs now and two cats and two fish in a 2 bedroom house.  Lex and his sister are my little loves and I like to journal about their lives.

Super Lex, age 3...but almost 4!

My son David Alexander... is awesome!  We call him Alex or Lex.  Now that he is nearly 4, he is learning to spell his name.  He likes to write L E X and he recognizes his name as L E X and not A L E X.  When he sees a word that starts with "A" it is automatically associated with his sister Annika, whom he calls "nonny". 
He spells M O M and D A D all the time.  He attempts to write his name all the time.  "E" is very hard for him and he doesn't quite write linear yet. He places the letters all over the page.  This picture of him here...climbing the Rock Wall at Annika's Elementary School playground...so typical.  He loves to take chances (sometimes).

Lex really works at things when he is given a task or project.  At this age...just before four, it is very important to develop that curiosity and self-drive.  I want him to want to come to the table and sit and create something and listen to directions.

Physical activities and large motor/small motor efforts are essential not only to strengthen the body but the mind and to allow a child to gain confidence that they have the power to use their mind and control their body.  Lex really loves sports like golf and baseball and badminton.  He loves riding a bike too!

Seen here, Lex is counting Gummy Savers he was given as a treat.  He looks adorable in the hat but didn't want to keep wearing it after the photo.

These are from our first sledding time together at Roger Williams Park.  You can see Lex's Dad's job behind the kids here...Park West.

Lex here with his Nona (my Mom).  In their arms is Yoda...my Mom's Dog.  Lex loves the dogs.

Here, Lex gets the chance to follow a bike route at the Warwick Fire Safety Day

Above, Lex enjoys a lunch with his Best Pal. Tyler at our Home Daycare ( on the porch)

Lex learns and explores at the Warwick Public Library.

He is a real character!