Jaiden and Emily, Musical Number

 I felt bad missing and Jaiden and Emily's musical number in church today!! But I am SO glad that Jaiden got a recording of their practice to send me!! They sang, "How Great Thou Art," and it was beautiful!! 

How Great Thou Art

Seminary Graduation!

Tonight was Seminary graduation for Jaiden! Jaiden and Emily were asked to do the musical number and they sang Rick's arrangement of "Israel Israel, God is Calling." If I am able to get a video of them singing it some time I will add it to this post. 'They did a nice job and the speakers did a good job also. I am so grateful for Seminary!! 

Jaiden -- Pre-School Graduation and Seminary Graduation! 

(Jaiden and Emily -- 5th grade and 12th grade!) 

Senior Spotlight

Tonight was a combined RS/YW dinner and program where they honored the young women who are graduating from high school and also graduating from Young Women and entering into Relief Society. The RS went all out! It was in the Parry's backyard and they had a full Luau with sticky rice, teriyaki chicken, shredded pork, cucumber salad, macaroni salad, fruit, and Allison's mini key-lime pies for dessert. The decorations were beautiful and they even had hula dancers! (One lady and a darling little four year old girl who also performed). 

The three graduates (Jaiden, Emily, and Alivia Erickson) sang "Glorious" while Brynn Wilde played the piano. Then we spotlighted the girls and they showed a video of pictures of them throughout the years. 

Senior Spotlight Questions:

Name: Jaiden Jensen

Favorite book: Catch Me If You Can

Favorite place to eat: Chick-Fil-A or Costa Vida

Hobbies/Talents: Singing, Dancing, Acting, Tumbling

Activities: Musical Theater, Madrigals, Executive Council. She also completed an Internship in Athletic Training. She dances with Southwest Dance and is currently preparing for her Senior Concert.

Favorite movie: Doesn’t have one, but her favorite Broadway play is Hairspray!

Biggest Fear: Spiders

Describe your daughter in 3 words: INVOLVED!!! Enthusiastic, Compassionate   

Interesting Fact: Jaiden played the part of SpongeBob in The SpongeBob Musical at Snow Canyon High School this past Fall. She was also 1^st Runner Up in Utah in the Distinguished Young Women Program. She is the Sterling Scholar for Speech and Drama, and recently won Runner Up in Region.

Plans after High school: Jaiden plans to attend Southern Utah University with the President’s Scholarship, rooming with her best friend, Emily Williams. She wants to major in Exercise Science.

What is your favorite thing about your daughter?

Jaiden is fun to be around! I love hearing about everything she is involved in. She is very passionate and has this beautiful smile that just lights up the stage. She loves to perform, and I LOVE watching her perform!   

Anything else you want to tell us about your daughter?

Jaiden cares about other people. She has been “blessed with the spiritual gifts of leadership and service.” She has been heavily involved in many fund-raisers and service projects this past year. But more than that, she reaches out to “the one.” She is very inclusive and goes out of her way to be a friend to others and treats others with respect. We are very proud of Jaiden and the amazing young woman she has become!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Side note: For Sterling Scholar Jaiden had to get several letters of recommendation, and every one of them commented on her qualities of leadership, service, and friendship. One said, “Through her efforts over the years she has helped raise over $30,000 for those in our local community that were in need of assistance.” Another said, “she goes out of her way to be a friend to those who need a friend” and “She treats others around her with respect and is very patient with others.” Another said, “She can often change the mood of morning rehearsals by being present.” I love that each of these letters not only focused on her many achievements, but also her character and the way she treats other people! We love you, Jaiden!  

 

Senior Honors Night

Tonight was Jaiden's Senior Honors Night! We were a little worried because we "heard" that it could be up to three hours long! But it was only 90 minutes long, so we survived, ha ha! Maybe they spread that rumor so that people are pleasantly surprised when they get out "early!" 

Jaiden was awarded with lots of awards:  Academic Letter, Gold Warrior Shield, Eagle Warrior Award (Executive Council Leadership Award), Student Ambassador, Sterling Scholar, Academic All-State in not only one, but TWO, categories (theatre and vocal) and the Seal of Biliteracy! She was surprised when they informed her a few days ago that she was getting the Seal of Biliteracy. She had three years of Spanish in high school, but didn't think anything of it. But apparently her AAPPLE score earned her this award, along with just 12 other Seniors. She also received certificates for all of the college scholarships she was offered (along with all of the other Seniors on the program).  

Jaiden and Emily were asked to provide a musical number and they sang "Found/Tonight" an arrangement combining "You Will Be Found" from Dear Evan Hansen with "Tonight" from Hamilton. It was very pretty!

I was really touched at the end of the awards night when they announced the "Heart of a Warrior Awards." One in particular was a Hispanic girl who moved here from Honduras. The person announcing her told a little of her story. When she moved here she only had ten credits and so she was really behind. She also didn't speak any English. She passed her classes here by taking a picture of the assignments, translating them unto Spanish, doing the assignments in Spanish, and then translating them into English. She did this for EVERY ASSIGNMENT! I am not sure how this was done (Google Translate maybe?) The person explaining all of this leaned over and whispered something to her and then said "I was just telling her that I would explain all of this to her in Spanish later." 

Since I work as an interpreter I was shaking my head and thinking, "Why didn't the school bring in a Spanish interpreter for this awards ceremony? Here she is getting this really awesome award and probably doesn't even know what is going on!" She was standing on the stage in a full-length red satin prom dress while the audience was cheering and clapping and giving her a standing ovation. I had no idea who she was, but I was so touched by her story that I had tears running down my face. I get so excited about all of the awards and accomplishments that my children receive, but forget that there are so many students who don't have the same kind of privileges and support that our children have. Tonight was a humbling reminder of all of students that go to our school that struggle everyday in areas that we simply take for granted. I felt grateful that we could be there to see her receive this honor. As Auggie Pullman stated in the book Wonder, "Everyone should get a standing ovation at least once in their life...!"   

State Music Festival (Jaiden)

Jaiden: This weekend was state solo and ensemble!! we went up on a bus Friday afternoon and then we drove and stopped for dinner and some friends and I went to this place called cubby's and I got the best blueberry shake ever haha! and then we got to the hotel and partied and went swimming and face timed people, and we were having a blast! the next morning Emily and Gwendolyn and I went to the little gym and worked out for a bit and took this pic where I look INSANELY buff and then we got ready and went to the competition!!

I got to hear Emily's song and she did super good! and I also got to hear some other people perform too and they did INSANE, like I'm pretty sure the girl who went before me was pro opera singer... any way haha I did my song and it was good and then I got picked up by aunt Alicia and we went to Janika's baby shower!!! there was so many children there hahaha I was in heaven it was so fun and then after Jenna and I went to stay with Adria and Rella! we made bracelets and watched a movie, it was a good fun relaxing night! 

Then today I got my score form the competition!!! I GOT A 1!!! that's the best score you can get!! so if there was nationals I would have qualified haha isn't that awesome??? I'm pretty proud and then we went to church and hungout and decorated onesies for Janika and I made one that says "I 💗 hot moms" and another that straight up says "O'Hare air" and then we drove home and Evan was in the car with us so that was super fun hope you have an amazing week!!! it's already may which is so so crazy!!  also they resurfaced the parking lot at our school so I don't have my senior spot anymore but I have a pic of it so it'll chillany! 

Après un Rêve

This is the song that Jaiden sang for the competition (but at a different performance). Her director asked her and a few of the others to perform their piece during their last Madrigal Concert. I was happy about that because then I was able to video it! They all did amazing! If you are wondering about the random chair in the video, well the opening song had someone playing the cello and that is why the chair is there. Then it sat there the entire concert and no one moved it! I kept thinking, "Will someone just move that chair off stage?!" Ha ha! Oh well!  

(Jaiden's senior parking space that she references above. "PJ" stands for "Princess Jaiden," ha ha!)

All-State Choir (Jaiden)

All state choir was really fun! And filled to the brim with rehearsals haha! One of the days we had 9 hours total of rehearsals. But it was very fun to hangout with all the people there and learn some cool songs! In our free time we went to the mall, garden village, and a ton of other little shops and stores! Emily. Macey, and I had an amazing view of the mountains and top golf from our top floor window! Our concert was legendary and it was a super cool experience to learn and sing with 540 people from all over the state!

SCMS Warrior Honor Evening

This morning I had a couple of interpreting jobs and then took a nap!  I picked up the kids from school and then Jenna had a fun "Un-birthday" party for Activity Days which included swimming at Sister Phillip's house. I wish I had known that it was her leader's actual birthday today so I could have sent Jenna with a gift for her!

I brought Jaiden and her friend to dance at 4:45 and then stayed at the studio and waited for her since Jaiden had to leave early for the Snow Canyon Middle School's Award's Night. Jaiden and Janelle were supposed to be at the school early in order to greet people and pass out programs. Jaiden and Janelle both received awards for achieving a 4.0 all year long and Janelle also received an award (like last year) for perfect attendance! Jaiden and Emily helped to pass out cookies afterwards as part of their Student Council responsibilities.

I was also really proud of my Miamaids tonight! Each department gave out a special award -- typically one to an eight grader and one to a ninth grader. Four of those awards came from my Miamaid class! Layla Purdy received the award for Language Arts (9th grade) and Jaymii Bonadurer received the award for Language Arts (8th grade). Gracie Newby received the Fine Arts award and Ruby Bolton received the award for Science! Way to go girls!!

Science Fair

Jaiden and Emily did a fantastic job on their joint Science Fair Project!! They did the entire project at school and put the whole board together without any help!  Great job girls!!

Jaiden's Fifth Grade Graduation and Program

Jaiden had her Fifth Grade Graduation and Patriotic Program today.  She sang a duet along with another girl and they sounded great!  This is the fifth time I have seen this program (two more to go) and I love it every time!  Jaiden also received the "Give Me Liberty" award!  Here is Jaiden with her best friend, Emily -- they were excited to be able to serve together on the Student Council this year on the Library Committee!

 

 

     

 

Jaiden's Birthday Party

Jaiden's birthday is next week (she will be seven!) and we decided to have her friend party today.  I enlisted the help of Janika and her friends to give the girls makeovers.  The teenagers did the younger girl's hair and nails and makeup.  The girls also played some games, decorated foam picture frames with their picture in it, opened presents, and ate cake and ice-cream.  The boys didn't want anything to do with this "girl party" and so they all took off to friend's houses.  Look at Jaiden in this group picture.  I can't believe how much shorter she is than everyone else!  She looks so tiny!