Texas Hoe Down

Tonight our family attended the fourth grade Texas Hoe Down at Amelia's elementary school. This is a special event held each year for the fourth graders and their families, and is designed to coincide with the intensive study that the fourth graders participate in about the state of Texas in the spring of the fourth grade year. The fourth graders were invited to wear western attire and come for an hour of dancing and western music to enjoy with their families. The kids had been practicing the dances in their weekly music classes, plus they all had the option of attending extra square-dancing rehearsals a few morning each week before school (Amelia chose to attend the extra lessons which led me to understand that she was really interested in this event).

The kids were encouraged to wear western gear, so Amelia chose to wear jeans, cowboy boots, and a bandana in her hair. Amelia is in the blue t-shirt on the right in the photo below.

Early in the evening parents were encouraged to participate with their children. Amelia roped Scott into promenading with her (and other kids and their dads) around the dance floor. While Scott was hesitant at first, I could tell it didn't take long for him to enjoy his time on the dance floor with Amelia and her friends.

Siblings were also encouraged to participate. John even got out on the dance floor for the hat dance! John is in the Heat jersey (of course) on the left next to the cowboy below.

The fourth graders posed for a group photo at the end. I could only capture part of the photo from where I was standing, but in my shot Amelia is in the back row, second from the right in the blue t-shirt.

Coincidentally, today I attended a parent's meeting at our school district's intermediate school (prelude to official middle school and the school for students in 5th and 6th grades) for students incoming to 5th grade. In just four weeks Amelia will officially graduate from elementary school and move to the district campus that houses the intermediate school. This coming May is an exciting and somewhat sentimental time for us, as the elementary school hosts numerous events to celebrate the end of the year and transition to the intermediate school for the 4th graders.