Alumni!

There will no doubt be many more graduation pictures at some point, but here's a quick glance of Zara and some of their besties. Class of 2023 are now the newest alums of STAB!

Cannon Cup

Amity's team closed out their season with an undefeated run at the Cannon Cup... but sadly they also didn't win a single game, so with 3 hard fought ties they were not able to make it to the final. It was in their grasp in the final match of the group stage but the vagaries of soccer being what they are, a handball and subsequent free kick tied the game which sent their opponents to the final. There's always next year, when they will be back stronger and better and hopefully with MOST of the same kiddos, ready to hit the ground running for the next tournament over Labor Day weekend.

(Despite some disappointment a lot of fun was had as evidenced by the pyramid building picture above.)

Last Day of Senior Year Classes

"Lasts" are funny around here because the seniors take off 2 weeks before the rest of the school and pursue a "senior internship." Zara wanted to do something in health care, and lucky for them the ever generous and amazing Robin LeGallo (and also several of her 2nd year residents) took Z in to hang with the Pathology department. Z learned a ton and had a blast, and continues to set their sights on a future career in medicine though they are torn on the whole physician or surgeon thing at the moment... stay tuned. But, this was their last day attending classes in high school, so cheers to that as well! On to Oberlin!

Soccer Senior Night

Technically speaking Zara was on the Girls Varisty Soccer team all 4 years of HS, but they only played one game during their 9th grade year since the season came to an abrupt end with the arrival of the pandemic just after spring break. But props they get for 6 years of school soccer, rounding out their Varsity stint with a year of 7/8 and then a year of JV while they were in middle school. While Amity is the truly soccer obsessed in our household, Z has been playing in one form or another since they were 4, and I hope will continue to play in college, be it club, intramural or possibly hanging with the Varsity team there? They've become a pretty awesome and solid goalie over the last few years, and they can play most midfield positions, too.... They also discovered recently that they kinda rock as a defender, so truly, world is their soccer oyster. Can't wait to cheer them on :)

Busch Gardens

Hannah, Amity and Maddie have been spending A LOT of time together this year - not just at soccer practice but in car pools! I must take a moment to thank the collective village of 2010G Blue soccer parents for making the logisitics of having a kiddo on a travel soccer team easier than I ever imagined - and a particular shout out to the city kids car pool(tm). And also thanks to Hannah's family for making Willimasburg a home base when travelling this season, and for the amazing experiences (now memories) Amity has from the year on and off the field.

These kiddos were supposed to spend some time at Busch Gardens the day before a game agains VA Reign, but their opponents (oddly) forfeited so these kiddos just went for a fun filled weekend in Willamsburg instead. Lemons into lemonade, voila!

Senior Figure

Sadly I don't have any pictures of the complete bizarre-o-ness that is the STAB senior figure, some weird cotillion-esque hold over from the all girls school founding 100+ years ago. And also deeply Southern. But whatevs. Z made their beautiful dress (it has pocketses!) and Wes' bowtie. I got to stand with them for the pic. Amazingly, we all look good.

Guest Playing with the U13 White Team

While most people would think taking it easy is the order of the week follpowing 3 pretty intense soccer games at her tournament last weekend, Amity disagreed. There was an opportunity to guest play for the White team at their tournament this weekend, and Amity JUMPED at the oportunity for more soccer and to help out. She took the intitaive to arrange her own way there, people to stay with, etc (we are devoted, sure, but 2 tournament weekends in a row? I don't think so :). She played whatever position was asked of her, including goalie (which she is not) and helped the team to secure a victory in the final match - she kept a clean sheet in goal and made several impressive saves. All of this is second hand from both the soccer star herself and other parents (including the pics) but I will document it here nonetheless!

Virginia Super Cup

There was actually nothing super about the tournament. The fields, which are maybe sometimes nice, were totes water logged. Like the puddles on the field were a 12th player. The wind was INSANE. Amity's team did seem to be, as one supporter suggested, allergic to scoring. But they still eked out a win and probably should have had a few ties (that ended up as losses - soccer you are a cruel mistress). I think fun was had though, as evidenced by a lot of soccer played (always fun when you are Amity, even in terrible conditions) and some bowling alley shenanigans. Double bonus Amity and I got out of Dodge while the COVID was hot and seemed to have avoided that diasaster.. this time.

High School Musical (the Musical)

Whenever I say Zara is in the high school musical and people respond "oh, what musical" and I say "High School Musical!" it sounds a bit who's on first, but be that as it may Z's final production on Saints Stage was in fact... a Disney musical. They were Zeke, they had a secret penchant for baking, they learned to convincingly dribble a basketball (they play soccer, not basketball!) and they got to have a little on stage frenemy romance with their longtime childhood BFF BG who played Sharpay. They sang and danced their heart out, and we were all pretty impressed.
P.S. Totally unreleatedly, I'm sure, they came down with COVID 2 days after the show closed.

100 Days!

As if we need a reminder that lil Zoo is off to college real soon now, STAB celebrated the seniors with a "100 days til graduation" lunch. Not 100 school days, but 100 calendar days. Which maybe sounds like a lot of days, but when you get right down to it.... not so much. They're still waiting to hear from 3 of their 6 colleges, so we don't know *where* they'll be next year, but wherever they go it's gonna be great.