{photos by Eden Theule}
Welcome to another High School installment in our Day in the Life series! Last time we heard from sloCAHS junior Haley Haynes Carstens (click here if you missed that one!), and today we get a glimpse into both a home day and school day from Eden Theule. This is Eden’s 10th year here – she has attended SLOCA since its very first year, when she was in first grade, and is now a sophomore thriving at sloCAHS.
High school students attend classes Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and then complete assignments at home on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Eden has recorded a bit of both to give you an example of how our students can organize their time and enjoy the flexibility of the program:
Thursday:
7:00ish
Wake up, read a Bible chapter, get ready to start the day.
7:30-8:45
Kind of eat breakfast, help feed chicks, and talk to Haaken (little brother) for a while. Also, we all try to figure out what to bring to science night for the bake sale. We decided on muddy buddies, rice crispy treats, and lemon bars.
8:45-9:15
Mom goes to the store, and I finish a poster from class for science night on the electrolysis of water while listening to an audiobook of Napoleon’s Buttons, also for science.
9:15-9:45
Make some rice crispy treats while listening to yet another audiobook, this time, Canterbury Tales for literature.
9:45-10:45
Haaken and I make muddy buddies together and clean up the kitchen with mom.
11:00-11:30
Head to the schoolroom and evaluate the rest of my day and work on this blog post.
11:45-12:30
Help with lunch (pesto pasta), cut up rice crispy squares, and bag muddy buddies, hang around, etc.
12:30-1:00
Eat lunch with the family (besides dad) while we listen to comedian Brian Regan talk about science fair projects.
1:00-1:30
Practice banjo and a bit of guitar.
1:30
Is it really 1:30 already? Good thing I have a pretty light day.
1:30-2:30
I go outside to take notes on the Canterbury Tales story I listened to earlier.
2:30
Check my email, then its time to start math. Yay.
3:40
Finally done with math! Time for a snack. I put frozen bananas in the blender with cocoa powder and protein powder. It’s healthy “ice cream!”
4:00
Get dressed (I’ve been in my PJs all day!) and ready to go to science night.
4:30
Leave for science night.
5:00-7:30
Yay science! I eat a grilled cheese sandwich and tell people about the electrolysis of water and buy baked goods.
8:00
Finally drive home with my sister and brothers, listening to loud music.
8:30
Home at last! I guess I should start on my weekend homework, but I have a headache, so I don’t feel like doing much of anything. I make some peppermint tea (with lots of honey!) and take advil.
8:45-10:00
Finish up an art project for art class tomorrow.
10:00
Well, that project took a bit longer than expected. That’s ok, but now I’m ready for bed.
10:30
After getting ready for bed, I read another Bible chapter and hit the hay. zzz
Friday
6:45-7:00
Wake up, read a Bible chapter.
7:00-7:30
Take a shower, get dressed, brush teeth, etc.
7:30-8:00
Pack up school stuff and pack a lunch and eat breakfast.
8:00
Leave for school.
8:30-3:30
Friday classes are math, science, literature, art: review homework, get ready for tests, discuss Canterbury Tales, and critique art projects.
2:30
School is over so Sage (big sister) and I load up and, after dropping a friend off at her dad’s office, go home.
3:20-3:30
Back at the ranch, I evaluate schoolwork for the weekend.
3:30-4:30
I decide that, this week, it would be a good idea to start my homework tonight (I rarely do this, but science night threw off my schedule). I listen to some more Canterbury Tales.
4:30-5:00
More banjo practice.
5:00-7:30
Make dinner and watch a movie with Sage. She was learning about the Declaration of Independence in Government class, so we watch National Treasure. Mom and Dad are at the Tech museum with the boys, so Sage and I have the house to ourselves.
8:00-10:00
Sage persuades me to watch National Treasure 2.
10:15
Get ready for bed, then sleep.
The weekend will include studying for a history test with a friend, banjo lessons, writing an essay, going to church, and probably some random sitting around. One of the greatest things about the sloCAHS program is its flexibility. We all learn how to manage time and organize priorities by juggling things like science night and study time, movies and math homework, and banjo practice and book-reading. My schoolwork does take hard work and lots of time, but the priceless wisdom and experience gained is so worth it.
Big thanks to you, Eden, for taking the time to write this down and share it with us. Our high schoolers lead full lives, and we appreciate you letting us into yours with this post! We know other students and parents will enjoy this glimpse into the day of a sloCAHS student.
If you have any questions/want to know more about our high school, or want to sit in on some of our classes, email our High School Director Kateri Rein at [email protected].
