The weekends at Niekro Academy are left unscheduled so our students can pursue their passions.

For example, Casey and Mallory have used the time to work on how to argue without getting caught. They were fighting over who got to work on a LEGO set, which naturally migrated into the downstairs bathroom. They did not know I could see them through the open window from my vantage point in the backyard. Based on their wild gestures, I wasn’t sure at first if they were arguing or making a Tik Tok.

Then Casey looked at the open window and shut it. I realized then it was argument. Under questioning later, he admitted that he closed the window so we wouldn’t hear them yell at each other. They’re clever and getting sneakier. Sort of like Gremlins you feed after midnight.

With all the downtime, our students also dug up a LEGO set they received for Christmas that they never had the time to assemble. (Sidebar: Am I the only one who didn’t know LEGO is supposed to be all caps because it’s an abbreviation of two Danish words meaning play well?!)

LEGO Rachel, Joey, Phoebe, Chandler, Monica and Ross are now hanging out in Central Perk. We had Gunther but somehow he’s lost too. I’m guessing he’s with our Pilgrim Man pepper shaker somewhere on a boondoggle.

A video tour of Central Perk.

They’re also having deep discussions about the meaning of equity as they’ve started to count how many times their picture appears in the blog. And Ally then rated every member of the family in her Family Pyramid. Casey came in last because he was “being annoying.” I came in second to last because I make the kids do chores.

Ally’s family ranking saw Mallory in first place and the dog in second.

All this enrichment and we still have a day to go in our weekend. Or is it Monday already? As Mallory said yesterday, “I don’t know what day it is. I just call it Day now.”

Peace. XO.