The last day of school for the kids. Some general reflections / observations:
- It's really kind of incredible to think how long an unwashed food container can go unnoticed in the bottom of someone's desk or hidden beneath a stack of old papers on the top shelf of a locker. Those airtight seals really do get the job done, it seems.
- Anyone who tries to accomplish something of lasting academic significance on the last day in an elementary school is insane.
- There was a great little moment when one of my boys had his sister and their mother come to visit during our annual end-of-the-year awards ceremony this morning. A great moment for me since his sister was also one of my fifth graders from way back when. She had just recently finished her first year of college, and came back so beautiful and poised and mature that at first glance I thought she was somebody's parent.
- During the lunchtime small talk when the discussion inevitably came around to what plans people had for the summer, I actually had something to say other than "Write." Which just made me feel so darn included....
- It wasn't at all cute to see my girls break down crying at the end of the day. It's usually kind of an "Aww, how sweet" moment that a lot of people can easily dismiss and chuckle about, but this time I can think of a few who were sad about ending their days at the only school they've known, and were taking some very real pain with them as they left.
- All of the gift cards I received for last-day presents were for Caribou Coffee. And I don't drink coffee, which means my sister will be very happy. Though one observant girl did give me a case case of Vitamin Water, so that was kind of cool. But I drink Vitamin Water Zero, and this was the regular stuff. So again, bonus for my sister.
- I had more than a few people looking around my room and wonder aloud why I had stripped it bare, and packed everything away, and even completely emptied out my desk. What can I say -- I know I'll want to start the next school year with a blank slate. Sure, it's probably more putzy work than is really necessary to achieve that goal, but you know what? If you saw the kind of numbers my kids put up for their spring tests scores you might have second thoughts about questioning the methods.
- And for the record.... Yes, there was one kid in my class who only took home his recess snowpants today, June 9th. Even though they haven't been required for at least two months, and even though we've had 100-degree temperatures since that last snowfall, and we even took on a school-wide locker clean out before spring break. Still. This kid. Snowpants. In the locker. In June.
Welcome to my life.
No comments:
Post a Comment