5th Grade Graduation

Today is the last day of school at Goshen Elementary School. School gets out at noon with the main event being all the students running through the halls and out the door led by the 5th graders at 11:55. Teachers are exhausted and going to miss their kids but also so ready to be done. Students are excited and a bit hyper. And everyone seems extra happy, and it feels kind of free and easy and like nothing matters that much because it's almost over. 

I went to my class's 5th grade graduation yesterday. It was so fun and kind of wild to be at the school and feel all this crazy energy of the last week of school after being out of it for so long. Being an elementary school teacher is a big thing, especially the last week of school. It's such a different world than my life has been for the last 7 weeks, and it was crazy for the two lives to crash together. 

There were so many very good people-- teachers, parents, and students. I really love them, and I'm never going to see any of them again. Everyone was excited to see Parley and told me how cute he is. Parley did so well during graduation and was just peaceful even with all the loud noises. I fed him through most of it. I got to read of all my students names and give them a certificate and a rose I brought for them. I took pictures with lots of kids after (though always on their phone and not mine, so I don't have any of them) and chatted with them and their parents. Wonderful Nikki drove us there and back and loaded up all my stuff from my classroom into our car. He is an angel. 

One of my favorite parts was seeing Maddie, my incredible long term sub, with the students. It was easy to see she did such a good job. She has ADHD and is really passionate about giving kids with ADHD the help and environment they need to do well in school. One of my students has ADHD, but the medicine he has to help with it makes us stomach hurt, so he usually doesn't take it. He is such a dear kid but behind in school. I tried lots of things to try and help him with little success, and I felt like I spent way too much time telling him to stay in his seat and so his work. He struggled with both. At graduation, it was easy to see that he had a special bond with Maddie. It made me so happy that hopefully she helped him academically where I couldn't, but at least she helped him feel good and comfortable in school. 

I'm so grateful for my students and wonderful friends. I'm going to miss them. But I'm so excited for Parley to be a 5th grader someday. We're going to have the best time!

Also, after doing so well in Goshen, Parley had a terrible night. Here's a picture of him with his sweet dad calming him down. I'm a lucky lady to have them both!