And they're off...

It doesn't quite feel like the end of the school year when you see the rain falling down outside, but for lots of kids at my old school they are already out, rejoicing for the freedom of summertime! Just like the first day, the last day of the school year brings back so many memories and so much excitement for both teachers and students. Today my last group of 2nd grade students graduated from 5th grade. I had told them on my last day with them 3 years ago that I would try to make it to their graduation but I couldn't make any promises because I didn't know what my life would be like at this point. I was so happy to get to go and cheer for them today!!!! Of course I loved all of my students but this group will always have a special place in my heart. Maybe because they were my last? Maybe because they were so kind and smart and funny? I'm not saying I had a favorite class but if I did..... Anyway it was a lot of fun to see them all big and "grown-up". Some of them are taller than I am now!  And it was neat because 12 of my 18 kids from that year were still there, which is very unusal for the demographic of our school. I went to graduation last year and had less than 5 kids that were still there.

The morning started with their official graduation ceremony. My award for best dressed is a tie between 2 of my former students - one wore a fedora and the other wore a bright red bow-tie. After the ceremony they got to walk the loop of the halls while all the other students and teachers clapped and shouted as the graduation theme song played. Then they got a cookies and juice reception. I hesitated to drop by the reception because I didn't want to be the weird old teacher hanging around but I'm so glad that I stayed around. They were all so happy to see me and give me great big hugs!

My class picture with this group - pretty cute, right? How could I have ever gotten mad at those sweet faces? It's so strange to think that I might never see any student that I taught ever again. It's also crazy to think that I taught for 3 years (plus student teaching at my same school) and I've now been out of the classroom for 3 whole years. It seems like it was just yesterday. Every time we're in Denton I'm always hoping to run into somebody that I've taught. It was also weird to be back at the school I taught at. I kept thinking that everything seemed so much smaller than I remembered and then realized a few hours later that it's because everything we do at the schools now is for the high school. It was so great to see my kids, my teacher friends, and my old classroom, especially since I don't know if I will ever get a chance or reason to be back to visit. Lots of my teacher friends are transferring and all of the kids I've taught will be gone now! Ahh, I'm feeling kind sentimental. 

There was a quote from the last episode of The Office that said, "I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them." Teaching was crazy hard and sometimes those littles were nutso, but I really do miss it. Then again, I absolutely LOVE staying at home with Eva and couldn't imagine going back to work right now. Times were good then, times are great now! Just different seasons of life.