That's a Wrap!!!

Can you believe it?!?! Our school year has come to an end. We are both excited for the adventures our summer will bring and yet sad that our year together is ending. These first graders have grown immensely over the course of this school year. Not only have these kiddos grown up physically, but have gained so much academically, emotionally and socially as well! The friendships they have made with one another will likely last for many years to come!

They are no longer those slightly nervous 'babies' you dropped off on their first day last September!!! Today, they leave Forest View as SECOND GRADERS!!! Their brains have grown so much - they have made tremendous gains in reading, math and writing and have participated in so many hands-on learning opportunities.

Last week was spent making some amazing first grade memory books as well as continuing our learning; practicing math skills we have developed as well as working on various other comprehension tasks. We also continued building relationships, playing and laughing often. Additionally, we had our Kinder-First field day on Friday! This year we did things a little bit differently than in the past and had a ton of different stations set up for the students to mingle through and play with at their own pace. It was so fun to watch them be creative and just explore with one another! There are pictures for you to see from our day in our end of the year video (keep reading to find it)!!

This week we spent a day at Center lake! I tried to get pictures of everyone to some capacity....it was hard though with everyone in different stations throughout the day. Regardless, they had a blast! Among some of the favorites were fishing (almost everyone who fished caught something today), the petting farm, waterslide/blob and canoeing/kayaking! It was of course great to catch up with everyone over lunch and we even had a tooth fall out today too! The excitement in first grade just never ends!

We also wrapped up our last day of school with hugs, love and laughter. We were able to spend time together watching an end of the year video that showcased some of the amazing things we have been able to do and learn together this year! You can watch the video here:

I am sad that I have to say goodbye to your child but know that I will see many of them again next year and I am SO excited to see what the future holds for each and every one of them! So to you parents, I want to end with these final thoughts:

I give you back your children, the same children you confidently trusted to my care last fall. I give them back pounds heavier, inches taller, months wiser, more responsible and more mature than they were then. Although they would have attained their growth in spite of me, it has been my PLEASURE and PRIVILEGE to watch their personalities unfold day by day. I give them back reluctantly, for having spent nine months together in the narrow confines of a crowded classroom, we have grown close, have become part of each other, and we shall always retain a little of each other. Ten years from now if we meet on the street, your children and I, a light will shine to our eyes, a smile to our faces, and we will feel the bond of understanding once more, this bond we feel today. We have lived, laughed, played, studied, learned and enriched our lives together this year. I wish it could go on indefinitely, but give them back I must. Take care of them, for they are precious!