My mama heart is all energized and happy and squishy soft with emotions on this the last day of school.
There’s no way to encapsulate all that your children have learned in a year, how much they have grown. But when it comes time to say goodbye to their teachers, friends, and classrooms, it all comes bubbling to the surface.
I remember being nervous about Alex going into kindergarten, after being in an outdoor preschool where he was known for being high-energy. I’m beyond grateful for the forces of fate that landed him in a kindergarten classroom with so many of his besties.
He has thrived seeing them every day, entering the classroom to big hugs from Elijah and company, playing soccer at recess and key zone (even in the snow and mud!), and learning reading and math ... every night at bedtime he impresses me with more words he knows, and we’ve heard from both him and his teacher that he asks for “more math!” He says he wants to be a “LEGO guy” when he gets older — a lego designer.
His teacher, Ms Martinson, has been so lovely. She manages the classroom artfully, in the times I’ve been there, a calm mentor and cheerleader that makes learning super fun. She reports that Alex is friendly, respectful, a good student. And this week at their Panther Fest, he won the “Work” award for his class (one of the three Panther values: work, respect, belong).
Victoria’s biggest school transition this year was something that probably seems innocuous to many: starting in 2nd grade, students go to the cafeteria to wait for their teachers. The cafeteria is loud and raucous and for someone with sensory issues, this has not worked well as a start to her day. We’ve tried having her wait in the office, which was quieter, but that only made her feel like she was separate and different from other students, and makes her anxious while she waits, worrying when and who will get her and whether all the students will be “looking” at her when she enters the classroom. At times she feels like being around all the kids is too much, but at other times and in other ways she connects amazingly well. She loves play dates with small groups of kids, adores her friends, and loves hanging out with a wide variety of kids doing all kinds of activities.
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| Somehow, a loud roller rink doesn't upset her nerves ... maybe because she is being active and spinning? |
Mrs. Huber seemed to "get" Victoria and was super flexible and understanding ... a great partner in this kid business!
Victoria loved her and learned SO much. Victoria was usually bubbling over something like photosynthesis in plants, prefixes and suffixes, or a story she was writing. She scored at the top of her class in reading and math tests and devours chapter books in one sitting. Her favorite subject is art.
At the end of the year, the 2nd grade classes put on a play. I gotta say -- this play was OVER THE TOP amazing. "Geology Rocks" is funny and cool in a geeky smart way -- you get to sing songs about "geologic time" and about erosion turning plateaus into valleys! Victoria loved the one-liners and songs, but it wasn't until I saw all the 2nd graders perform that I truly understood how much work and practice went into this play. There were costumes. The students were completely in-sync about when to stand and sit. They helped each other out if they couldn't remember whose line was next. There was minimal whispering and noise in the chorus, and they were all engaged. What an amazing way for students to learn not only geology, but things like cooperation and public speaking! 2nd grade teachers: YOU ROCK. [Pun intended].
It's also so cool to see all these amazing kids we've gotten to know over the last few years -- both in 2nd grade and kindergarten -- as they graduate from kindergarten, earn awards, or participate in plays. Love these Piedmont kids.
There's Ben Laboone-Rego, whose brother Jack is one of Alex's besties and whose mom was Victoria's teacher last year. He played "Professor Rock" in the play.
Here's Ms. Victoria, who played a fern (for which we had to spend more than I wanted on getting just the "right" green dress and leggings from Amazon!).
Gabby Anderson, who played the Earth:
Hannah Fisher, who played a Canyon:
Delaney Nielsen, one of our favorite neighborhood kids (all the neighborhood kids are our favorites!), who played Sherlock Holmes and delivered some great one-liners:
Ava Bennett is the fern on the left:
Gabby again ... I just love this photo of her.
And there are so many more great kids.
And you know what else is great? Family who shows up for all these kid celebrations. And it feels like a lot. There was grandparents day, kindergarten graduation, and the 2nd grade play ... and my kids are surrounded not only by their friends, and their friends' parents who also love them, but by family who come to cheer them on.
Family, if you're reading, you gotta know it means so much for them to see you in the audience, to know that you came to see them, and that even if they don't fully realize it now, they will grow up remembering this.
I'll share this pic of my brother and Victoria after the 2nd grade play. Adam rode his motorcycle to the school and V biked up to him after, saying, "Hey Adam! We're both on our bikes!"
A few more photos from the last week of school:
First, from kindergarten graduation. That morning the kids showed up to school to see tablecloths on their tables, and special graduation caps:
We parents waited at the school a little bit before the gym opened, and when we went down to the gym it was decorated:
And the artwork included self-portraits the kids made!
Not sure if Alex and Elijah planned this, but their self-portraits hung right next to each other:
The kids all walked in. They were all dressed up and looked so handsome and beautiful!
One of the songs they performed was "A Million Dreams" (the whole family now knows all the words) so the students had made this decoration with rainbow-colored hand prints:
They lined up on the bleachers and sang two songs.
Heart. Melting.
Then their names were called one by one, to receive their diplomas.
After the formal ceremony, all students gathered in their classrooms for refreshments and class awards.
Each student received a different award named after an animal. Alex received the class's "Snake Award, ... for always wanting to stretch your mind and learn something new." Very appropriate!
Grandma and Grandpa came to kindergarten graduation too! Grandpa wasn't feeling well so went to the car early, but we got this photo with Grandma:
Then, there was the Panther fest a few days later, the one where Alex received the Work award.
Panther fest kicked off with Principal Beth Shermoen (who we love), and I laughed at Superintendent Bill Gronseth riding a scooter around:
The kindergarten teachers presented awards to their students:
Alex was surprised, happy, and proud!
Immediately after, the 2nd graders left for their field trip to World of Wheels. I shared a photo of V skating above. She also enjoyed some treats with Delaney:
I didn't go, but after seeing this photo of the group of moms, I sure wish I had. Some of my favorite Piedmont moms and dear friends. 💓💓
(p.s. Victoria picked Dad for that field trip because he skates better :P).
Finally, today, the last day of school.
It was field day, and there was a dance party, and a movie, and a free outdoor BBQ. Basically: a dream day at school.
Piedmont, we couldn't love you any more. Thanks for an amazing year.
