Yesterday was the last day of school for the kiddos. It was weird, to say the least. We started the day doing some improv and impromptu speeches. To give the kids a chance with their impromptu speeches I sent them outside while the person before them did their speech and formulate a plan. While practising, they also sign a card for our TA. Afterwards, we tidied up the classroom, took labels off of everything, then went outside for an early break and threw around some discs. It was really fun. Then the class had Arabic and went on a spree and signed each others' shirts- lots of HAGS (have a good summer) and one kid wrote POOP on another's back... Thankfully my trusty TA realised that we have an assembly fifth lesson so she got all the kids expected to be called up on stage to put on hoodies. Once Arabic ended, I brought back the last of my graded books and the kids took on the math challenge which was completing unfinished pages in the math book. It was basically a free-choice math lesson and everyone enjoyed doing something in their ability range.
While this was going on, I walked around the classroom playing the guitar. The atmosphere really calmed down until I foolishly started taking requests. My boys of 2016-17 always managed to find a way to start dancing like frat boys on the carpet. I ushered them back to their seats and got them to pack up their bags before I played them this song including the harmonica solo. This was the first time I had played this song to end the year, but I think it's a new tradition.
I sent the kids out to break and monitored the jungle gym and threw with the Grade 3s and some of my students from this year. Once the whistle went we travelled back inside and went down to the year-end assembly. It was a good celebration for the Grade 3s, 4s, and 5s. There were awards and honours handed out for academics and contributions throughout the year. The one thing I was waiting for at the end of assembly was the Prefect announcements. These are the leaders of Primary for the upcoming year. I had three from my class, it was a good feeling. I'd like to think that I helped them reach that level of responsibility.
Once the assembly ended it was already 2. By the time everyone got back to class parents were everywhere ready to get their kids. It was at that point I realised no one would be there tomorrow except the teachers. The day had evaporated. I wish I had more time! I signed t-shirts, Student of the Week posters, and yearbooks as everyone was rushing everyone else to get something signed.
This had never happened before. When I was in Qatar, Ramadan was this "school's out" code and the last day with a class was well before the actual last day. In Korea, I did my camp programs and then I was on a plane, so you never get the mutual feeling school's done. It still doesn't feel like it's over because I'm used to having a week to tidy everything up and sign off stuff and watch 5-10 kid movies.
Alas, what's done is done and I'm off to France to see Beach Worlds and Sam Roberts Band.
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