the end...or is it?

June 1, 2012...the last day of the 2011-2012 school year.  It's Honors Mass and dress-up day and boy...did my kids dress up.  I L.O.V.E. our uniforms, but I also love those special days when we get to be out of uniform and our "style" can really show up.  Anyone reading my blog this year has already met these kids through their writings, illustrations, antics and general tomfoolery but here are the formal introductions to some of the best kids I've ever had:

Molly Price, Kelly Lyon and Stella Campbell

Makayla Record, Alaina Nault and Lauren Mertz

Kirsten Magno, Audrey Zore and Ella Kappel

Sam Sgroi, Charlie Keys and Luke Adams

Margaret Asho, Luke Cairns and Emalie Rippetoe

Mallory Grzegorzewski, Makenna Drake and Lily Nyirenda

Karsten Schick

Nicholas Demartini, Canann Gebremeskel and Thomas Wood

Simeon Pontones, Noah Ratz and Johnny Starsiak

And speaking of the end...these are the 6th graders who are the end of the line kids for St. Christopher School...or as my Luke Adams said, "the caboose kids".  In Sean Bennett's case there has been a continuous Bennett here for 18 years...how do we replace these kids and their families in our hearts? (You really can't).

They have been good kids and great families.

But...they've never been entirely "normal".

And Mrs. Allspaw...I "kind of" have to say good bye to her too because she is moving on down the hall to 6th grade.  Bethany started volunteering to help in my room when her present day 8th grader (Julianne) was in my class for 1st and 2nd grades...the higher ups soon realized what a gem we had in her and she was hired part-time and then full-time.  She has been my full-time aide for two out of the last three years and after each of those years I think to myself..."I'm doomed without her" because not only does she keep me organized and ease my work load...but we laugh together and that I will miss more than anything...well except maybe the keeping me organized part!

Mrs. Bethany Allspaw

Mrs. Betz...you will enjoy having Mrs. Allspaw soooo much but just remember this...she will ALWAYS like me best!

I titled this blog "the end...or is it?" because below is a picture of me hugging a little girl good bye on the last day of school...June 1, 2000, and in actuality she is STILL very much a part of my life 12 years later...

Mrs. Connor and Sarah Gillaspy!

So thanks to everyone for a great year and thank you for reading my blog...as of 9:09 a.m. on Sunday, June 3rd I have had 11, 577 people check in on what's happening in Room 7...WOW!