Well, here goes. This is my final blog post for 2020-2021. When this year started, I was terrified and uncertain about how to make it through. I didn't think I'd be able to teach, have fun, or laugh. I was worried that the students would be distracted and unhappy.  The curriculum seemed daunting, and I felt unsure I'd be able to do it any justice. Your children, every one of them, made the year amazing. They were resilient, flexible, happy, funny, silly, hard-working, and overall fabulous. I am forever grateful for them, and for all of you for your support. The year was memorable, and I will certainly never forget any of them!

Thank you all for coming to our little Awards Ceremony today. I apologize for the technical glitches,  and I appreciate your patience. Here is a link to the recording of the ceremony in case you were not able to attend. As I said during the ceremony, ALL of the students deserved ALL of the awards, and it was hard for me to choose. They all shine!

I enjoyed seeing each of the students as they came up to get their Memory Books at MRP this afternoon. I wanted so much to hug them, but I know it would have made me cry, so it's probably just as well that hugging is discouraged right now! I have had many teary moments today, and I think Monday will be hard. There aren't many jobs that require saying goodbye to your entire team every 9 months! This crew is particularly special, and I am so sad to see them go.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your donations of materials, support, creemees, suggestions, and so  much more. It has been my pleasure getting to know you all and loving your children. I hope to see you all around!

 The big news of the day today was Move-Up Day, of course! The class left here yesterday feeling nervous, worried, excited, and anxious. They arrived back here today all excited and bubbly, wearing their brand new BRMS t-shirts! They are truly feeling like 5th graders now, and I don't know how I will keep them contained next week!

I have no academics to tell about other than the reviewing we have been doing. But there are a few important updates to tell you about. Please read carefully!

• Next week is Spirit Week here at JES. I believe you have received this notification, but here is the link again just in case. It should be a fun way to end (almost) our year!
• Next week, please consider sending in a reusable bag with your child. We will be cleaning out our desks and there is a lot of STUFF to bring home, including all of the writing from their portfolios from the past 5 years. 
• On Thursday next week, we will be watching a movie (The Secret Life of Arrietty) and I have gotten permission from our health office to allow the kids to lie on the floor with pillows and blankets, and to give them popcorn and popsicles. I will send home a reminder on Wednesday, but in the meantime, please let me know if your child can't have popcorn. It'll likely be SmartFood popcorn. We would do pajama day, but it is also Spirit Week, and that would interfere. Blankets, stuffies and pillows will have to be good enough.
• We are all set with t-shirts! I know a few of you said you would supply your own, but I have enough for everyone else (and a few extras) thanks to Amanda. We will be making t-shirts on Tuesday, so please be sure you send your child's in if you aren't using one from the classroom!
• On Friday, we will be going to Mills Riverside Park for our final 4th grade celebration. You are all invited to join us for the Memory Book ceremony at 1:30. We will start promptly, so you may want to arrive by 1:25. This will be a masked and distanced event. Feel free to take your children home from MRP if you would like. Otherwise, they will ride the bus back to JES and have dismissal as usual. We DO have school on Monday, but it will be a day of cleaning and perhaps watching another movie. All of our celebrations and goodbyes will be done by then, so it will be a "holding" day.
• Finally, I will be having an "awards ceremony" for the class on Friday morning at 10:30. Each student will be receiving a separate award. I wish you could all join me, but that is not in the cards this year. I would like to invite you to join us virtually if you can. I know it is a work day and many of you have other commitments. This ceremony will only last about 15 minutes, and it will be fun and casual. I will send you the link next week, and I hope you can join!

I hope you all enjoy the weekend and stay cool!