Friday, June 13th was Whitley's last day of kindergarten. As I watched her swing her book bag onto her back and bounce into school, I couldn't help but remember how anxiously I'd peered after her on her very first day last September. As a teacher I actually dreaded her starting kindergarten a little bit. Not because I dislike school- quite the contrary- nor because I was worried she wouldn't like it. (She loved it all!) It's just I know how quickly the school year flies, and how once schooling starts, each subsequent year rolls on steady and strong. Summer break and our precious family time now becomes, not just a needed vacation and something to happily anticipate, but also the end of another year Whitley will be at home. *sigh* Dramatic, I know, but what can I say? Time is persistently nudging my baby towards independence, and I hate it. :(
However, my aching heart did not dampen any of the joy we felt recognizing what she's accomplished this year. Her class celebrated their success in a little ceremony on Wednesday, June 11. Her teacher, Mr. Folden, arranged a delightful event that included songs, a poem, a video, and awards. It was so fun to sit in the students' little chairs and learn more about how they spent their days. The video, in particular, showcased their daily activities, and each student shared a line or two while his/her picture was on screen. Whitley's part was, "Every day we write in writing workshop." Mr. Folden gave out the "Candy Awards," with each student receiving a treat appropriate for his/her personality. For instance, one child got "Whoppers" for telling great stories, while another was given "Snickers" for making the class laugh. When Mr. Folden gave Whitley her award, his voice cracked and he got a little choked up. (Poor thing! He teared up multiple times throughout the ceremony!) He said, "This student was happy from the first day on and never lost her smile. For Whitley Watson, the Almond Joy award." That's our girl!! After the presentation, we gathered many samples of Whitley's work and chatted with some of the parents. Then, Tom went back to school, and Whitley and I stayed for the picnic lunch on the playground. I was so excited to spend the afternoon with my sweet daughter, and she was so proud to have me there.
One of the songs the kids sang was about first grade and how much they are looking forward to it. Whitley certainly is. Only two days into summer break, Whitley asked me how long before she could go back to school. I answered that she had two months of summer. Well, she harrumphed and whined, "That is too long!" No, sweet pea. When it comes to time, it's never quite long enough.
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| Sitting on the mat, facing their audience. |
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| Whitley sneaks a grin at us. |
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| The students showed us how they started each morning with a little song and dance to greet everyone. |
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| "Hello, friend, how are you? I'm very happy to see you!" |
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| Each letter of Kindergarten started a line of a poem. Whitley read, "R is for reading books every day." |
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| Getting her Almond Joy! |
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| And Mrs. Webb had to read the names for the "graduation" part of the program as Mr. Folden couldn't get through it! Whitley gives him a big hug. |
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| Mrs. Webb |
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| Mr. Folden and her "All About Me" book. She is so proud of it! The students interviewed their classmates, and then everyone made a page for everyone else. Thus, Whitley's book includes a few pages she drew, and then a page about her from each of her 18 classmates. |
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| Our picnic lunch. |
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