School's Out!

It hardly seems possible that this school year is now over! What a wonderful class we've had! On the students' last day, June 12th, we had the Kindergarten Field Day in the afternoon from 12:30-2:30. (What a way to end the school year!) Of course, our little Kindergarteners had no idea really what "Field Day" was ~ and as we waited in the bleachers on the football field where all the games would be held, little Yoselyn and Viridiana said to me, "I'm scared!" I told them I was scared, too (although mine was because since last year, the heat and I don't get along well at all and I wasn't sure if my body would "hold up" in that heat). But, I assured them that they'd be fine (telling myself the same thing at the same time) and they would have fun! So, as the games began, our class went to the first site and played a really neat game with a large, colorful parachute. And, from that point on, they suddenly realized, "Yes, this IS fun!" Watching them play the many games, especially the sack race, and enjoy themselves reminded me too of how often something unfamiliar to us can scare us. How many opportunities for joy just pass us by because of feelings that tell us it's too scary or we focus on the what if's. We really need to enjoy each moment of every day we're given ~ just like what I saw so vividly captured on the faces of the children that day.

So, here's to children ~
to their honesty and their willingness to try something new.
May we embrace life as wholeheartedly as they do!

So, here's the lesson..

Today the 5th grade students who did not pass the first administration of the EOG Science test had to retake it. It's a very long test - and my job was to proctor, which means I get to walk around the room for about 3 hours as they are taking the test. They were all working very hard and I thought about how tough it must be to retake this test. (The first administration of the test was less than two weeks ago!) So, here's the "lesson" that came to me about my resident rabbits.

The lesson I learn from the rabbits
Is really quite simple and plain,
Whatever the task before us -
Keep trying again and again!

(Who knows - One day you may succeed!) Here's to great success to all our students who have to take EOG's again!!!!!!

And then there were 2!

To anyone who might be concerned about the our resident rabbit....no, I never did make rabbit stew. My mom suggested that I put some crushed red pepper around and on the flowers to keep him from eating them. So, I did. That really seemed to help. But, this morning as I was getting in my car to head to work, I saw another rabbit had joined our animal farm - and now the two of them were hopping out of the side flower bed. It makes me think of a great children's book called Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candance Fleming. Rabbits are definitely determined little critters. Maybe there's a lesson we all can learn here... (to be continued)