Well the year has finally ended – that is to say we have said farewell to our kids but the staff will return to finish off some admin, change classrooms and prepare for next year.

My six months in Grade One have been so rewarding.  It is amazing how those kids just creep into your heart and have you wanting to return for more. So return I shall – I am lucky enough to have been offered a contract for another year.   Many think I’m crazy – and of course I am – but who wants to be normal?  As I’ve said before the call is strong and I cannot resist it!

I have not written about school for some time because after returning to school at the beginning of the fourth term, I stayed only a week and then went off to The Kruger National Park for three weeks and I am still blogging about that!    There is only time for so much you know!

To sum up – the term as all fourth terms tend to be – was hectic.  Final reports, marks schedules  and certificate comments were just three of the tasks I had to catch up on.  Then there was the Grade One Assembly – awesome – the colleague who orchestrated it is a genius.  The rest of us just obeyed her instructions and the only thing I can claim to have contributed was the power point slides that flashed as the children sang a song.   It was my grade head’s idea and she helped choose the slides.

Our final two weeks  were full of functions.   The pre-school presented an amazing nativity and because they come to us next year, the Grade One teachers helped to dress them and then watched the show.  We have some real characters coming up – we’re in for an amazing year as we can already see they’re bright little sparks.   Each phase has an award ceremony and the Foundation Phase  was first up on Wednesday – the older kids got the day off while their teachers looked after our little darlings while we were in the hall and we returned the favour next day.   Each teacher has to pre-record a message and this is played over the sound system as the children walk up to receive their certificates.   It is just wonderful listening to how each teacher felt about his/her class and it brings back all that has been achieved and enjoyed during the year.  Everything is just put into perspective and the pressure and hard work melt away when the rewards of it all are apparent on the stage.   Slides of the year are flashed on a screen behind the children and this is also just so awesome.

On Thursday night we said farewell to our Grade Sevens – and for me this was special as I’d taught many of them over the years when I came in to relieve one or other teacher.  My grandson is also part of that group and is the second of my grandsons to finish at this school.    Tears flowed again – the Grade Sevens presented the evening themselves and they were so mature, confident and competent – it all went off without a hitch.   What an amazing bunch.

All the parents who’d helped in one way or another at the school and had their last child leaving were called up to receive a gift.  I was stunned to be included among them thinking that as a teacher it wouldn’t count!   I was also bowled over when my grandson received the award for service to the school.  His mom received it when she was in Grade 7 too!

I work with such stunning colleagues – and this is part of the reason I choose to stay on.   Sadly two of them retire this year.   And the school gave them a joyful send off.  The entire school gathered on the school field.   One  of the teachers accompanied by another went to collect the ‘old girls’ in his sports car.   They dressed up as chauffeurs and drove them onto the field where the children were dancing and singing and welcomed them with great fanfare. (Much to the amusement of the kids the principal and I  danced together while we waited for the VIPs to arrive.)   The speeches expressed how much these amazing teachers had contributed to the school and how much they had meant to many, many children over the years.   There was dancing and singing and great fanfare as they arrived.   Of course we were all overcome by emotion and many tears were shed!  B and L – I am going to miss you both so much.  Go well my friends and enjoy this next adventure in your respective  lives – it is not the end!

Our end of year staff function was beyond wonderful.    What a good idea to hire a spit-braai team and have it in the hall.  The tables were beautifully set with Christmas crackers etc and we each brought an inexpensive present to be exchange.    Teachers are so creative and what were  wonderful things came out of those gifts – earrings, pretty stationery, colourful marking pens, speciality jams were just a few of the useful items.   The vibe was great and I did not want to leave – but the weekend away to Struisbaai was calling and reluctantly I took my leave at 2.

Two more days and then its off for the holidays.