graduation!

we did it! we made it to the end of the year, these thirty eight 8th graders and i.
(two were missing for cap & gown pictures)

yes, i've super been looking forward to this day - when these three months of craziness would end - so so much. but sheesh, i miss these kids tremendously already. aren't they just the cutest thing you've ever seen? i am so proud of them as my students and as my friends.

the last day of school was pretty special. we wrote our dreams and goals on yellow balloons and sent them up into the wide blue sky, we signed yearbooks and reflected on things we have learned (toasting to a great year with some jamba juice). we got in a big circle and shared appreciations for each other, and many sweet genuine tears were shed. my heart was a big ole puddle. i was the last to share an appreciation, and this is what i told my students:

when i was asked to take over teaching the 8th grade class, i was incredibly overwhelmed. i had to make a lot of sacrifices and work so so so hard. but oh my goodness! what an honor and a privilege it has been to be this group's teacher. i am pretty confident i learned more from them than they learned from me. and i will forever, forever cherish the opportunity i had to be a part of the family that these exceptional students created.

the kids showed me more respect and attention than ever as i got all misty thanking them for these amazing three months. our classroom was truly full of love. it was a moment i'll never forget.

and then it was a scramble to get everything prepared for our graduation ceremony, and the students went home and returned ready to graduate. we met in our classroom one last time. 

and then the cafeteria filled up with friends and family and it was go time -- the summation of so many adventures and so much hard work; the grand celebration of the first graduating class from alpha public schools. i was honored to speak at graduation, and i was so very proud of the students who gave amazing speeches to represent their classmates.

by the time my students began walking across the stage to receive their diplomas, my face hurt so bad from smiling. 8th grade graduation seems like not that big of a deal to many, but for my students it was momentous - a big step towards doing what many of their family members have never done: graduate from high school and go to college. i was just so incredibly proud to read the names of these awesome kids as they proudly took that step. 

we ended the ceremony by doing our class cheer one last time. these students have really become a little family, and it was the perfect way to finish things off cheering loud together. the celebrating continued with refreshments and congratulation-giving outside.

i love my twins! and have built a great relationship with their fantastic mom over the past few months.

these two were definitely my loudest students. i didn't think i'd ever say this...but i'll sure miss hearing their voices everyday!

i love how awkward this picture looks. some of my very favourite boys.

it was such a beautiful, celebratory, triumphant, sweet, special day.