Saying Goodbye...

"And Pooh gave Christopher Robin the biggest Pooh hug

 he could because he knew that goodbyes were not Far Away." 

- A.A. Milne -

Field Day 2010

I've gone through this post in my head more times than I can count and have been putting it off for days now. Some big changes are happening around here, and I wanted to share them on the blog instead of leaving everyone hanging.

I have loved every minute of writing this blog and sharing our classroom story with you. This blog has given me a platform to invite readers into our world to see all of the amazing things my students are doing on a daily basis. If you know me well, you know that I feel very strongly that we should be even louder with our accomplishments than we are with our behaviors. My kids are incredible people who do their personal best and inspire me to do the same. 

That having been said, it's time for me to share that my last day as a middle school lifeskills teacher will be this Wednesday, May 13. My family is relocating out of state, and, while I am left feeling incredibly excited for this new adventure, I am simultaneously sad to say goodbye to my students and staff. 

Feeling nostalgic, I went back through the last eight years of pictures to find some of my favorites to share with you. 

Here we go!

 My first year of teaching...Love this memory! Our fun custodian donned a leprechaun costume and scared the ever-loving-you-know-what out of my entire class.

 Here we are taking a group photo with our high school peer buddies after a holiday party back when I taught elementary lifeskills. We paired my class up with high school lifeskills kids and had the best time getting together for fun activities.

 Striking poses with this sweet boy who I adore...

 This kiddo is a high school student now; he brought so much joy to my first years of teaching, and I am endlessly proud of him.

Check out my buddy, all grown up now in December 2013!

A group pic from my first years in my current position. You may recognize some familiar faces looking super young!

Field Day fun with my sweet former IA, Mrs. K. Mrs. K. is now an elementary lifeskills teacher down the road.

Bears fans in the Hoosier state! So pregnant in this pic! 

Can you believe my sweet girl is already 3?!

 Some fun pics from my current group. No matter what we're doing, we always enjoy being together.

Love these girls more than I can say!

 Here are some party pics!

 I've always loved a good lunch date...

 One of my favorite memories from the past few years. Awarding the Isaac Beeson Memorial Award to our bus driver extraordinaire, Ms. T.

 I've always been a big fan of the school-bus selfie ;)

Over the past eight years, these kids have brought an incredible amount of joy to my life. I think it's fair to say that I have learned just as much from them as they have from me (if not more!).  

I will not miss the assessments, the data, the paperwork, the meetings, but I will most definitely miss the moments of learning with my students, both quiet and loud, that have left an indelible mark on my spirit. 

I plan to take some time off from teaching to be home with my little girls as we begin our adventure in a new state. I will think of my Lifeskills friends often and fondly and will hope to continue this blog in some capacity down the road. 

Thank you so much, sweet friends, for following our Lifeskills story.

Sincerely,