Tues Talk: Reflection: The Elementary Years

It’s Tuesday Talk with Erika and Ashley.

For this link up, we chat about any topic, and, well, the end of the school year has certainly been on my mind.

And…

Today is the day. Today, my kids will be finished with elementary school. I blinked and they went from toothless grins to braces, from the babies of the school to the oldest ones that the babies look up to, and from teeny tiny to almost as tall as me.

Where. Did. The. Time. Go?

I’m going to take today to reflect through their elementary years. This post is a mix of “why do I do this to myself?” to “there are so many memories, and this post will provide one place to house them all.” So, here we go…

Reflecting through the years…

Kindergarten:

I remember how excited Hadley was to start kindergarten. I also remember how hesitant Hayden was to start “big kid school.” (That being said, he was adamant that he didn’t want to be in Hadley’s class!)

That whole year was filled with new school experiences.

Memories, Activities and Field Trips:

• Walking to school
• Learning to read
• Pumpkin Patch field trip
• All about Me posters
• School lunch!
• Spring kindergarten performance
• Ran first ever mile race at the PTA mile/5k
• 100th day of school celebration
• They loved their teachers!

1st Grade:

This was a year filled with growth and new school activities. Hayden had “the best teacher ever!” and Hadley loved being her teacher’s helper.

Memories, Activities and Field Trips:

• More walking to school
• Field trip to the Living Arts and Science Center
• 50th day of school celebration
• Chess club
• Pete the Cat 1st grade performance
• Book Fair
• Hadley clipped down to yellow one day, and rule follower Hayden exclaimed, “Hadley!” as we walked home from school, and she told me she was talking when the teacher was talking.
• Field Day fun

2nd Grade:

Second grade was their last year in the primary hall of their school. Hadley learned that “boys can be teachers too!” as her teacher, Mr. B. was assigned to the class about a week before school started. Hayden loved the second grade and his teacher’s Safari theme for learning and room decor.

Memories, Activities and Field Trips:

• Academic Team(both kids)
• Boosterthon Fun Run at school
• International Night
• Derby Breakfast (Hayden’s class)
• Both kids got braces
• Family Night: spaghetti and puzzles
• Valentine’s Day parties
• Making signs in support of teachers when their retirement was being threatened
• Student led teacher conferences
• School carnival
• Safety City field trip
• Indoor field day
• Black History Month celebration: class project and third grade school performance.

3rd Grade:

Third grade was the first year in the secondary wing and the first year earning grades on report cards! Hayden had a few rough patches when his teacher left in October for a district level position, followed by a teacher that lasted less than a week, and then a replacement teacher for the remainder of the year. It took him some time to adjust with the sudden changes. Hadley loved her teacher and really excelled that year.

Memories, Activities and Field Trips:

• Academic Team (Hadley)
• PTA movie night
• Indoor Boosterthon Fun Run
• Arboretum field trip
• first KPREP tests
• Book character dress up day – (Hadley dressed as Pinkalicious)
• Class science fair
• Family night: spaghetti and puzzles
• School carnival
• Cat in the Hat performances
• Zoo field trip
• Girls on the Run
• Multiplication!
• Family heritage project

4th Grade:

In the 4th grade, the kids continued to do well in school. Hadley had the same awesome teacher that Hayden had for 2nd grade, and Hayden’s teacher was perfect for him with her love of reading and very structured classroom.

Memories, Activities and Field Trips:

• Academic Team (Hadley)
• Cross Country (both kids–with their dad as the coach!)
• Chorus (Hadley)
• Field trip to Newton’s Attic
• Movie Night
• Recorders for music class!
• Science Fair – Hayden earned honorable mention and Hadley made it to the district Science Fair!
• Family Night: spaghetti and puzzles
• Read Across America week
• Packed up their belongings for what they thought would be two weeks…but didn’t return to the building before summer break
• Waving at their teachers as they drove through the neighborhoods
• Became proficient at Zoom and Google Classroom
• Virtual Field Day
• Said goodbye to their teachers and classmates on Zoom

5th Grade:

Their 5th grade year started with more virtual school. Seven months of virtual school to be exact. The kids both had awesome teachers who did an amazing job teaching via Zoom. The kids attended a pod of learners (friends!) two days a week which provided them with structured school, academic support, and social interaction. They *finally* returned to in person learning on March 8 to close out their elementary years in the same building they’d attended since kindergarten.

Memories, Activities and Field Trips:

first day at the pod in August 2020

return to in person learning March 2021

• Delayed start to the school year
• Drive through for textbook and supplies pick up
• Virtual School
• Pod two days a week
• Became distinguished with Zoom and Google Classroom
• Teacher front porch visits
• Cross country (both kids, with their dad as their coach…again!)
• Braces again!
• G/T dance and dance club (Hadley)
• Learning the flute (Hadley)
• Return to in person learning in March which included thermal checks, plastic desk partitions, mask wearing, limited interactions at recess, and lunches in the classroom
• Oldest kids in the school building
• Field Day
• Tie dye day and pizza lunch
• 5th grade promotion

Final Thoughts:

Today, they enter their elementary school building one final time. This year hasn’t been what we expected, but they adjusted, they made the best of it, and they thrived.

Walking them to school provided me with memories and opportunities for conversations to last a life time. Seeing their independence grow each year was both bittersweet and rewarding. We went from kindergarten where we walked them to their classrooms every day for the first two weeks of school to stopping at the crosswalk and letting them finish the walk to the building on their own. (**and many days pulling into carline with minutes to spare! 😆 )

Letting go at each phase feels natural, but sad as I see the time pass by right before my very eyes.

I will forever treasure our time in this amazing school. The teachers and administration did an amazing job kicking starting their educational career.

Dear Hayden and Hadley,

Happy last day of elementary school!

You’ll move on, you’ll continue to learn, you’ll continue to grow, you’ll make new friends, you’ll keep forever friends, you’ll test your independence (& my patience!), and you’ll continue to become the people you are destined to be.

I tell you all the time how lucky you are to have had the teachers, the administrators, the experiences and the opportunities that you’ve had over the past six years. I know you’ll remember these years fondly.

You’ve made dad and I very proud. Keep leading with your heart, keep being kind, and keep putting your best foot forward. I promise hard work, dedication, and kindness will always pay off.

Through the years, I’ve shared some words of wisdom with you; you know your English teacher mom loves a good quote. Some of my faves are:

“Be silly, be honest, be kind.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson,

“Anything is possible. Anything can be.” ~Shel Silverstein

…and…

“You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” ~A A Milne

So, I will wrap up your elementary years with this:

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” ~Henry David Thoreau

I hope you have the best last day of elementary school. You deserve it! I know this is only the beginning for the both of you! Keep up the good work!

xo,

Mom

P.S. No, I’m not crying…why do you ask? 😉😢

……………………………………………….

Tomorrow, I hope to share our last day of school photos. We have lots of fun planned for today with my 5th grade graduates!

Thanks so much for reading!