I've taught 5th grade for 13 years now, and it's always been something that I love to do. My fifth graders are smart, kind, witty, and by the time June comes around, are able to get my jokes. My good friend, Ms. Zanone, always says that the worst part about teaching fifth grade is that when we finish our year, we don't always get to see our kids again. They go off to the middle school, and we no longer see them roaming our halls, waving hello, and checking in with us like the younger grade teachers get to do. Some kids will visit us here and there, but our last day of school is sometimes our last goodbye.
The pride I have in my students each year at our Moving Up ceremony brings tears to my eyes every year. But those tears sometimes stem from the fact that I won't always know where these kids end up. The time and effort we put into our year together is priceless. I hope for all my students that they will do the things they love to do, try something new when given the opportunity, and to remember that I am always thinking of them and wondering how they are doing. So while I am so ready and excited for my summer break, as I know all of my students are, too, I also feel a sense of sadness getting ready to say goodbye one last time.
To my fifth graders, I hope you know that your EHB family is always here cheering you on from afar. We hope you will find your way back to wave hello, give us a hug or handshake, and tell us how you are doing. Good luck to all of you!
