Thank you!

Today was a terrific day. I am a teacher because kids matter, and your children are amazing! I have loved every second of my time with them, head-popping-off moments and all. They have learned, taken risks, given their best on so many occasions, laughed, made me laugh, asked why, taken direction to not pose for the camera, expected great things from themselves and their peers and me. As they should, and I hope they continue to do. More than anything, I hope they have learned to see the greatness in themselves and in each other, no matter how different from one another they may feel.

Today they should have arrived home with many goodies. In a brown expandable folder is their writing collection, containing work from both third and fourth grade. I did not allow them to put that folder in their backpacks because I wanted them to carry it in their hands, to feel the weight of how much they have grown as writers as they left school today. I hope they will take the time to go through those folders with you. Their process and work is all inside, and there are certainly many pieces worth saving. Inside that folder I also asked the students to put two dvds--one with your child's digital portfolio, and another that holds the slide show I made for them. The portfolio dvd also includes a copy of the movie that was shown at the Moving Up ceremony. Both dvds need to be played on a computer and will not work on a dvd player.

As became a tradition, I also made t-shirts for everyone. The shirts need to be washed in cold water and should be air dried in order to preserve the image. Some of the shirts--I am not sure why--lost the applique today. I am happy to make new prints for those that were ruined. I will be at school the rest of this week and next; if you can get a white t-shirt to me, I will apply a new image for you. Even if you would just like another image to iron on yourself--I can get that to you as well. Just email me and let me know that's what you'd like.

Remember also that I am happy to copy the batch of photos for you if you drop a flash drive at school. It needs to have at least 11GB of space, so a new 16GB drive is best. Again, I will be at school this week and next; just let me know you are dropping it off and I'll copy the photos for you that day and leave it in the office for you.

Our departure date for New Orleans is June 21, and I am not sure how long I will have my Shorecrest email address. My personal email address is jilllemon@yahoo.com. Please feel free to email anytime--I will love hearing from students and receiving updates!

Thanks for everything this year. The zoo membership was a lovely gift and it will be used often in New Orleans. Thanks mostly for sharing your kiddos with me every day, and for all of your support and trust this year. I have no doubt that your children will thrive in middle school, and I will think of them often as I move into a new position. As my last class, they will keep a special place in my heart!

Take care and enjoy one another!