After teaching at Squamish Elementary for a dozen years, I made the decision to change schools in September. I am ready for a new challenge.
I am not good at good-byes. Not at all. Good-byes make me very emotional. I tried very hard to keep a stiff upper lip this week, but that lip trembled first thing on Thursday morning.
Before the 9:00am bell rang, one of my students came into the classroom with his Dad and older sister. He had sprouted a sunflower seed all by himself and presented me with that seedling in a pot of soil. His sister, whom I had taught 8 years ago, presented me with a card that she had made herself the night before.
The card sported a very flattering drawing of me with my reading glasses slung around my neck.
Ashleigh was a delightful six year old. Smart, funny, caring, kind. She is now a smart, funny, caring, kind teenager going into Grade 9.
As I looked at her drawings of us, my eyes were drawn to the upper right hand corner of the card. There were the words: Top Five Things You Taught Me.
As I read numbers one through four, I smiled. But when I got to number five, I lost it. My face crumpled, geysers of tears shot from my eyes. I looked at Ashleigh and mouthed the words 'thank you'. We hugged each other tightly, neither one of us wanting to let go. We held each other for a long time. I told her how much her card meant to me. It touched me deeply.
Ashleigh's card summed up everything I try to do as a teacher. I teach my students practical things, interesting things. I make school fun. I teach them manners and number facts and how to read. But most importantly I teach them that they are beautiful just the way they are.
Thank you, Ashleigh. Your card made my day. Your card made my life! I will look at it always and remember that little girl from long ago who grew into a beautiful young woman. I am so honoured to know I played a small part.
Thank you.
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