School's Out!

High five!  Made it through another year of school and came out only a little bonkers!  This year was a unique one.  We had a student intern teacher with us the whole year as well as a para for a couple of special needs kids and we had other kids who almost needed one because of their behaviors.  And I took on the added job of doing OEK (optional extended kindergarten) lunch, computer lab and recess duty. It was a real struggle for me at first and I almost wished I hadn't asked to do it.  I'm not one who wants to be in charge, but I was.  Then I lost my helper and had to do it alone for a few weeks until I got another one.  It ended up being a real learning experience, and I got to know a lot of great little kids other than just the ones in my class and the people who worked with me. They are both great ladies that I admire very much.  Some days I thought Bear and Darry would make me totally bonkers. And Paxton was always yelling, "Mrs Nillywhite, I can't hear on my computer."  And then everyone would start yelling for me all at once!  And then there was Juan who loved to sing along loudly with the songs on his computer.  Here's how my co-worker described one of his solos: "During computer lab yesterday, one little boy (with headphones on) belted these lyrics out to the tune of Farmer in the Dell... "The Farmer and the Whale, The Farmer and the Whale, High- Low the Lady Ho, The Farmer and the Whale." I died."  Just a regular day in the computer lab!  Something else pretty unique became part of my routine.  On Wednesdays Trigg came to school with me just long enough for LaTressa to finish up and then he went home with her.  I think he had fun!  The AM kids really took him in and made him feel at home. He's in the top left picture with LaTressa.

Recess/snack with regular class - Fruit by the Foot makes great long tongues in case you didn't know!
And lunch and computer time with my OEK gang!

Here's the last day of school.  We did just a little bit of program practice while we waited for everyone to arrive...then it was off to the performance.  I love the top left picture with Jikzabella showing how we all felt - CELEBRATE!  We left for vacation right after I got home.  Next day we got a phone call inviting me to come and receive some kind of certificate or something for being and aide for 10 years.  Oh well, I'll just have to wait for 11 years!