I don’t remember learning to write my name or when the jumbled up words on a page turned into stories. I wish that I could recall these memories of where my learning began but it has been far too long. What I do remember are the faces and voices of the teachers that I had. I can hear my kindergarten teacher’s voice and see her smile. I remember my first grade teacher and how old and fierce she seemed. My fifth grade teacher was 'cool' and wore corduroy pants. I have no doubt that the memories I do have from elementary school helped make me the teacher I am today. 
It is because of this that I often wonder what memories my students will take away from my classroom. Academics are important but we all know there’s more to it than that. I wonder if they will remember that I was at the door to greet them every morning, that they bickered to sit on my lap at the end of the day or that I encouraged them to be the best version of themselves and always try their best.
It is my hope that one day they will look back on kindergarten and remember me and the children who shared a small part of their lives. They may not remember that I taught them to read but it is my hope that they remember how I made them feel.  Maybe one day they will find a class picture or a saved piece of work and, just for a minute, they will remember.
I would also like to thank you, the parents, for all of the support you have given myself and Team Awesome throughout the year. It is difficult to hand over the care and responsibility of your child to a complete stranger and I hope I have met all of your expectations. Thank you so much for trusting me with your babies. Kindergarten is just the beginning of Team Awesome's journey and I hope every year, for both them and you, is wonderful and exciting. 

Primary Fun Day was moved from last Friday to Tuesday due to weather, which left us with an opportunity to try something new. We were more than happy to join Mrs. Farber's class and Miss Duquette's grade ones to try out the Marshmallow Challenge. If you aren't familiar with the Challenge you can check it out here. The short version is that a team has 18 minutes to build the tallest freestanding tower that will support a marshmallow using only 20 spaghetti noodles and one meter each of string and tape. At first the children wanted more specific directions but as the clock started ticking and their teammates began to toss ideas around, most of Team Awesome got the idea. We only managed to get three towers built but the main purpose of the activity was to get the children to start thinking on their own and working as a team, without adult intervention. Some of them flew with it and some of them will need a few more opportunities like this to feel comfortable working with others on a difficult task.

Goodness! It has been a week. I was at a loss to explain how I have needed to do so much reminding and chastising this last week of Kindergarten until I remembered an incident from our class trip to Isobel Lake last June. One of my children was complaining about how heavy her pack was almost from the time we got off the bus. She complained and sniffled and begged me to carry it for her (relentless as only six year olds are) but I had my own things to carry. The others left as I cajoled her along. Finally we were so far behind that in desperation I took her pack. And was shocked at how heavy it was! What on earth could be in it that weighed so much?! I opened her pack and under the usual items found a very very large rock that weighed about 3 pounds. When asked, her reply was, "Oh! I found it when we got off the bus and wanted to take it home." She reluctantly agreed to leave it behind but was extremely happy and surprised with how light her bag was without it. Like the rock in the backpack, sometimes we shoulder burdens or emotions without even realizing how heavy they are until we let them go. And Team Awesome is packing a barrage of emotions this week as we contemplate the end of Kindergarten, uncertainty of grade one, excitement over summer and the ups and downs of doing so many new things that disrupt our schedule. I know they are apprehensive to give up the routine of our days in Kindergarten and are lugging around the anxiety that might cause and looking to me for reassurance in whatever form they can get. I hope to help them unload their emotional packs next week so they can leave me lighter and happier and looking forward to their next adventure.

• Lysia loves her puppy stuffies, Deklin had a blue soccer jersey, Everett likes his measuring chart and Ella had a purple purse with treasures.
• Monday, June 27, we will be taking a school bus to Isobel Lake at 8:45ish. We will catch the return bus at about 1:45. Look for the separate info post. Please join us!
• Our school items will be coming home Wednesday, June 29, so expect a folder and please remove all personal items from the children's cubbies in the hallway at the end of the day. The children will have their report cards and need a snack so a backpack or bag is a good idea.
• Wednesday, June 29, is our very last day of classes. We will collect all our things in the morning and say our good-byes then have an end-of-year awards assembly in the gym at 11:00ish. Dismissal is at 12:00 or the end of the assembly if you are here early. As always, the assembly is open to parents. If you are leaving for holidays early, please let me know so I can get your child's things together as soon as possible or you can pick them up at the office the first week of July or last week of August.
• THANK YOU for all the parent help these last weeks with supervising field trips. The children had a great time and we really couldn't have done it without you- I mean it.
• Thank you for all the birthday wishes and to Ciara and her family for the gift.

Go forth and Be Awesome all summer!

Our trip to Isobel Lake is on Monday, June 27! So here's the plan- although it is wobbly as out there in the forest we are not restricted to time constraints so things are fairly relaxed other than our departure time at the end of the day.
We will be leaving the school as soon as possible in the morning (8:45ish). Be sure to pack lots of lunch/snacks (they turn into voracious eaters on field trips), a water bottle, a sweater and a hat. The weather is supposed to be warm but of course is unpredictable, so please dress your child appropriately. Apply sunscreen and bug repellent before leaving the house as the children have a tendency to share and over-apply, getting it into eyes/hair etc. The bus will drop us off at the top of the hill and we will either use the bathrooms (outhouses) at the top or the bottom of the hill...or both. We will eat our snacks and take our garbage with us. Children will be divided up among the adults and the groups will be encouraged to explore but to stay together. We will make our way around the lake, stopping and exploring and staying out of the water. It is not inconceivable that someone will 'accidently' fall/slip into the water (it has happened before) so I will pack a change of clothes just in case. Partway around the lake we will go out onto the docks to see what we can see and the pond kits will be brought out to use. Slightly further on we will stop in a large grassy area to eat our lunches and then slowly make our way back to the bus so we can leave by 1:45. Sometime during the day we will get a picture of all the Ks together. Sounds like a great day! Hope to see you.

The events that were scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, June 24, have been postponed to next Tuesday, June 28, due to a crummy weather forecast. Next Tuesday we will be participating in events based on the Summer Olympics in multi-age groups K-3 outside for the course of the morning. Hats, sunscreen and a water bottle are necessary as it is supposed to be hot and sunny. In the afternoon K-3 students will have some water fun out on the field. Please send a towel and hat and have your child's suit on under their clothes or in their bag. If your child would like to bring a water gun please have it clearly marked with their name and I will be collecting them in class to hold until the afternoon. Come have some fun!