On Teachers

This is teacher appreciation week, and we are certainly grateful for all of the teachers in our lives. That being said, it's been a bit of a bizarre experience around here.

Evan's school keeps it simple. They put a note on the door recognizing the week and encouraging families to thank their teachers. We have always done a small gift of the kids' choosing for each of their teachers. Evan decided he wanted to do plants, so we set off to find the perfect ones. Tada:

 Yes...that is an ugly little bunny planter with mock roses. It wouldn't have been my choice, but Evan was in love, and it certainly brought a smile to each teacher's face. He is very proud.

Issa's school, however, has a traditional production, which became my production. A letter goes home a month before the week asking families to have their children write or draw thank you notes and send them back to school along with donations for a catered lunch. The notes are then assembled into books for each teacher. All of this was due last Monday, giving me a week to put them together. I received the last of the entries yesterday--the same day as the luncheon. The finished books did come together nicely--all ten of them:

We set tables and the teachers enjoyed a child-free lunch. The head of school kept the older students, and I kept all of the younger ones. Let me tell you, jumping from teaching college to kindergarten took me a minute! But...the teachers are feeling very appreciated.

Ironically, I am most appreciating a school the kids aren't even in yet right now. I took Issa on her first grade tour yesterday morning. We had heard wonderful things about the school, but I was absolutely blown away. The counselor did the tour herself, and she really got to know Issa and show her what she wanted to see, including the art room (with a kiln), music room (with a stage and instruments), and school garden. And the media center, Issa is in love. It's an open center, meaning Issa can check out books whenever she wants, and the media specialist is a wonderful woman who takes great pride in trying to keep as many books in kids' hands, rather than on shelves, as possible. Every teacher was warm and greeted Issa, stating they hoped she would be in their class. When we bumped into the principal, who was coming back from making an emergency science supply run for the third grade who was in the middle of an experiment and wanted to try it again to see if they got the same results (how cool is that!),  he shook my hand but then dropped to one knee to talk to Issa. Later, when Issa said she was worried about getting lost, the assistant principal was who walking past stopped, dropped to his knees, and reassured her. At the end of the tour, the counselor took Issa to her office, explaining that it was her job to make sure she loved school and that if Issa ever needed help she just needed to come see her. Really? I spent half the tour choking back tears. The school has no idea that I am in education, which made their responses and the things they shared with me even more impressive. To say we are excited for the fall would be a mastery of understatement. This mama's heart is happy.