The Last Day of School

and Kindergarten Graduation

I have become increasingly discontented with Grant and Anna's school.  One of the minor points of contention from this past week was that there was a kindergarten graduation ceremony but I was only made aware of it the day before through a last minute note home.  Throughout the year there has not been great communication home about what's happening at school.  

Luckily Scott already had the day off but I had to miss an event in Matthew's class to go to Grant's graduation.  In any case that is only a minor thing and we were able to make it to the graduation.   Here is Grant with his long-suffering teacher.  Grant had several behavior problems at the end of the year.  The major one involved him standing up to some 1st graders who had been teasing and picking on him all year.  Any day Grant got a ball, all year, these two 1st graders would steal it from him and then tease him.  The yard duty people never did anything when Grant complained 'cause the older boys would say they hadn't stolen the ball and that Grant was lying.  In the second to last week of school Grant stole the ball back when they took it from him and kicked it across the field.  Then, for good measure, he kicked their lunch boxes too.  When the yard duty people asked Grant if he did it, he said yes.  At least he didn't lie about it.  He ended up in the principal's office that day.  It wasn't a good day and was not good behavior, but I get why he did it.  And I don't like that the kindergarteners, even though they have their own playground and lunch area, have lunches and recesses with the older kids.  Because they get picked on.

Anna also had her troubles.  Two boys in her class picked on her all year and Anna ended up paired with one of them most of the year because no other student in the class could work with them.  Anna hated sitting by him 'cause he constantly made fun of her but her teacher intentionally kept her there 'cause Anna was a good student and would still be able to get her work done.  It was bad for Anna.  She was counting down the days until she would never have to sit by this boy again.

Next year Anna is going to a different school to be in the same program Matthew is in and will have, I think, the best teacher in the district.  So I'm hoping she doesn't have to sit by any jerks next year just because she is a good student.

UPDATE:  We just found out Matthew's teacher is retiring immediately and Anna won't get to have him next year.  I'm very sad about it but hopefully they will get a great new teacher to replace him.  :(

And I'm considering sending Grant to that school as well for several other, much more serious reasons (involving misappropriation of parent donated Home-and-School Club funds) that I won't go into now.  Sorry for the school rant.

 Grant with his class at the graduation ceremony.

 

I was really annoyed with a lot of the parents because they walked right up in front of everyone who was sitting and stood there to record with their phones while our kids were singing.  No one could see.  At least crouch down people!  I got a few glimpses of Grant between standing people.  They also announced each child's name so they could walk across and get their diploma.  And a lot of the parents sitting in front stood up, folded up their chairs and stood there chatting after their kids' names were called even though there were still 3 other classes to go.  Some days I feel like people are the worst.  Ok.  Not all people.  ;)

After the ceremony.

I made it through without punching anyone.  Yeah me!!

So Grant survived kindergarten.

Barely.

And we all survived his graduation.  I'm glad we found out about it in time.

Onto 1st grade...maybe at another school

Anna and her beloved 3rd grade teacher

Despite Anna's classroom troubles she did love her teacher.

Matthew on the last day at his school.

He was sad to leave his great teacher, Mr. H., who Anna will probably have next year.

Mr. H is a fantastic teacher who we love.  But Matthew will still be able to see him some next year.

UPDATE:  We just found out that Matthew's beloved teacher is retiring immediately.  I was hoping we would at least get a year notice on the retirement.  So Anna won't be able to have him next year.  We're all sad.

Here are our school kids on the last day.

Last day of 4th grade, 3rd grade and kindergarten.

And my two kids at home...who will be home with me one more year.

They have really become buddies this year.

John wanted to be in the picture with the big kids.

They all look so grown up.  Are we ready for summer?

The day after the last day of school, Grant crashed, hard in the afternoon.

 It's like when you're a college student and finals are over and you just sleep for three days.

Am I the only one who did that?

He slept and slept and then was up a bunch in the night.  

A year of kindergarten will really take it out of you.

Now on to summer!!