Why I hate the last day of school

One day left and a half day at that – my heart is having a really, really hard time with that fact.  This week has flown by and they are so excited to be finished and I am aching.  I got lots of extra hugs today.  I have a few little friends who are just not quite ready for the end to come.  We have wrung every moment out of the past 177 days.  There were some AMAZING days and some really hard ones but mostly there were glorious, regular days filled with great learning.  This class caught my heart and when they walk out the door tomorrow, they are going to be taking it with them.  So if you see me tomorrow, I will probably have on my sunglasses to hide some tears.  It will be a great day of celebration but a hard one on my heart! 

Here are some thoughts on the last day of school.

Why I HATE the last day of school

by Blythe Chapman

I HATE the last day of school


They have gone, school has ended


The echoes of their laughter have ceased to reverberate

I have given my last hug and waved my last wave and sent them 
                off to adventures unknown


The memories mingle with the dust particles that dance through 
                my classroom


Oh, how I HATE the last day of school


Together we have grown and lived the daring adventures of 
                math and science, language arts and social studies


I expected much and they challenged me to be a better teacher  
                and rise above 
        This room, that is now blanketed with silence, was once filled
                    and over flowing with their laughter and kindness


I watched over them, pushed them, challenged them, and would 
                   not rest until they had grown


And now they have and I am glad, 


But . . .


Oh, how I hate the last day of school


For it means that the laughter and funny smiles, the favorite
                      books and stories have ended
          
I will no longer be the one to watch their eyes light up when they
                       discover they can write a whole sentence with no help


I will no longer be the one to see them ask for forgiveness and
                       see a friendship restored


I will no longer be the one to bandage scrapes and put on magic
                       lotion that can make the world a nice place again


My job is finished and it is with such mixed feelings I watch them
                      skip out the door

We have triumphed and finished a whole year together – oh the
                      joy and relief


But then comes the grief, for what once was, will never be again


So I will send them on to the next teacher, who will teach them
                     well and challenge them to be excellent


And I will remember . . .


Remember the laughter and tears and quietly place all this in a
                     corner of my heart


I will also remember that after the summer, laughter will visit me
                     again in the form a new class with new faces to love


As I lock the door, I will remember that it has been an incredible
                    year and the pain of the last day will always be worth it all


But, I still will always hate the last day of school