Henry's last day of preschool in his 3-year old class was May 21st. This was really his first year of official get-your-backpack-and-go-to-school-three-times-a-week school. He adored his teachers Mrs.McHie and Miss.Deb. He learned so much from them. He learned to sit in a group criss-cross applesauce, he learned about show-and-tell and brought lots of his favorite things in that little red canvas tote to show to his friends; his green combine, his electric (AKA button press) guitar, his chainsaw. He became a champion rhymer and can think of a rhyming word for most any one you throw at him; usually a nonsense word starting with "s"; for example if you give him "ball", he'll surely almost always say something like "sall". It's a rhyme. And he loves pointing out when things rhyme by accident. He learned the importance of being a line leader and hoped to find his name in that coveted helper spot every time he walked through his classroom doors. He learned songs and a sweet prayer. He learned to talk about the weather, sing songs about the days of the weeks and months of the year.
I learned some things, too. I learned that some teachers don't allow Crocs in their classrooms, and that it takes at least five minutes more to don the appropriate shoe ware. I learned that to impress a group of twenty 3-year olds all you really need is an extra large box of Cheez-its and a couple gallons of apple juice. And I learned that some things (a child size acoustic guitar, a green training-wheel-less bike) try as you may, just aren't going to fit into that little red canvas show-and-tell bag.
Part of what I truly love about his school is their commitment to involve parents; there are special events throughout the year to include parents and celebrations at different times to applaud significant milestones with the children.
On the last day of school there is a parade. The parents are asked to send in a plain white tee several weeks before the last day and each class decorates their t-shirts with an original theme. When the children come to school on that final day, the teachers outfit each of them in their new tee and the parade as a class around the school block for parents and grandparents to applaud them. It's very sweet and I feel the beams of pride from the children as their parents take pictures of them. Since Patrick has been working out of town I've been going to most things at the school by myself. Which really is fine, but I was feeling sad at the end of the year knowing that there would be lots of people there for most of the children and only me (and William, of course) there for Henry. I also didn't know how I could possibly juggle the camera, the video camera and William. My mom knew I felt sad and offered to take the Thursday off work and drove all the way here from Rockford for the parade. It was super sweet of her to do and perfectly special for Henry to have her there, too. Thank you, Mom, for coming here for the parade and spending that day with us. Thank you for coming so that I didn't have to go alone.
Here is Henry, on his last day of school.
Their t-shirts were very cute, the dandelions were sponge painted and they read "growing like a weed".
The parade
Henry with Mrs. McHie. He really thinks the world of her. She lives in our neighborhood and we once spotted her out walking. He was so shy and awestruck. I remember being young and not realizing that teachers ever left school. So sweet.
Silly picture of Henry with Miss. Deb. One of his classmates, Logan, snuck in. But this is the only one I have of him with Miss. Deb. He will love that Logan is in the picture, too!
Henry and Kale, one of his favorite friends from school. Silly boys.
Henry and Oma in his classroom.
After school we took the boys for a celebration lunch at Culvers. It's become a tradition with Oma, and one that Henry looks forward to. The one that we go to has a huge fishtank with an impressive variety of fish. He loves standing on a stepstool next to my mom looking for crabs and other sea creatures. After naps we brought the boys to a splash park; it was the perfect way to kick off summer vacation.
