Dear Simon

Dear Simon,

I am so proud of all your hard work this year. You overcame every challenge placed in front of you. You've become such a great reader and I am so glad I got to be your teacher. You have an enthusiasm that just spreads through the room. I don't know what God has planned for you but I know it will be great. I smile everytime I think of you teaching me all about the Trash Packs, I bet if they did put you in charge you would come up with some great new toys!

Have a great summer, you always know where to find me next year!!

Dear Kira

Dear Kira, 

I have so enjoyed watching you grow, learn, and become a little more outgoing. You have been blessed with a love of learning and a kind heart. I can't wait to see what God's plan is for you. I hope you get a chance to become a wonderful horse rider! Keep working hard and remember that you were made special by God, never be afraid to chase those big dreams!

Don't be shy, stop by and see me next year, I hear first graders give great hugs too. Have a super summer!!

Love, 

Miss Bailey

Dear Chas

Dear Chas,
I'm so proud of how much you have learned this year, you have become a super reader and you never gave up on the tough stuff. The confidence you have truly comes from God's reminder that He made you and His handiwork is only good.
I can't wait to see the fantastic things that you do in life. On the last day you said you would like to be a delivery man when you grow up. You would make a very friendly and reliable delivery man, plus you get to drive a great big van (which I'm sure is part of the reason you like that job). Keep up your hard work and you will become whatever you want to be!
Have a great summer! Don't forget to come and visit next year!!
Love,
Miss Bailey

Dear Ava

Ava's make-up graduation celebration!

Dear Ava,
I think of all the days that you walked up to me right before nap and told me "I love you being my teacher!" and I want you to know I  have loved being your teacher. The way you care for everyone of your friends and the compassion you have for them is amazing. God has given you a beautiful heart and I know He will use you to do great things. I think you will make a super teacher one day and your students will love you being their teacher as well.
Have a great summer! I can't wait to see what the future holds for you!
Love,
Miss Bailey

Dear Jasa

Dear Jasa, 

Big smiles, big books, and lots of love. That's what I think of when I think about you. I'll never forget the day you brought in a book to read to the class, or how proud you looked when you finished the whole thing. You have worked so hard to become a great reader and I know you will only get better. You are a proud big sister, a super student, and a loving friend. I think you will be a fantastic Doctor one day. Keep trusting God to guide you and you will go so far. 

You know where you can find me next year, don't forget to come say hi! Have a fantastic summer!

Love, 

Miss Bailey

Dear Timothy.

Dear Timothy,
You have such a wonderful heart, the way you care for each of your friends and all the kind things you did for me. I can see how much you love Jesus in everything you do. Always keep that selfless heart. The good stuff didn't stop there though, you are so smart too! It seems like no matter what we work on you give it everything you've got. You said you want to be a Police Officer when you grow up, protecting and serving others. I think you'd be great at that.
Have a great summer! I hope you will come and visit me next year.
Love,
Miss Bailey

Dear Matthew

Dear Matthew, 

You are a smart, sweet, and funny friend. I am so glad I had the chance to be your teacher. Watching you grow and learn has been so very exciting! I always knew I could count on you to be a good helper, kind friend, and a hard worker. On out last day you I asked you what you want to be when you grow up and you said a bull rider. While I'm sure Mommy and Daddy would prefer a less dangerous profession, how about mattress softness tester?, I know that whatever you decide to do, you will do it with confidence and excitement. God has given you many talents and you will do great things for His Kingdom.

I hope you have a great summer! Don't forget to stop by and see me next year.

Love, 

Miss Bailey

I've been putting this off for far too long.

2 weeks ago my sweet little friends sang these words: "Graduation day, graduation day, greaduation day is heeeeeere. Graduation day, graduation day, greaduation day is here. First grade here we come, first grade we're on our waaaaay, first grade here we come, happy graduation day!"
For 2 weeks I walked into the room that was always buzzing with stories of lost teeth, baby cows, big games, and funny Mommies and Daddies and for 2 weeks I've been met with silence.

It's a very weird thing to have my first year of teaching behind me, and I know I'll still see my friends around the school, who knows I may even get the chance to teach some of them again one day. But for some reason I can't bring myself to erase the board where those names were written 3 days before the end of school. I'll never have another first class and each one of these kids will always hold a piece of my heart.

If you ask the boys in my room they'll tell you how I burst into tears the last day as I tried to say goodbye to them, and how the tears quickly returned when Jasa announced she didn't need to be walked out today because she was a First Grader now. Given my emotional roller coaster trying to say good bye individually just wasn't gonna work.

Instead I'd like to do it here, where I can speak my mind without frightening the kids with my hideous crying face.

Where on earth do I begin?
I think I'll so a separate post for each of my little friends who are included in the blog.
This may take me a few days, I'll have to go out and buy some tissues at some point I'm sure, but I will have my chance to celebrate the wonderful blessings that God brought me this year.

I'm so proud of each and every one of you. I can't wait to see what the future holds.

Love you forever,
Miss Bailey