School ends Friday, that is exactly one and a half days from now, and I am as much looking forward to that day as I am to a root canal. My students are amazing exceptional human beings and 21 of my favorite people. Saying goodbye to them will be like saying goodbye to a piece of myself. I truly wish that you could meet them because then you would understand how much I've been blessed. They love unconditionally, forgive graciously and are enthusiastic learners. One conversation today epitomizes their caring and trusting nature.
We completed an activity involving shaving cream and when my boys went to wash it off their hands and faces, they also succeeded in getting the bathroom floor sufficiently dirty. They came back and told me about it and began to fear the "wrath" of the janitor until one of my little fifth graders pipped up, "It will be okay...Miss Nussbaum is here.." and another one replied "Miss Nussbaum won't let anything bad happen to us." Of course we worked together on a solution...but it is their nature to trust and love and truly care. When I joined them for a game of soccer and ended up being in goal, they all insisted on playing defense in order to protect the goalie. They also encourage each other and are fiercely loyal. If anyone says anything against another student, they will stand up and stop it.
I guess I am rattling on and on about my students, but I love them and they are the ones I am afraid to say goodbye too, not because I fear things will change, but because I know they have to.
