Tomorrow, my first JK class at Ancaster Meadow graduates from Grade 8. This is not the first group of students that I’ve taught that has graduated, but it’s the first group where I was at the school long enough to really connect with all of them. I’ve seen the students grow up. For many of them, I taught them in JK, SK, and again, in Grade 6. I know their families. I’ve taught their siblings. I definitely feel a special connection with this group, and I’m incredibly sad that I can’t be there for their graduation tomorrow night. 

A couple of weeks ago, one of my former students emailed me and asked me to come. I was so touched that she would take the time to write me, and even though I initially had plans, I tried to reschedule them so that I could go. I thought that I was going to make it, but on Friday night, I got sick, and I just started antibiotics today. There is no way that I could sit in a crowded gymnasium tomorrow night for the ceremony. And so since I can’t be there, this blog post is for the graduates.

• Thank you for sharing so much of yourselves with me!
• Thank you for being brave enough to take risks, try again, and learn from your mistakes.
• Thank you for forgiving me for my mistakes.
• Thank you for inspiring me to really think about and live by the quote at the bottom of all of my Board emails: “If they don’t learn the way you teach, teach the way they learn.” (I wish I knew the author of this.)
• Thank you for not being afraid to tell me what you need to do your best work … and thank you for working with me to provide it!
• Thank you for believing in me — as a new Grade 6 teacher — that I could do the job and do it well.
• Thank you for showing me that sometimes a little bit of Kindergarten can make its way up into all of the grades.
• Thank you for making me so very proud of each and every one of you! It’s been a pleasure to get to work with and learn from (and with) all of you!

I may not be there tomorrow, but I will still be thinking of you on this amazing day! Here’s to a bright and wonderful future … with no need for any more “happy bubbles.” 🙂

– Miss Dunsiger, Miss D., or maybe just Aviva