The End of The Year?
Anyone who thinks of “December” as the “end of the year” probably doesn’t work in a school setting. When teachers hear “the end,” May immediately comes to mind. With May comes our season of endings, for teachers and students alike. And with those endings arrives a feeling of finality.
It’s often hard to remember the student who first walked into our classroom in August, because the child who leaves has grown in countless ways. Classmates have spent the year making connections and learning together. Teachers have spent their year planting seeds and growing those around them - then watching them bloom.
As the weather warms, teachers begin the laborious process of closing their classrooms for the year. Hallways get a little less bright, classroom walls a little less busy and, slowly, a year’s worth of treasures make their way to a new home.
Meanwhile, students experience this ending differently. They say a final goodbye to those friends who have been a daily presence. Clubs wrap up and final work is turned in with relief and accomplishment. The end of the year routine can bring varied emotions to all.
But, as we think about all these endings, it is easy to overlook the beginnings that also come with this season. Summer marks a period of new routines, fresh opportunities, and a chance to shift our priorities, even if only for a little while. As the school year winds down, students prepare to move on to their next chapter: a new grade level, a new school, or, for some, a new path entirely as they leave the Blue Springs School District. With this ending comes wonderful beginnings and so many possibilities.
When my students or children mention the desire to run away from change, I remind them of all the possibilities that could be right around the corner. What if you have a best friend waiting for you in next year’s classroom? What if your new teacher is the best one yet? Maybe you’ll discover a skill you didn’t know you had. Imagine the possibilities.
As we transition from the busy school-driven schedule to a new rhythm that summer provides, my wish to all families at BSSD is that you enjoy a summer full of new beginnings, connections, and all the wonderful possibilities that this season brings.