Wednesday, September 7:
It’s Opening Day………….
I’ve always maintained that one of the best keep secrets in the Pacific Northwest is the autumn weather. Crisp, cool, sunny September mornings are perfect for the brisk bicycle commute to work. The ride home along the flowing river bounded by the green riparian soaked in warm afternoon sun with long shadows is none other than perfect! To make it all the better, the occasional night rain comes to cleanse the air for these excellent daytime rides.
For 25 years this was my life, but with a bonus! I was pedaling to school with the prospect of playing with the kiddies. Now, those days are past for me – days filled with wonderful memories and relationships built that are simply unmatched. I turned this life over to the student teachers of yesterday and now I am on a wholly different journey.
To all those colleagues and friends still in the classroom and all those new to the classroom, as well as the invaluable support staff of administrative and classified personal, I pay tribute! Your work is priceless and the impressions you leave are forever. May you responsibly share the power of knowledge, continue to be inspired by the ideas of the youth, be kind and empathetic to them and most importantly have fun and laugh heartily with them today and all the days of this year.
Happy New Year and may the games begin!
Thanks for sharing so much through this journey; you are still a role model in the classroom of life.
You’re always in the heart of my classroom.
It’s so true that Autumn in the Pacific NW is AWESOME!! We moved here 9 years ago from WDC and it was the best thing we ever did. Especially since it’s supposed to be over 100 degrees in WDC today!!
Love your comments on the praise of teachers!! I still volunteer at our local middle school every year to teach a course I call “Hands on History.” I bring in 50-75 items from my personal collection of ancient Native American, Greek, Roman, Mayan, Egyptian, Chinese cultures that date back up to 5,000 BC. I love to watch the kids faces as they hold a flint spear that is over 1.5 million years old. Or when they hold a cannonball that was fired during the Civil War or one that was sunk on a Spanish treasure ship back in 1516. Great fun!
Hope your continuing to get stronger and fell better!
Best Wishes Always,
Bill
Those kids were so lucky to have you, Mike!
There is nothing better than the 1st day of school. I thought as a child it was so exciting to start off the new school year, but as a support staff in 5th grade I think it is even better! Seeing and experiencing the growth of your students makes our jobs all worth it. The way you are able to make a lasting impression on a child is such an amazing gift.
I am so happy that your students had the privilege and pleasure of having you as a teacher, a person who really cared and invested in their future.