It's been nearly 24 hours since schools were closed for the rest of what was your final year as an elementary school student, and during this time I have gone back and looked at all of the photos I have taken of each and every one of you since you walked into my classroom for the first time back in August. These photos brought all of the amazing memories that we had this year to the forefront. In fact it's hard to believe that we have been a part of each other's lives for nine months now and during that time not only have I had the chance to watch you grow as people as well as in your learning, but I've also grown as a teacher and person because of you.
I remember our first day together like it was yesterday. Together we came up amazing classroom rules and procedures that you took to heart each every single time you walked through my door. We bonded over shared interests. Our mutual love of Chick - Fil - A, coffee, soda and food in general was always a topic of conversation or on display in some way. Looking back now, I laugh, but I loved how if there ever was a time where I didn't have my coffee, soda or water near me, one of you jumped and brought to me without me asking, even if you did interrupt my teaching at the teacher table once or twice (you know who you are, and you're forgiven by the way).
After day one we take off on an incredible Math and Science journey that I will remember for the rest of my life, together as a class with not one single friend left behind. I watched as you helped each other read questions or texts and solve math problems without anyone asking you to. I got to witness you working together, becoming scientists and mathematicians right in front of my eyes by completing labs and crushing real - world math problems. I saw you grow multiple years in your learning in less than a full school year with your fellow classmates cheering you on each step of the way.
With that being said, the moments when you all erupted in excitement when a fellow classmate jumped a level on iReady Math, passed a Study Island Science lesson or when you as a class beat the other class in one of our many awesome and very close competitions are some of the best of my teaching career because those moments showed just how strong our Bonneville Room 237 family became this school year!
I still can't fathom that those big hugs you all gave me right before we left for spring break may be the last ones that I get from you for a while. I'm sorry that you won't get your dance, field day, party, awards ceremony and all of the other fun things we had planned for you to finish out the year. However, please know that while this may be the end of your elementary journey, Ms. Barrell will always be there for you and that you will always have a home in her classroom. I love each and every single one of you with all of my heart and I plan on celebrating all of your successes in the future.
We will continue to crush distance learning until your last day of school and I promise that you will go to 6th ready to continue the incredible academic journey that you started this year.
Keep being #BulldogStrong until we see each other (physically) again!
Love,
Ms. Barrell
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