Thoughts about a 4th grade graduation
Yesterday was the last day of school here, and as is tradition, we had a fourth grade walk-out where the whole school lined the halls and cheered on the graduating fourth graders as they left the building for the last time. I did not watch last year, as it was my first year and I was busy getting ready for teacher check-out the next day, so I didn't get a chance to watch it then. But I did this year, since I was more on top of things and I had connected with more students.
First, the temperature and smell in the hallway with almost six hundred six- through eight-year-olds was almost unbearable. It was hot, humid, and stinky. Lots of little bodies making body heat! And before the fourth graders even came down, some of the children were already crying. There was a cluster of second grade girls just outside the office door where I stood that were sobbing and holding each other like their lives depended on it.
Second, as the fourth graders came walking down, about half of them were crying or very emotional. It made me emotional too, seeing these children being sad about leaving their elementary school for the last time, leaving younger friends and favorite teachers. So many of them, boys and girls, were just so full of emotions.
It got me thinking of my own experience as a child. I was homeschooled, and we moved around a lot thanks to a military dad, so I didn't have the same kind of experience. I didn't have a close-knit friend group I grew up with, I didn't have teachers (that were not my mom) I spent years with, I didn't have a building that became my second home. So I don't remember having emotional experiences like these students did.
And third, just as it was finishing, a little second grader got the worst bloody nose I've ever seen. Just carnage everywhere, and it really struck me how bright and kool-aid colored the blood was where it fell on the floor.
After the students all left the building, there was a locker slam with the teachers leaving this year, then the last of the paras checked out, and now it's the teachers checking out today, and then it's summer break. This year has just flown by!