Saying Goodbye

On Monday, I had talked to the kids about how I was leaving after this week to go back to the US, which was a hard concept for them. They weren't really sure why I couldn't stay at first, but we got that sorted out. Tuesday morning is PPA (planning time), so I wasn't in the classroom, and when I came back after lunch on Tuesday, I almost got bowled over by all the hugs. Their concept of time isn't solidified completely.

Their concept of surprise isn't set yet either. On Wednesday, I was observing phonics assessments during maths time. We finished just before fruit time, so the kids were coming out of the room as I was getting ready to go back in. One little guy looked up as he was coming out and said with complete sincerity, "We weren't doing anything. And you can't go inside."

What they had been doing, however, was making an absolutely adorable little thank you book that they gave me on Friday. Each student made a page and the teachers bound it together. They got better at keeping secrets, however, because they knew about our Friday afternoon tea party and didn't tell me. (Seriously! There were nearly 60 five to seven year olds with tea cups! They drank squash instead of tea, but still. It was so cute!)

Everyone was so sweet to us on Friday. The teacher and TAs gave me two books and a set of teaspoons, the kids gave me their book, and the bakery we get our lunch from even gave us each a package of their mince pies!