I just wrapped up another school year teaching 5th grade about a week ago. Everyone assumes teachers can't wait until the end of school. I actually dread it. Don't get me wrong--I love, love, LOVE summer! It's just difficult to have children walk into my classroom each September, wrap themselves around my heart, and walk out the middle of June. I spend almost 8 hours a day with them 5 days a week for 36 weeks. With some of my students, I see them more than they see their own parents.
The first week of school is spent teaching classroom procedures, rules, and expectations. This is not always easy, but it is crucial to an effective learning environment! As crazy as it sounds, one of the most thrilling parts of the school year for me personally is when those procedures are practiced by my class, and we adhere to the rigorous schedule. It is like an entire orchestra playing in unison creating beautiful music! In short it is music to my ears! (See what I did there?)
The more I teach, the faster each year seems to go, and the harder it is to say goodbye to each class. I blinked once in February, and the next thing I knew it was June! The last day of school is an awards ceremony for all the grades. Each teacher brings her entire class on stage and gives a speech before presenting each student with his or her invidual awards. This was the speech I gave that morning. I am usually able to make it through my speech without getting emotional, but this year I was unsuccessful, and my principal had to pass me tissues in the middle. And by the middle, I mean after the second paragraph...
Good morning! What a pleasure
it is to stand before you this morning with this delightful group of almost 6th
grade students! This has been a
wonderful year full of growth, achievement, humor, and a lot of sweet memories!
If we look back
at the beginning of the year, before school even began, we got off to a rocky
start. In the weeks leading up to the
first day of school, there was a fire in the Great Dismal Swamp, two local
earthquakes, two tornado warnings in Hampton Roads, Hurricane Irene, a flooded
chapel (which led to a repaired roof!), no power at school the first day
teachers were supposed to go back, and a gas leak at the high school. I remind you of these events because often
the enemy puts huge obstacles in our path right before God is about to do
something amazing.
And this year was
amazing to say the least. Even more amazing than I could have imagined!
I have looked
forward to teaching this group of students since many of them were in
kindergarten. They are a talented,
bright, inquisitive, creative, goal-oriented group of students. God used them to minister to each other and to
those outside of our classroom as well.
And they even ministered to me. I
sincerely looked forward to working with them each day. I can honestly count this year as a highlight
of my teaching career thus far.
We have learned a
lot about Old Testament heroes, multiplying and dividing fractions, decimals,
and mixed numbers, sentence structure, punctuation, parts of speech, character
development, vocabulary, and how to get along with each other. We have learned that God doesn’t want us to
fret and worry when troubles come into our lives. He wants us to put our trust in Him and watch
with expectation as He works things out for our good. Well,
I am happy to report, God was victorious, and we made it! This goes along with our class verse this
year, Micah 6:8. “He has showed you, O fifth grade student, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk
humbly with your God.” Let God take
care of the rest. We can trust Him when
tragedies and hurts happen.
We’ve also had
many exciting experiences.
In October, we were outside for recess one day when several
large black and red tour buses, a dozen motorcycles, at least a half dozen
black Explorers, several squad cars, and two ambulances sped by our
school. It took a minute to register
that it was President Obama’s motorcade headed to Anna’s Pizza just down the
street for lunch. We jumped up and down
and waved as the procession went by. I
remember this very well because it was the day after my birthday, and I am
almost certain the President leaned out the window as he went by and said,
“Happy birthday, Miss DeWitt!” Okay so maybe just the
former happened, and not the latter. But
how many other students can say they actually saw the President at school during their recess?
In January we were able to pray for and raise money for an
orphanage in Lithuania. The crosses in
the back of our chapel represent Hope for Lithuania. We became penpals with students from a school
in Uganda. The students were always so
excited to get responses and couldn’t wait to write back. They became instant friends and shared how
their penpals had a very special place in their heart. We were visited by Totally Bananz where we
learned some fun songs. Most importantly
many rededicated their lives to God or committed for the first time after that
chapel.
We had fun practicing and performing for our own chapel
program “Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader” complete with a commercial
featuring the Avengers and an insurance duck.
And I have seen them pour themselves into their graduation performance
which many of you saw at the beginning of this ceremony and will see in its
entirety tonight at the graduation ceremony.
It is beautiful, but I have to warn you to bring your tissues.
In April, Mrs. Rogers, our music teacher, led the class in
a school wide chapel program. Several
students had solos. When we got back to class
after the performance, one of my boys came to me and said, “Did you cry when
one of the 4th grade girls sang?
Because I did. I couldn’t help
it.” Others agreed they felt the same
way. So we discussed how that was the
Holy Spirit touching their hearts and ministering to their spirit. They were moved by the 4K praise dance
program and the song “I Give Myself Away.”
And then the students had the opportunity to go out to the audience and
minister by praying for people. One of
my girls said she couldn’t help but cry as she listened to people share their
needs and then again when she was able to pray for them.
How precious is that for me as a teacher to be able to not
only TALK about the Holy Spirit, but to discuss students actually FEELING the
PRESENCE of the Lord and EXPERIENCING the Holy Spirit for themselves at such a
young age. It gives me goose bumps just
to mention it! But that’s just normal
stuff here at Hampton Christian Elementary School!
Yes, it has been such a memorable year…one I will certainly
treasure as I look back in the years to come. The verse I Thessalonians 2:8 seems most
fitting for how I feel about this class:
“I loved you so much that I was delighted to share with you not only the
gospel of God, but my life as well, because you had become so dear to me."
Thank you, parents, for the opportunity to teach your
children and for the sacrifices you have made to invest in Christian
education. There is no greater gift you
can give them. I pray God blesses you
ten-fold for sending your children to a place where the Holy Spirit is welcomed,
hearts are shepherded, and education is centered around the Word of God.
So Class of 2012, ready to become 6th graders, please
continue to do your best next year so that God can get the glory. Remember I love each one of you, I am so
proud of all you have accomplished this year, and I can’t wait to hear the good reports next year from your
6th grade teachers!
I look forward to seeing you all tonight at the 5th
grade graduation ceremony. Remember to
wear chapel dress and to arrive at your homeroom class at 6PM! The program starts promptly at 6:30!
And now for the awards!
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