The 2022 – 2023 school year has officially ended, and the many golden moments of teaching have been added to history in the timeline of my life.

The last day, a picnic with all the students and parents, was yesterday.

It was all a blur of excited children, appreciative parents, goodbyes to students… and a heart full of emotions.

I never realized how proud I would be when my former students recieved their graduation certificates and diplomas… there were a thousand things I wanted to say. But you can’t prepare a graduate for all of life in one day, so I kept my conversations brief – and enjoyed the youthful gleam of eagerness that shone in their eyes. They’ve learned so much in their school years, from all of us staff who have intentionally and prayerfully poured into their lives… now their school years are yesterday.

And so is my second year of teaching grade 4.

It’s hard to grasp… It’s been a good year. The class was awesome, just like last year’s class, and I enjoyed teaching them.

But it felt like a long year. Somehow I thought I still had time to teach them, but the days disappeared… and now it’s yesterday.

They’ve learned all they will in grade 4. I’ve taught them all I could while they were “mine.”

I have so many great memories of the time I spent with these children.

The days of the “science class giggles,” when everything was humorous, regardless of what the lesson content was. All those afternoons where I either laughed helplessly with them, or wished they’d get over the funnies so I could actually get through the lesson…

The Monday mornings when I either got to or had to lead singing for 4A and 4B… depending on my own energy and inspiration levels, it was at times a joy, at times a chore.

There were moments of frustration when a student who hadn’t been paying attention needed the concept explained again… and just as many moments of delighted satisfaction when a student’s furrowed, concentrating brow was suddenly eased when their eyes lit up with understanding.

Recess was a big part of the year, because it was a time we shared with the other grade 4 class. So many memories were made with the whole crew together… many soccer games, which included many moments of teachers holding our breath and exhaling in relief when potential injuries were avoided… laughing in amusement at our students’ antics… the time one of my “tough” boys suddenly started singing “Jingle Bells,” and the whole class paused playing to join in until the song was finished… recess was so fun with this class. Sure, there were some squabbles to settle, but that’s just a normal part of children interacting and learning to create good relationships!

There were times I thought the year would last forever… there were also times so golden that I wished it would.

But now all of those moments… are part of yesterday.

The mistakes I made as a teacher cannot be undone, the unfinished lessons can’t be completed – the moments are written into yesterday as they occurred.

But the goals that were achieved, the maturing and growth that occurred, any positive influence made – these also won’t be undone. They are a part of yesterday.

And whether I was ready for it or not, the last day of school is over.

Now all that’s left to do is reflect on the memories, let my heart ache with the goodbyes, and then… begin the process of rejuvenating myself to do it all again next year.

Yesterday is gone.

The tomorrow of the next school term won’t be here until September…

And today is the first day of summer break.

It’s time to Live Today and see what God writes into this chapter!