Another Chapter…

of life closed for the Allen family this past week.  It was Emily’s last week at Helke Elementary School.  Fourth grade is the final year in elementary school in our school system.  Next year Emily will go to middle school which is a whole new ball game!

This year was very special for Emily.  She had the same two teachers she had in second grade!  We couldn’t have asked for better teachers to have her final year at Helke!

The second to last day of school was the school talent show.  One of Em’s teachers rewrote the words to Black Eye Peas song “I Gotta a Feeling”. The whole blue pod went on stage and sang the song.  It was very cute yet I still managed to shed a few tears.

Here is a sample of the words…

 

I gotta feeling that today’s gonna be a good day,

that today’s gonna be a good day,

that today’s gonna be a good good day

Today’s the day

We’re packing up

I got my grade card

I’m moving up

We’ll go to Morton

We’ll go to Smith

Our time is done here

Let’s move, move on

I know that we’ll have a ball

When we get up to

5^th grade

We’re all movin on

I feel nervous

But I’ll let it go

Let’s go to middle school

And leave Helke behind

I got my gold

Purple too

We’re all for Butler

And middle school

So say goodbye

To what we know

We’ll start all over

And then we’ll do it again

I knew I had better drink a lot of water at lunch to prepare my body for the tears that would be shed later in the afternoon at the 4th grade farewell…

The walked in a single file line to the gym while the song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” played in the background.  Once they were all seated the principal made a nice little speech about the class.

(I am totally tearing up typing this 2 days after the fact)

Then the school librarian read the book “Oh! The Places You’ll Go!” By Dr. Suess.  This would be the last time she was able to read to this particular group of kids. Each child was presented with their own copy of the book.

After the story the kids were presented diplomas.  They shook the Principals hand then went down the line and shook hands with all the 4th grade and specials teachers.

There was a slide show of the kids which was mainly pictures pictures taken at Camp Kern but there were a few that were slipped in that were older.  Then came the real tears.  The went up to the stage and sang “We Are the World” to the parents.  So many of the kids were crying and some were actually sobbing.  It was so sweet yet awful at the same time.  Emily was fighting the tears back but didn’t let any out!  As you can imagine I was a mess by this point in the day!!!!

 

Friday was a pretty good day…FIELD DAY!!!!

Ron and I worked field day again.  I think we have done it every year since Em was in 1st grade.  It is always a good time.  This year we worked the putt-putt station!  Right next to us was the Holey Bucket game.  The parents working the Holey Bucket game sent the 4th graders in the particular group over with a big cup of water to dump on either Ron or any particular 4th grader that was playing putt-putt!!!

At the end of the school day the entire student body lined the halls of Helke.  The fourth graders walk through the tunnel of students, teachers, and parents.  This is called the Fourth Grade Clap Out.  I didn’t get any snapshots of the clap out because I was taking video and trying really hard not to cry.  Didn’t work!!!

While the kids were leaving for summer break, Emily actually broke down and started to cry!!!  I was shocked.  Last year she cried the last day because her good friend was moving up to Morton and she would miss her friend.  This year it is because she knows her time as a Roadrunner was coming to an end.

Congratulations Emily Grace!  We  love you soooooo much and are so proud of the young lady you are turning in to.  We know you will make us proud in middle school.  A whole new chapter of life will be starting for us in September!!!

 

P.S. Megan is thrilled she will be “alone” at school next year!  She is hoping the teachers will stop calling her Emily!!!!!