Yesterday was Sam’s first last day of school.  Of course like all the other milestones I’ve chosen to “record” thus far, I got a tad bit emotional.  Oh who am I kidding.  I bawled for a good 15 minutes in the car.  She’s such a little big girl now.

I could still remember the first week when I brought her in and I was alone at home, I didn’t know what to do with myself (Then again that was the height of my 1st trimester nausea so I think I got over the separation anxiety fairly quickly and appreciated the extra hours of sleep).  It’s amazing how much has changed since then and how much she’s grown right in front of my eyes.

Sam’s teachers sent us home with a scrapbook-type compilation of their handiwork along with pictures of them in action.  Her hair is the give-away — the pictures show her with less hair when she was younger, and it’s paired with the types of “projects” they’d done.  It’s interesting to see the progression.  I’m so glad it’s laminated too, so that I can store it in a box and give it to her when she’s older.

Then there was a 13-minute picture collage DVD (although this one I had to buy as a fund-raising activity to change the classroom floors) as well as a summary write-up of their assessment.  It’s nice to know they only had good things to say.  Isn’t that what every parent wants to hear? 🙂

Over-all I wish there was a more detailed description of what she was like in school and how she’s developed and improved, but from my daily conversations with the teachers I could tell she was a “good student” and that they genuinely liked having her in their class.  I think as a parent I got pretty attached to her teachers too — I don’t know what I would do without them and we’ll miss them terribly as she moves to her other pre-school for next year.

Needless to say I am proud of my little girl, who took it all in so well.  I love it that she loves school and she shows an interest in learning.  And I’m relieved too of how well behaved she can be and how she can hold her own in public.  Not once did she come into conflict with the other children.  Well, Sam is like that — she will happily share and wait her turn when she’s playing with friends.  If as they say, how your children act around others without you is an indication of how they’re raised at home, then it is a relief to know I’m doing something right.

Okay so that’s one year down, 21 more years to go.

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This is Sam participating in the last day’s Shabbat sing-a-long, a Friday tradition at the school.  Because we don’t go in on Fridays, she had never attended the ceremonies so it was a first for her, and for me too.
I had gotten there a tad bit early and didn’t let her see me. She happily wore the kippah that was given to her and would run to the middle of the circle to dance as they sang. Her teacher Ms Laura had to keep pulling her back. Apparently, you’re not supposed to do that.  Oops!

Then the Rabbi took out the Challah bread to be broken and passed around as they usually do, and everyone is supposed to sit and wait until after the prayer for a piece of bread to be given to them.  Sam, not knowing the proper decorum, (she was probably hungry at this point because it was lunch time), zoned in on the bread and jumped up and exclaimed loudly over and over again, “I want to eat bread!  I want some bread.  Can I have some please?!”

Instead of waiting like all the other kids, she approached one of the teachers and stuck out her hand asking for a piece.  With still some bread in her mouth and in her hand, she decided she wanted more and because she couldn’t find a teacher that would give her more, she walked up to the table where the Challah was placed, and picked up the whole roll, ready to take it all (At that point I stepped in to return the bread and cut her a smaller piece, a little embarrassed because it seemed like everyone just had one serving each). 

That’s my girl  — bread trumps all shyness and proper decorum.  Oh well!