Such a special gift

I promised I would share the very special thing that happened yesterday. So here it is.

I am still so moved by it the tears keep welling up.

We have a leavers tea for the Year 6 girls and it takes place in the dining room and the quadrangle outside.

The girls and their parents are all invited and it is always a lovely event.

Part way through one of the mums - the parent rep for my class- came and asked me to come outside. I assumed they were doing the usual dress signing and photo sessions that always happen.

The girls were arranged in a semi circle and one of them came forward and read a letter from all of them and their parents about a special thank you to me. Then she gave me a huge pink stripped box. I was, of course, in tears by then. The words were so lovely and I was quite taken aback that they would have got me something, no matter what it was.

I knelt on the grass and opened the box. Inside was a smaller pink box and a scrapbook album.

I cried a bit more when I saw the album.  (the picture here is blocked out as is her surname for obvious reasons)

I work hard to encourage my own class to make circle journals. For many of them it is the first time they have done anything like that and we talk a lot about how important memories are. Well it obviously hit home because boy have they and their parents taken that one on board.

The front of the book was lovely with some beautiful quotes on arranged like petals. Inside there was a dedication page and then a page from every girl in the class - 17 of them.

I was so thrilled with it and couldn't think of a nicer gift. each page had the girs name and her photo and it was so pretty and girlie and I was struck by what a lovely momento of such a special class it would be.

I didn't really notice the other pictures until I looked closely. Each page also had a picture of a troll bead.

I opened the small pink box and there was the most beautiful complete bracelet I have ever seen. Each child had chosen a bead and the parents had made it up into a complete bracelet with silver spacers between each bead.

 As if I wasn't crying enough by then, one of the Mom's said that it mean that now I didn't have to say goodbye to the girls for I had a little piece of each of them forever.

I can't get over how much thought and effort the parents went to to make this possible.

On the back page of the album was a photo of each bead with the name of the girl who chose it.

I don't think i have ever been so moved by a gift. Forget the fact it was an incredibly valuable gift to be given - it was just so completely thoughtful and perfect. They had focused on things I loved - troll beads and scrapping - and made me the perfect gift to remember what has to be one of the most special classes I have ever taught.

I have had some challenging times at school this year ..... not with the class, they have been utterly wonderful, they truly have. And I am sure I will have challenging times again. When I do I will look at the bracelet which is now firmly on my wrist and remember why I do my job. I do it because working with children is the best job in the world. It's not about the gifts, nice as they are, or the holidays and certainly not about the pay or the workload. It is about the reward you get working with children every day, watching them grow and develop, watching them become the people they are and knowing that, in whatever small way it is, you have made a difference to that child's life and played a small part in their future.

They really and truly did give me the greatest gift and I will treasure it and the memory of those girls for always.

I had a comment on my blog which i assume was from an ex-pupil yesterday and in answer to her question .... no it wouldn't be weird. Please visit .... and let me know who you are!

Finally i said I would share another page made with dawn Inskip's new Misty kit available at GottaPixel - I have to say it is a fabulous kit and so versatile.

I made this page of Emily just because it was such a cute picture and she does mean the world to us.

Comments

[Luci]

Okay, thank you! I was in your form 4 years ago, hopefully you'll remember me. I miss junior school so much, it was the best time of my life and I'd do anything to be there all over again. We were all so much closer then, everyone was friends with everyone else...and our problems were all so simple then! I looked through my circle journal recently, everyone has changed so much!

What the girls did for you yesterday was so sweet - I hope they had a good prizegiving.

[Sarah Grant]

Aren't you a lucky lady, but very well deserved I think! That troll bead bracelet is gorgeous, enjoy every moment of wearing it!
xx

[racheal]

this is lovely Karen and just show's how special you are to your pupils. well deserved I say.
The trolls look gorgeous and i can't wait to seet them in the flesh.

[Ally, UK]

You have obviously touched the hearts of these girls - that is such a sweet and wonderful gift. x