The Last Day Of School

June 21 was the official last day of school here in Johnston. I always experience mixed feelings about my kids finishing one school year and being promoted to the next grade. Of course, there is the joy of accomplishment and completion, but there is also the realization that one more year has passed by so quickly. 

As I stood outside Brown Ave. School last Tuesday afternoon at dismissal time, the reality that this was the last time that my 5th grade niece was going walk out of that door, and that my little first-grader was now officially a second-grader, caused my heart to sink. The fact that my firstborn will be a sophomore in high school next year also blows my mind! My children are growing up!

To show my appreciation to their teachers and principal, I bought them each a card to express my gratitude for all of their love, patience, and dedication, and gave them a Dunkin' Donuts gift card — because I know they enjoy having an iced coffee in the warm weather. Neither the greeting card, nor the gift card is really enough to show them how much they have meant to me and my children. Teaching is such an honorable profession! I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the faculty and staff in our local schools who show up day in and day out to teach, nurture and support our children. 

From the bottom of my heart, I wish all Johnston School Department faculty and staff a very enjoyable, well-deserved summer break!