Teacher's Rule!

I want to start off with a little quote I thought of after all the laughs, tears and everything in between from this week:

"The greatest gifts in life, are the small things that aren't selfish or complicated, it is the simplest of things that may at times be complicated, simple, frustrating or joyful"

The final week has finally arrived, and how emotional it all was. The past four weeks at St. Monica's Catholic School has been a blessing and the greatest experience of my life. I had taken for granted at first the opportunity at hand, and yesterday Friday, November 25th, 2011 was when I really sat down and saw how much I have learned and also taught in just four weeks.

I have learned what it means to be part of a great community where teachers, custodians, secretaries, other staff, and mostly the students share one relationship; the relationship of a family for the 6 hours a day. I thought my placement was going to be able going in every morning and leaving everyday at 3:30pm, but it wasn't, it was more than that. I was privileged to feel like one of the family, I was provided the opportunity to meet many kind and wonderful faces - my AT, other teachers, the principal, governor generals, community police woman, retiring policeman, students of all ages. This experience has got to be one of the best I have ever in my life experienced.

All of these experiences and relationships that have been made, hit me during the short gathering the principal had for us during first reccess - yes there was coffee and cake, but this wasn't the best part. The kind words the principal spoke about our presence and the mark we have left the staff and students with truly left me speechless. When it came time for us to leave some kind words, I barely knew what to say...I left my last words with a few tears and allowing the staff that they have taught me so much, especially what it means to be part of a community, but the biggest lesson I was taught and the most experience I had learned was from the students themselves. Every lesson I taught there was a lesson learned, every laugh I shared there was one more mark engraved in my heart from these kids and I would change anything in the world, BUT I will NEVER EXCHANGE ANYTHING FOR THE EXPERIENCE AND OPPORTUNITY THESE STUDENTS HAVE PROVIDED ME WITH.

In short, like my teacher and students said on their last day "Miss D Rocks". My weeks will never be the same, and I will forever miss every single student as each of them has left me with an amazing memory to keep forever. As I have said in the past:

"Each person brings something to the world, a talent, an ability, an inability, a strength and a weakness. It is up to us educators to make vivid what each person is capable of and can achieve"


I tried to be strong, I tried not to cry but it was the one student who hugged me for at least a half a minute that made me cry like a baby, and soon enough the entire class was in tears!!!