Homecoming Fun!

On Friday, our high school football team had their homecoming game. Although the big kids dressed up every day, the elementary school didn't participate in the activities. That makes me sad! :( BUT we did paint paw prints on our faces to show a little team spirit! Go Dogs!

Ladies and gentlemen, I bought my first pack of flair pens. I just wanted to see what the fuss was about. Oh. My. Word.! They are awesome!! I love the colors! I love the way they write! They make me happy! Now I see what y'all have been talking about!!

During the summer, I signed up for an alphabet exchange with  First Grade Found Me . She assigned each class a letter to decorate. Our class was given the letter U. We chose to decorate it as "U is for underwater".  When we receive all 26 letters, I plan on taking a class photo and posting a write up in our local newspaper.  I hope that you sign up next summer. This is my 3rd year participating in the exchange. Every class has enjoyed participating. 

Death of a student

Last week was one of the longest weeks of my life!...It all began with this text.

Oh my goodness! Friends, I hope none of you ever receive this news. I hope I never receive this news again!! There are no words to describe it!
After receiving the news, I went and visited her mother. She was broken. Just broken!  All night I kept questioning myself...Why didn't I talk about safety for Labor Day activities? Why? WHY??

School was out on Monday. Thanks goodness! I needed a day to calm down!

Tuesday morning came quickly. When the alarm went off, I felt sick! I knew I had to face my students. I had to be strong even though I wasn't. Before the students got to school, coworkers met in my classroom for a word of prayer. That is a moment in time I will remember forever!

That morning, students came in and we read a story about death and drew our favorite memories of MaTaya. So far, my students have taken her death very well. Every morning, I put a smile on my face and do what I had to do for my babies. When I got home, or when the students left the room, the tears flowed...

Yesterday was MaTaya's celebration of life. It was PERFECT! Such a beautiful celebration for a beautiful little girl.

Mataya was a little firecracker. She was always smiling, running around, and helping others. She loved to cheer! She sang all the time! Daily, she made a point to tell a student how nice his/her handwriting was so she could pull her pin to super student. My favorite memory is running with her to line up after recess.

I will always miss MaTaya! I miss hearing her little voice. I miss seeing her contagious smile. I am sad that her cubby is empty. She was a such special little person... I believe that I will see her again. On that day, we will never have to say goodbye again! :)