School's out for the summer!

Today was the last day of this school year. Well, actually, it was the last HALF day of school. Aidan raced off the bus:

Can you tell that he is pleased to be done with fifth grade?

These last few weeks have been busy although with very little actual schoolwork (grumble grumble). In our school district, grades six and seven go to middle school and information sessions were held separately for students and parents at the middle school. Aidan and his classmates are all excited and a bit intimidated by having lockers next year.

The fifth grade field trip at Aidan's school is always an overnight trip to a local camp. Last Thursday morning they boarded buses for the short drive to Camp Talooli. It was pouring rain with a forecast for 100% precipitation, but when I took Aidan and his gear to school, all I saw were smiles. They spent all day and night at Talooli, plus Friday morning. Families were invited to the group campfire and individual class campfires on Thursday evening, so James and I drove up after a quick dinner. The rain had finally stopped but everything was a soggy, muddy mess, including Aidan. Especially Aidan. It was so wet that the group campfire was changed to an indoor gathering where the students sang camp songs and performed skits. How funny that most of the songs and many of the skits were the same ones I remember from my camp days!

We left after the group gathering but I was back the next morning to help with the craft session, in which the students made paracord survival bracelets. (By the third class, I was quite proficient at making the bracelets, and Aidan and I bought supplies to make more over the weekend.) I picked Aidan up at school when they returned after lunch and although every student (and parent chaperone) looked dirty and exhausted, they were all smiles. Anyone can have fun at camp when it is sunny, but this group of fifth graders made the best out of very wet weather and created great memories.

Monday was the spring Olympics, rescheduled from last Tuesday when it rained. Fifth grade participated in the morning, but I volunteered to help with the afternoon session. No sooner had all the volunteers gathered to be briefed on the stations when the thunder, lightning, rain and hail started. Sigh. It was a fast moving storm so we waited out the rain delay. Once the all clear was given, we trooped outside and had a great afternoon of games. I worked the ladder ball relay with two other very fun moms, and went home a sweaty, sunscreen covered mess.

Yesterday was the big fifth grade moving up ceremony, followed by the fifth grade celebration. I helped decorate for the celebration and stayed to help with the serving of food, clean up, chaperoning. Our neighbor Ben was the DJ for the event and he soon had the children dancing, singing, doing the Hokey Pokey and the limbo. I did not expect to enjoy myself so much, but I really liked seeing them cut loose and celebrate.

Aidan leaving behind elementary school and fifth grade has not been a sad or emotional experience for me because he is ready to move on to middle school. I know he is going to enjoy having more teachers, different and more challenging classes, reacquainting himself with friends from other schools and making lots of new friends. But first, a nice relaxing summer!