Last Day of School

Today is a day of opposites as it is the last day of school in Brighton and the first day of summer vacation.  For many there are also opposing feelings that take place today.

Whether you recall elementary, middle school, high school, college or Master's Degrees and beyond, it is always easy to recall "the last day of school."  As an elementary kid you would think that everyone would be thrilled, after all, no more getting up early, no more school work, no more having to go there five days a week. Yet, for many it is a sad day as they will miss so many of the good friends that they made throughout the year and saw each and every day. Many of them will not reconnect with play dates and for many they are sad.

This feeling is no different for middle or high schoolers either. And with high schoolers, many going off in many new directions for college and jobs or internships they have mixed feelings.  And what about the high school kids that are staying behind with no job in store or college on the horizon. For sure lots of different feelings are being felt by so many today.

For parents as well there is a scope of feelings. Some are thrilled to have their kids home and around the house again,  a real time for regrouping, connecting as a family. Perhaps having that big garage sale to get the house settled and organized and many plans for the family vacation. While for other parents it is a hardship. How do I provide good care and supervision for my child now home for so many days?  How do I build in time for fun and with costs, what can I do to help my children and I all have fun?  For those on the go with summer school, enrichment classes, it can be an overwhelming time.

For teachers, they are tired. I know that because I was a teacher for 33 years.  They will face their classrooms today and look around seeing the many things that need to be put away. They will already be thinking about what they could do differently to  make the next year even better. They will have lots of thank you notes to write and the final checkout date is hanging over their head. Some will wonder who their co workers and team mates will even be next year. Many are just finding out today their own placements for next year and some will not know until the end of summer. Talk about feeling lots of feelings.

For some, they are not returning. It could be a choice that they made such as retirement. Or it could be a district driven choice, so lots of opposing feelings on this "last day of school."

A school without children is simply a building and all things have last days. But with each last day is maybe a new beginning. Happy summer vacation to all of you having yet another "last day of school."