Friday, May 31, 2013

Goodbye Old Wildwood!

I am on my 11th year of teaching at Wildwood Elementary School in Mahtomedi. It is a bittersweet year in that we are moving on to a brand new state-of-the-art school that is amazing in so many ways! But I wanted to take a moment to reflect on what we are leaving behind. The good news is that what I love most about the place that I work is not the building. In fact when I first went to interview for my job in the coveted district of Mahtomedi, (all my friends said that I was lucky to even get an interview)--I was quite frankly underwhelmed by the building. This is where everyone wants to teach? But I obviously was offered a position and I soon fell in love with the place they call Wildwood. It truly isn't the building--it is the staff, the families, the events, the traditions and all the mishaps and laughter (and sometimes tears) that happens on a daily basis. My first group of students that I worked with are graduating from high school this year!!! I had a good time going through my photos this evening to see if any of them capture the essence of Wildwood--I think I have a good mix.


Our art teacher, Kristi Ekert, is amazing! She has the 2nd graders do chalk art as their last project in the likeness of Georgia O'Keefe--it is SO fun to walk around the school grounds and look at the pictures.

The teachers, of course, are amazing! Above is Zoey's 2nd grade teacher Mrs. Fesser. And below are some awesome friends (Maddie and Ana) that she has made at school. It is doubly fun to have your kid(s) go to the school that you teach at.

2nd Grade Graduation

Impromtu staff meetings in the middle of the school...

All-school meetings

End of the year concerts in the bus turnaround



The traditional end of the year send off of the buses

Bringing my kids in for special events or just to get some work done in the classroom




Homecoming parades




A fabulous roommate

Reading Corps


First days of school
50th birthday celebrations


Class trips to baseball games

1st Grade Young Author Tea's

Fun Fairs

Kids!

Reader's Theatre


Last days of school

Fabulous colleagues!

Cakes made in the likeness of our school!

Bertha!

A car on the stage for our staff Christmas Party...Why not?


Jim Jensen--Maybe the best guy ever!
Christmas Caroling the day before winter break...

The winter mascot for our school...notice the Chihuahua on the leash!

Girl Scout meetings

The morning after evacuating for a fire...Fireman Hamre has it all covered!

Students!

Reading!

This is Zoey when she was 6 months old.

Our students loved reading to her!

Started running many times because of these ladies!


Joint baby shower with the Crothers. I wouldn't have wanted to share it with anyone else!

Our beloved "3 Strikes You're Out" wall. We ruined bulletin boards in every room we occupied!



Tuesdays at 10!



This is what happens if you don't pack your room up when your suppose to move. The year we moved from Room 12 to Room 17 this is what we found. Oops!





Before school reading groups.





The ING Sisters. We used to walk down the hallway with Mary on the left and Marianne on the right. Much funnier!


Our joint wedding shower. . .For the record. . .Patrick always copied us! :-)


Meeting the staff dogs...This is Ubi--Mrs. Beaver's Dog (I think).


Thanks for the memories!

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