Holly's last day of Elementary School......

The day came much sooner than I was ready for. It was a day that I had dreaded. I dreaded it because Holly is my baby. I have been through this same day with her 2 older sisters. Something happens once they leave Elementary School. They change. I know that it is a normal process of growing up. I know they have to do it. The thing is it doesn't mean that I have to like it. It really seems like just yesterday when I was walking her into her Kindergarten class on the first day of school. Time sure flies. We love our school! Out of all 3 girls it was something that Holly really felt strongly about. She loved Stockard Coffee and all the staff there. I worked for many years on the PTA board there. I will miss that for sure. The last day of school any year is a really big deal but the last day of school in 5th Grade is a really big deal. It means you will be moving up to Middle School. The kids spent the morning doing different game rotations. Lunch was what they were looking forward to. We celebrated with a pizza party. Holly and some of her good friends took a little time out for a group picture. They are all very familiar with me and my camera. They never complain they just pose with a smile.


I had been feeling very sad about the prospect of leaving Elementary School. I kept those feelings from Holly because it was important to me that she not feel nervous or anything about moving up to Middle School. A very big thing that happens for the 5th Graders on the last day of school is called the 5th Grade Clap Off. This is when everybody in the school lines up in 2 lines and faces the 5th Graders and they hold their hands up and clap the 5th Graders as they make their way through the huge line. I was waitng on the opposite end so that I could capture some pictures of the kids as they made their way out the other end. I was so surprised when I saw Holly. It hit her like a ton of bricks. She was crying!

She told me that as she was going through she was remembering all of her great times at the school. She said she became overwhelmed with sadness that she was leaving her beloved school.

She met up with her close friend Paetyn. These 2 girls met the day before the first day of Kindergarten. They have been friends ever since.

Here is Holly with her good friend Kinzee. Everyone was hugging and to my surprise lots of the girls were crying.

Holly and her friends Liza and Kinzee had so much fun together this year. Liza surprised all of us by letting us know that she will be going to the same Middle School as everyone else. She was going to be going to a private school but her parents changed their mind. Everyone was really happy.

Holly is pictured above with her friend Ben. This is another of her friends that she has had since Kindergarten. They are great friends to each other. This is something I love about the two of them. They have each others back.

Holly enjoyed her 5th Grade teacher. She has told me several times throughout the year that Mrs. Flora is great because she is a tough teacher. She cares that the kids learn and do well. Holly had a fabulous year. Her grades were wonderful. Her determination to acheive the best is something that I know will carry her far in life. Before leaving the school Holly wanted to stop by and say goodbye to some of her other teachers and staff members.


Holly loved her First Grade teacher Mrs. Flood. Mrs. Flood told her to come back and visit anytime she wanted. This made Holly's day.


Next we stopped by to see her Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Carranza. She promised to come by and visit and give her a hug as much as she can.

For our last stop we went by the office. We had to talk to Miss Gina. Miss Gina asked her to be sure to come by often. Holly promised to do so and to make a point of stopping by next year when it is time to sell Girl Scout Cookies.

We were very blessed during our years at this wonderful school. We will miss it dearly. We will miss our friends that we have made over the years even more. As for summer, it is here. We are looking forward to sleeping in and spending countless hours by the pool. :)