Class of 2008

It is not yet Friday but here is the photo I have been wanting for Foto Friday and I finally found it . .

Why? Well I have been thinking about these kids lately. You see I was their teacher when they were 5th graders and now seven years later, they are seniors. I can not believe it and wonder where they are now? Can you tell who were the class clowns? See the girl in the middle with the jersey 79? She is that tall in 5th grade . . . she was taller and bigger than me. If you walked into the classroom you would have thought she was the teacher but nope she was the student. I can even remember their names but two . . . I just can't remember exactly how they are spelled . . . no, I did not have them written down . . .
sitting on floor: Heidi, Louis, Stephanie, Remington
next row: Alisha,Kaylee,David,Connie,Kyrie,Philip
next: Alina,Kennith,Santay,Quanessa,Alfredo, Zachary,Kelly
top: me,Corey,Quadasia,Dominique,Rebecca,Ryan,Terry

Yep, all military brats. Terry (top right corner) lost his father in Iraq. Terry's mom used to make the best Korean food and bring it to me . . . I loved how thoughtful Korean moms were. I wonder if any of them had life changing events in their young lives . . . anyone drop out of school . . . maybe in prison . . . I just wonder how they turned out. It was a fun year and a huge year since it was my first year as the 'real teacher' . . . no sharing with a sub or anyone else. They were my first official real class that started the year with me and finished with me. Let me tell you there were a few boys that almost drove me crazy; really crazy but they were just boys. Oh crap, I hope my boy doesn't act like some of them but I know he might. I wonder who is headed to college and where . . . there were some smart kids and some not so smart kids in the class . . . some had a harder life than others . . . how Julie (not pictured) is doing since she moved in mid-year but joined us in Paris . . . and some were just blessed with amazing parents.

I have had a couple . . . okay exactly two . . . of my former students leave comments on the blog and it really warms my heart to know how they are doing. I miss having such a diverse group of students that a military school overseas always provided.

So here is to them as they begin their last month of high school . . . if you find this, please email me and let me know how you are doing. I know I wasn't always the best or nicest teacher but I truly did care for each and everyone of them . . . I hope they understand that my goal was to make sure they learned.

And how we ended the school year . . . in Paris . . . oh how I wonder if they realize how amazingly lucky they were to experience a week in Paris at such an early age? Heck I was in my late 20s and I was so overcome with the wow factor . . .