Penaltimate Day

What a wonderfully settled industrious day the children had today. As if they know that from tomorrow things will be different...

But hey it's all good and the children are excited to be launching ahead towards new horizons, and hopefully Saara and I have done our jobs well.

It is sad, but also thrilling. I can't wait to hear all the news of their first school days and the exciting things that lay ahead.

Of course school isn't just about the schoolwork, of learning the rules, of following directions and instructions, of listening and taking in new facts... It too is about fun.. the fun of discovering a new friend, of working out a new teacher, of exploring new territory and beginning to break the secret codes of reading and writing and of being big and sometimes feeling small.

As I let my 'big children' go I hope that someone else will gather up these 'little ones' and nurture them and care for them as we have done here.

To all the children I thank you for your willingness to take up the many opportunities that we have set out for you. Thank you for teaching me things and for learning how to be tolerant and understanding.

Go, full steam ahead, and enjoy a life full of adventures and crammed with possibilities.