Jillian's Spring

My girl has completed her time at yet another school. How is that even possible? I cannot answer that. She finished her career at the Intermediate School in grand fashion.

On Wednesday, we attended the 5th grade awards assembly. Here she is waiting patiently for it to begin.

She, along with many others, got the Presidential award for grades and test scores.

 She was also given the art award and a "leadership" award that was given by her teacher. It is something of a "Best All Around" award.  I was most pleased with that one because the teachers look - not just at academics - but in how they treat others and behave in class.

Mama may have parked herself in the middle of the aisle so that I could get some pictures.  But it made for some great photos of my girl.

Jillian got an award for reading 4 million words, but by Friday, she had read 5 million.  The assistant principal said some very nice things about her that I wish I had recorded. In her time at the school, Jillian read over 13 million words. She will have her name on a plaque twice commemorating her two 5 million word years.  I struggle with this some because I don't want her to read because of awards but because she loves it. She has put my fears to rest as she has picked up another book and read quite a bit of it since Friday - without any hope of recognition because of it.

And they promoted her to the 6th grade! I am not loving it but I know it is what it is. This is what we have worked for, but she will be in a new school, with new teachers, and she will change dramatically in the next 3 years. I. am. not. ready.

I always like to get pictures with her teachers.  This year she had some of the very best. Jillian has had some crazy years. 3 of her 6 years she has had some sort of teacher transition, but this year everyone was present and accounted for the entire year. She just thrived under this teachers, and I am grateful that she got to experience them.

This is the librarian (below). As Jillian loves to read, they have seen a whole lot of each other over the last 3 years.

And these are her art and music teachers. She has also been with them all 3 years and just loved both of the them.  Mr. Farris is the one who awarded her the art award.  She will miss both of these two.

But the winner, winner of them all is this lady right here - Mrs. Miller. She was Jillian's homeroom teacher. And they just loved each other. Mrs. Miller got teary eyed talking about Jillian on Friday. She just kept saying that Jillian was a special one. She was so kind, enthusiastic, and a little crazy. The kids just love her.

They do a track day every year at the end of the year. And every year Jillian participates. And every year she is mad that she didn't do well.  This year she finished first in her heat and then got 5th in the heat winners race.

We have achieved another milestone in her educational career as we make another move to another school. She has completed this one with great success, and she is very excited about the next adventure. She will be playing percussion in the band and taking pre-AP classes. She thinks she is ready; I know I am not. At least I have the summer to get that way.