Over the last three months we have missed our preschool children dearly! We always cherish the closing months of the school year, mostly outside amidst the warm spring air and blossoms, soaking up every moment of being together. It is a time of joy, layered with some sadness, as we bid farewell to children heading off to kindergarten. It is a time of reflection, and of savouring our relationships and teaching. Although we were not physically together these past few months, we still did that other work- the thinking about our year and the feeling about our year.

Last Wednesday’s End of Year Celebration was indeed a very different ending to our school year than years past. Knowing we could not create our typical party-like large gathering, we remained committed to providing some kind of special closure to our year – an event with lots of positive energy that children and families would remember.

We are so proud of our amazing team for launching into this creative day- thank you Shantelle, Katharina, Tricia, Berta and Chloe! We also feel very honoured to have Lesley and Barry with us, our committed and long standing volunteers. Thank you also to Scott and Derrick for their support in planning and talking through the many logistic details with us.  And we were so happy to have Misuzu and Heidi joining us for the day! The Thompson Board recognized their many contributions to TNNS with  lovely gifts: each received an original watercolour, painted by Alana Hansen, of their own favourite place within Terra Nova Rural Park.

Here are just a few images of us prepping for the day; there are so many more images held warmly in our memories.

It is with big hearts that we bid this school year farewell. We are honoured to have guided your children through their learning, and hope we have offered them a sense of wonder, curiosity, love, and joy that will be carried forward into their future.

With appreciation, love and gratitude,

Emily & Kate