Touristy Sights in Freeport :o)

The best part of being on vacation in the Bahamas was being a tourist! I thouroughly enjoyed sight seeing while sitting on a boat with a drink in my hand! I also enjoyed swimming with doplhins, snorkeling in the coral reefs, riding a banana boat, driving a boat, and seeing a limbo show while on a booze cruise. The activities and sights in the Bahamas definitely made the trip memorable ... and I truly wish I could have seen and done more during my stay in the Bahamas.

R and I on a Banana Boat 

The Hotel next to our Condo

Enjoying the Waves on the Boat

dolphins that were used for dolphin shows

snorkeling in the reefs!

largest starfish ever! 

Cannes Road ... Freeport, Bahamas

For one week, this is where I stayed in Freeport, Bahamas. Every morning, I woke up to crystal clear blue skies, a fantastic pool and a beautiful beach. This gave a whole new meaning to the words vacation and paradise.

First Year of Teaching .... Done!

What a crazy ride my life has been. I feel like I NEVER have time to write anymore ... and when I do, I am too tired to put my thoughts down on paper. So much has happened lately that I am not even sure where to begin in regards to updating you all on my life.

On June 16th, school ended and I could proudly say that I had just finished my first year of teaching! It is CRAZY to think my first year has gone by so fast! It is even crazier to think about the successes and challenges I have accomplished, endured and overcome throughout the course of this year. It was incredibly hard saying good bye to my students. I cried and cried and cried. I cannot believe not only that I have to say goodbye to my little angels, but that I will not be in the same building with them next year to check up on their progress.

It was an INCREDIBLE experience working with these little ones. I had the good fortune of teaching ten students over the course of this past year with a variety of strengths and weaknesses. Each of my students had a disability that kept them from being able to participate fully in the general education classrooms. All of my students were one if not more grade levels below in reading, writing and mathematics. In addition, several of my students had some severe behaviors that kept them from being able to participate even in our self-contained special education classroom. Regardless, I laughed, cried and grew with this group of students. Not every moment was great ... I had my fair share of challenges, but I would not change a thing looking back on it all. These little ones have touched my life FOREVER and I owe everything that I learned and accomplished within my first year to each and every one of them. I will carry the memory of them with me forever. My only hope is that everyone they encounter loves them at least half as much if not more than I loved them <3

A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove ... but the world maybe different because I was important in the life of a child.

As We Go On ...

I have been an extremely busy gal as I have been closing out my first year of teaching! Last week was the last full week of school, and there were many reading and math assessments to administer/complete. I had to begin packing up my classroom, as I will not be a teacher at this same school next year. I had the opportunity to attend a happy hour with the new teachers I will be working with at a new school; and I dined with several college girlfriends on the other respective nights. I got drinks with high school friends on Friday and attended one of my college girlfriends bridal showers yesterday. I also finally signed the lease for my new condo! Wow ... all I can say is I have truly been a busy girl.

Here are some photo memories of the past couple of days:

Three of our coworkers threw us a beautiful good-bye party. The cake pictured above shows the six teachers who lost jobs at our current school. We represent some of the youngest, most enthusiastic and dedicated teachers at our current school.

We even received parting gifts! Thank you Shannel and Allyson for this event <3

My favorite WM teachers and friends! We are taking a week vacation to the bahamas this Friday to enjoy one last hoorah together ... considering none of us will be working at the same schools next year.

Last Thursday, our students threw us a surprise going away party! 

I will truly miss teaching at WM and being a member of their staff. More importantly, I will miss my students and all of the wonderful people I have become friends with. What an ending to a crazy first year of teaching!

Beginning to pack up my life ... my classroom ... my first year of teaching :(

This is A LOT of work!

We have exactly 3 and a 1/2 days of school left! The countdown begins now! I am heading into work today to continue packing up my classroom. I have finished my report card comments ... and I will do grades tomorrow. I am finished with all of my IEP meetings ... yaaahoooo! Thursday we have a staff lunch at Guapos after we put the kids on the bus for summer vacation :o) Friday morning at 9:00am I will be on a plane headed to the Bahamas with the girls pictured above! I cannot believe this year went by SOOO fast and that my first year of teaching is officially completed. It has come to an end. I am no longer a rookie rookie ... just a rookie. I have grown so much as a teacher and as a person. I am incredibly thankful for this year and I cannot wait to see what new memories and experiences next year will hold!