End of Year lunch - June 16

Every year, on the last day of school, teachers and staff at Jersey go out to lunch. For the past 3 years we have gone to BJ's in Downey, we get a buffet just for us, with all the pizzas we can eat, plus salads, fettuccine Alfredo and dessert. We had like 8 different kinds of pizza, and they kept coming! The drinks are also very good.
This year, because of my retirement, the lunch was mostly about me, again :) I got free drinks too which is always nice.

To begin with, our principal read a book about starting a new path...It's a children's book but it really applied to me and my retirement. I really couldn't hear too well but I know she was pretty emotional about it, wiping away tears as she was reading. She gave me the book at the end and a big hug.
The pizzas started coming, and as the guest of honor, I started the line. The food was very good and there were tons of it, I didn't care much for the fettuccine, but the salad and pizza was very good. We had a very good time.
I was given a scrapbook, and a yearbook. I passed it around so everybody could sign it. The scrapbook is really super nice with lots of pictures and a letter or a note from each teacher.

Janice put the scrapbook together and she gave a speech with memories and anecdotes about when she first met me (her oldest boy started Kindergarten on my first year at Jersey, but he was not in my classroom). She got emotional too, and since I couldn't really hear what she was saying and I was drinking my mojito, I remained dry eyed :). In the picture, Monica is showing the scrapbook to Sonia, the secretary.

The classified staff (cooks, supervisors, etc) got together and made me a cool apron, hand painted by one of the supervisors. It said "Wann in a Million" and had one kid pulling my shirt, and cartoonish drawings of all the staff, and they all signed their names. It was really nice!!!!

And here is my mojito and a slice of pizza.

When we all had finished eating and drinking, and before we left. I was presented with a card and a $100.00 bill, earlier on I also got a Nikon digital camera. I thanked everybody and just had time to take one last picture with my Kindergarten team :)

Norma, me, Jessica and Gloria

...And that's it for my retirement festivities....I also got a card from Mary and Dewey, and a couple of cards from some District friends.

It's been a great 26 years. I never thought of it as work, I didn't care much for all the meetings sand rules and regulations, but I enjoyed all my classes, and all the kids I have taught through the years. . I will miss the kids, the hugs from the kids, the teachers, the parents, the gifts, and the school....and, darn it! I finally got emotional writing this.................

Last day of school - June 15

gifts and cards from my students

#1 retiree


Last picture of my last class

Jennifer and Jessica cried all through the presentation

Miranda presented me with a beautiful bouquet of roses

At Jersey School, the school day begins with all the classes gathered outside and doing The Pledge of Allegiance together. This is also the time for some announcements from the Principal, etc. Usually the Kindergarten classes are not present, because we do the Pledge in our own classrooms.

Since I am not crazy about surprises, I had tricked my friend Jessica into telling me that they were planning on doing something with the whole school on my last day.

So, on the last day we got an announcement thru the intercom, saying that ALL classes should gather outside, including Kindergarten. Aha! no surprises for me!

After the Pledge of Allegiance, the principal gave a speech about what a special day it was, because Mrs. Wann was retiring after 26 years teaching Kindergarten and Jersey School wouldn't be the same without me etc. Shje presented me with a rosette that said #1 retiree, and with a facsimile of a plaque that will be placed above the kindergarten playground water fountain, celebrating my 26 years as a Kindergarten teacher. Then all the Kindergarten children started singing a song (which I learned in Idaho) called Skidamarink , some of the kids in other grades knew the song too and sang along, also some of the teachers...the song ended with all the kids pointing at me and saying I love you.

When we went back to our classrooms, my room mother had set up a display of presents the kids had given me, and I got a little emotional reading all the cards I got. When it was time to go home, I gave the children their Kindergarten diplomas and hugged every kid of my very last Kindergarten class. ............Adios!

My Retirement Dinner

Pineapple coconut Margarita

My long time aide and some teachers. Jessica and I have worked together for 25 years!

Giving some kind of speech lol

Monday, June 6, at El Cholo.

We had decided it would be only for Jersey School, even though some of my old principals, and other teachers friends had asked about having a dinner for me, I preferred just to be with the Jersey bunch.

Marvin and I got at the restaurant and most everybody was already there. My friend Jennifer couldn't make it because she was out of State, in Washington, but most of the teachers and other staff were there.

I have to say I had pretty much fun. As a surprise, they invited my aide Martha Flores. She had worked with me in kinder for about 12 years, she had retired 11 years ago, so it had been a long time since we had seen each other, she looked exactly the same! :)

We took a lot of pictures and there was a lot of drinking and much laughter (many people told me they had not laugh as much for a long time). I didn't get any gifts because they were not ready lol, but they bought me several drinks,of course Margaritas, and pina coladas.

We all had dinner there, a taco and salad buffet, and of course another big cake from Porto's!

I was glad that Marvin could make it, I think he had a good time too :)

End of school year picnic, Friday June 10

After the retirement Tea, and the dinner at El Cholo, the next thing was the Kindergarten picnic. The 5 kindergarten classes invited all parents to the picnic, we the teachers got pizza, chips and drinks for the kids, the parents each brought potluck to share.

We had of course lots of parents, and all the kids, the swimming pool was open and all children that brought swimwear got into the (kids) pool. It was a typical June day, so it was rather cool in the morning and overcast, but by the time they got into the pool the sun was shining.

After the pool, it was lunch time and we all had plenty to eat. Many different kinds of salad, green, macaroni, crab, potato, pasta etc. Also fried chicken, tamales, all kinds of chips and side dishes too. And of course, desserts: fruit, cheesecake, cupcakes etc.

Our principal and her husband were there too, as parents of a kindergarten kid.

Towards the end, the brother of one of the kids came out to perform some magic tricks. All the kids sat down and were amazed by the (very simple) tricks.

Afterwards, the principal asked all the parents to come around and told them about my retirement. Most everybody knew already, but it still got applause. Then my room mother came to me and gave me a hug and made a little speech about how glad they were that I was their children's teacher on my last year, she then gave me a huge framed picture of me and my class, and all the children had signed their names. I was also given a beautiful cake.

I said thank you and that's about it, Monica and my co teachers were laughing because they knew I don't like to make speeches at those times. But all in all, it was very nice :)

Fireworks and My June Book List :)

My school district is trying to raise funds by selling fireworks, they did it last year and it went very well. Schools take turns having people come to sell the fireworks. Today was Jersey and Cresson's turn. I didn't go last year but I volunteered this year, from 1PM to 4PM. The fireworks stand (a big one) was right in front of the school district office.
When i got there, the teachers working the 11-1 shift were getting ready to leave. I worked with Becky, Jessica and Carmen. The principal of Cresson was there too (I had her son in my Kinder a while back and she's a good friend). There are two big mulberry trees in front of the office, so we had chairs and sat in the shade, when we saw people coming we would get up and sell fireworks. It was pretty fun, even one of my kinder kids came with his family (Julio!) I sold about $300 worth, there was not a lot of people coming, the next 2 days will be a lot more. But still we made quite a bit of money, rather the District did!
Our principal Monica came too and she brought us lunch (chicken tacos), then later we were going to play Scrabble, but I left at 4:30.
All in all it was pretty fun!!!

JUNE

Elizabeth Adler – It All began in Monte Carlo
James Patterson – Cross Fire
Kim Gruenenfelder - There's Cake in My Future
J. Kaufman K. Mack – Literacy and Longing in L.A.
Liza Palmer – Conversations with the fat girl
Sarah-Kate Linch – Dolci di love
Jane Green – Promises to keep