Last Day of School.......

                                         New Beginnings........

Wednesday was the last day of school and graduation.  Last???  The first day of school will come again in September. For the graduates it will be the first day of high school, and the first day at a new school. The last day will come again........and the first.........and......... For me, I'm not sure what it means to be retired.  It makes more sense to think of it as new beginnings. At the moment I'm only thinking of the kids, the classroom, the school, the community I have known and loved for the past eight years.  I will miss the children - I know I will!  I will visit, though!  An that is all I can think about for the moment.

I would like to thank you for your generosity, your care, and your kindness.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything.  I wish you well!  I wish the children well! I wish the school well! I wish everyone joy and peace!

Jennifer, the blog is now officially yours! I hand all to you with great care and love. You are amazing in every way.  I wish you well! I wish you joy!

The photo album with the children's writing is so precious, so lovingly put together.  It's a treasure I will keep for ever.
Thank you everyone!
Thank you Martha!

The children loved to see the pictures and hear what everyone wrote.

It was a fun morning!  There were mixed emotions, but we made sure to laugh a lot!

The children made a book for me in Art class, with Susie.  Another treasure I will keep for ever.
Thank you!

Thank you to the Marcy family for creating a peaceful spot in the woods of Parker.  I just love it!
I'll be sure to meditate at this beautiful spot.
It makes me particularly happy to know that this peaceful spot will
 remind the children to go
"in their silence"

Teaching children to be happy, kind, emotionally strong, confident, and peaceful
has been at the core of all my teachings.

Here is an invocation for the children of the future written by Angeles Arrien

and taken from the book:  Building Emotional Intelligence by Linda Lantieri

(The teachers at Parker will be reading this book over the summer)

Invocation for the Children

May you be powerfully loving and lovingly powerful;

may you always have love be your guide with family,

friends, and colleagues. Remember to listen carefully

to your own heart and to the hearts of others.

May you have the courage to always follow your

dreams. Take an action every day to support your life

dream, your love of nature, and your integrity.

May you have the strength to overcome fear and pride, and

instead follow what has heart and meaning for you.

May you be guardians of truth, beauty, creativity, and laughter.

May you protect, preserve, and care for nature and the wilderness.

May you show respect to people of all ages and races,

and help all living things keep their dignity.

May you help to make a better world for the poor, the

sick, the elderly, and the young by being active,

committed, and positive force in your community.

May you value and maintain your health and 

the health and well-being of others.

May you respect all the ways human beings access their

spirituality.

May you help create a global community

committed to peace and nonviolence.

May you keep learning; ask questions, explore, discover,

and always maintain curiosity and hope.

My you honor and respect diversity and the beauty

and magic that occur when differences join to create

something far greater than one can imagine.

May you bring your gifts and talents forward every

day without hesitation or reservation.

May you honor your ancestors and all those who

have gone before you, for they have paved the way

for you to do what you are here to do.

I wish everyone peace!

Liliana