My final week was a tad hectic, to say the least. Lesson-wise, there were loose ends to tie up to ensure as smooth a transition for the students as possible plus final grades to input and progress reports to distribute. I also worked with PAVE, the 'alternative' classroom, and the PE department to inject some British culture into NHS and spent some time in the middle school, observing and setting up links for online collaboration and, potentially, future student exchanges.
On my final day, I was treated to no less than two surprise parties from my students! My AP class brought in an array of goodies and drinks, wrote 'Thank You' on the board and presented me with striped socks and a fab pair of slipper boots, plus the loveliest card in the history of ever. Several of the students had baked their own goodies - all of which were delicious. My Honors Period 6 class had organised their party for me on Facebook! They too brought in a table full of goodies, including a chocolate brownie cake iced with 'We'll Miss You Miss Sheppard' (which, as it turned out, proved to be of great interest to the sniffer dogs patrolling the school that morning as part of a scheduled lock down!) and presented me with a fab card. Even my College Prep students showed their appreciation - one student even sang me a song he'd 'written'(!). I was surprised and touched by these gestures; I will miss each and every one of my classes and they remain far and above the best thing to come out of this exhange for me.
At close of play, I was ushered into a colleague's room to find two huge cakes and most of the faculty. The Principal presented me with a card from the faculty and a certificate deeming me to be a 'RAM', plus a voucher for a 2009/10 yearbook (they're around $60 to buy). He told the faculty that I will always have a home at NHS, which meant an awful lot. He then asked me to make a speech, which I fumbled through (I never know what to say and hate being the centre of attention!). I also received gifts and cards from individual colleagues, a plethora of hugs and many, many compliments: guidance told me they'd not received one complaint or request to switch out of my class (which is apparently unusual) and that the students love me and many other colleagues reaffirmed the latter, saying what a smooth semester it has been with me here. In dark moments, I will think of those comments and they'll help me to smile again.
Leaving NHS for the final time was an emotional moment, all-in-all.
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