The days before, I had been planning and supervising a school wide assembly for my assistant. She was retiring this year after 17 years of dedicated and devoted service, and as I said in my introduction, a beloved member of the community. Planning began mid May and presented during a faculty meeting. It would be simple: artwork, creative work, poems and essays would be sent to me the day before; I would hang it up along the school entrance hallway from the offices. An assembly in the Church, introduction by me, testimonials from a student rep from each grade, presentation of award by the principal, then a song by the Honors Chorus. No practice at all, just a bunch of furtive memos sent around the school.

Whew! Try keeping an event this large a secret! I delayed my class creative works until the two days before, taking small groups next door, as if I was still doing reading groups. Same lesson: What’s a surprise? Different, yet similar responses: something that makes you really happy, a gift, a present, something you don’t know … What’s a secret? Something you whisper to somebody, something quiet, you don’t tell anybody about. Well, it’ll be a secret from our assistant, so we don’t tell her; we can talk to the other teachers and kids, then surprise her on Wednesday! Spent the Tuesday afternoon and evening decorating the school entrance hallway. Then hung out in the school office early in the morning the next day just so I can catch her expression as she came in. The Pre-K teachers stayed with me, and then the lunch ladies jumped into the school and said, “She’s coming!” Oh, the surprise on her face!

Later in the morning, my principal comes in to inform us that the Pre-K and K should come in early to the church for seating. Two days before, I told my assistant there was a school wide assembly for the end of the year, and for once the early childhood floor was invited. I was kind of afraid she would take a day off, and I wanted to be sure she’d be in. When she entered the church, she still had no idea what it was about, until she saw her daughter. We invited her for her mom’s special day. It was definitely a wonderful day for everybody!

Thank heavens for cell phone calendars that beep. I had nearly forgotten that my youngest son had a St Paul the Apostle School graduate dinner and dance that evening. I got home in time to pick up my son who was dressing up for the affair. He had chosen a tie and jacket. I really didn’t know much about the restaurant and the event that would be happening, so I didn’t change my clothes. I was dressed for Church anyway.

Oh boy! It was a prom! The girls were all coiffed and in pretty dresses. The boys were dressed with ties and jackets. Each student had to bring a parent, so all the kids had an adult with them. I told one of the moms there, if I hadn’t been in church today for an assembly, I might have gone to this dinner in jeans and a GAP shirt. Of course the $45 per person fee should’ve tipped me off that it was going to be a fine dining experience. http://www.antunsofwestchester.com/

The mom I was with that evening was the mother of one of one of my youngest one’s friends from St. Denis School. We ordered the steak, and then we noticed there was a bar. I thought it was an open bar, but nope, cash bar. What goes with steak? I said, usually a red wine, but I don’t feel like a wine right now. Remember the day I had? A headache was hovering around me. Are you thinking what I’m thinking? A beer? Sounds good to me! The steak was not the large thick slab of meat I imagined that would go with my beer, but a filet mignon. Still, it was good.

At our table, I had the chance to talk to the parents of St. Denis School; I hadn’t seen them in awhile. Our boys passed by our table at one point and asked to take a bite off our plates. They had ordered the chicken parmigiana. In a synchronized move they took a bite, and then reached for our beers. At the same moment, we slapped their wrists and told them to go away. According to my son, they were just kidding around. *bleah*

Food and then music, the girls danced with their Dads and the boys danced with their Moms. I guess they are still young, or maybe because there were parents around, they really didn’t dance with each other. It was just one big group. A few more pictures, some tears, especially from the girls that had been together for several years in that school.

The end is near … Graduation would be in two days