We are about to begin our third week of the new school year. I’m about to begin the third week of my 26th year in education. It should be 27, but I took a year and worked for a non-profit.
I think back to my elementary school days. I LOVED school! I could not wait to get back in September. We would go for a few days and then have a weekend. I always hated that first weekend because I would rather have been in school instead of at our lake cabin. I know… our lake cabin! Hmmmm… school or a lake cabin? If only I could have that choice now!
This year I began the school year a bit tired and not as excited as usual. Feeling a bit bummed by this, I decided to take my camera to school the second day and photograph what elementary school is all about! It helped me evoke some strong memories of why I love school so much! It helped me get back to what is really important… kids! Oh, and crayons, felt pens, colored pencils, Number 2 pencils, books, glue… the list goes on!
So, here is a little photo journey of a day in an elementary school.
Do any of these photographs evoke memories for you? What do you remember? What was special about the start of elementary school?
pencil boxes… new crayons… colored notebook paper… pee-chee’s… “school shoes”… lunch box (I never had one – I always ate lunch at home – joy of living kitty corner from the school)… freshly taped name tag… spearmint paste… tempra paint… meeting new friends…reconnecting with the old… new school clothes… sleepless night before the first day… your first day of HW… new teacher… your desk…
I would love to hear about the memories you have from elementary school. I hope you will share!
Today I’m reliving a few old memories to fuel my desire to create some new ones… even though I’m much older! Sometimes things get old and mundane because we forget from whence we came! My goal this week is to try to look at my school and my job through eyes of wonder and excitement that I had 40+ years ago!
Thoughts and Reflections on Life 
I walked by your house everyday on my way to Indian Trail! I remember making butter in a jar, growing a bean in a cup, phonics table, the portables, learning cursive, library,state reports, learning to dance to little brown jug, family style lunch, playing on the bars,the bike rodeo, the carnival, picnic on the last day of school, All of my teachers! Thanks Jenny for teaching the kids!
Renea, I love your memories! I’m smiling in my heart right now! I loved the Bike Rodeo!!! Do you remember the Science/Educational Fair? I never contributed science, but always some kind of art! Remember Miss Tully? Last day of school…”Never forget your saf-e-ty rules!!!” I have such wonderful memories of Indian Trail and you are a part of them…thank you!!!