Zai Jian, Pre-K!

Good-Bye Pre-K....

Today was my last day of teaching Pre-Kindergarten at the school I have been in for the past 4 years. It was very bittersweet--so many memories and wonderful times. This year was a spectacular one for the Pre-K 2010-2011 class. We laughed, loved, and learned more in the past 9 months than I had originally anticipated! And we had a blast along the way :)  Each student I have taught over the past 5 years (one in NYC) has left their mark in my life. I plan on visiting the school when I come back for Christmas!

My co-teacher has been an immense blessing in my life as well..."Miss" Donna, there is just no one like you! We balanced each other's strengths and weaknesses very well and had a unique working relationship that I am so honored to have been a part of. She is so passionate about Pre-K and it shows! She has been a pivotal mentor, role model, and friend in my life. Thanks for everything "Miss Donna"!

Some Pre-K Highlights:

(very hard to choose...my kids wear uniforms, so to protect everyone's privacy, I had to choose pictures where their "uniform patches" did not show and some kids just don't like having their picture taken!)

our last naptime..we watched a movie as a treat! 

celebrating summer birthdays!

we love music!

Wacky Wednesday for "W"!

Wild Wild West Day! Yee-Haw! 

science area explorations :) 

what fun is drawing without a friend??

3 cheers for Pre-K! 

Line up!

sweet smiles

Miss Donna and Me with our "Super-Dupers!"

This has been so much more than a "job" to me. It is something I looked forward to every morning. Yes, getting up at an ungodly hour is not always fun, but it has it's perks...like when at 7:40 you are greeted with "Good Morning, Miss Catherine!" by 24 smiling students. I love this age--where hugs and giggles are endless and they learn new skills s.o. f.a.s.t. which is incredible to witness! Kids seem to be unstoppable at this age like: watch out world, here I come! I was so fortunate to be in a "family" type of environment, surrounded by wonderful parents, students, and a staff that will continue to support me in prayer from afar, and I will be supporting them, too. Just in a much different way! I truly feel that our school is unique and I will greatly miss having it as a part of my daily life. Thank you to all members of the school for your many blessings I have received from each and every one of you! 

While I will miss teaching in this environment and program, I am looking forward to a change. I really feel like it is my time to go and to move on. The Pre-K will always be there if I want to come back (and if they will have me!). China has been on my heart and in my mind for quite some time now and I am trusting in God to do His work through me as I take this leap of faith...and I am really excited!

"Look to the Lord and His strength, seek His face always!"

Psalm 105:4

Just Pictures

As if "Miss Catherine Day" wasn't enough, 4 levels at my school (the ones I have taught) came together and bought me a brand new camera! I have been dying for a nice, new one to take with me to China, but just couldn't bring myself to make the purchase. I am so so so grateful for this incredible gift!

So, once I figured out how to use it, I was able to take some wonderful shots of my class today!

My co-teacher even took a whack at photography! She was scared at first to even touch the camera :) We have 24 students, and some don't like to have their picture taken, but we took over 120 photos just today! Thanks again for this incredible gift!!!!

"Miss Catherine" Day

(that title sounds super-egotistical doesn't it?)

I am BLESSED. BLESSED beyond words.

God has poured out so many blessings upon me and my life over the past 27 years, but I have been especially aware of them the past few weeks.

I work in an incredible school. The people are wonderful--the staff, parents, and students. It is what makes the school so special. Everyone supports each other in prayer and encouragement. I truly love my job and all it has taught me these past 4 years.

My co-teacher, Miss Donna (who is awesome), told me she wanted to get the class/school/staff involved in helping me fundraise. I politely declined :) She asked me a few more times what they could all do to help and I caved, knowing that this is something I prayed about and that God really wanted me to raise support to bring glory to His name....and to teach me some very important life lessons.

And boom..."Miss Catherine Day" was formed from the genius minds of Mr. S, Miss Elizabeth and Miss Donna.

Today, the entire student school was given an option to come dressed out of uniform if they made a contribution to my China fund. Not only that, my school matched that amount as a gift to me.

Are you floored yet? Because you should be. This is pretty amazing.

And yes, I was completely and utterly overwhelmed by everyone's kindness and generosity.
I feel so unworthy and undeserving of it.
I will forever be grateful for all ya'll have done for me.

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" 2 Cor. 9:15

Some of my precious Pre-K class! 

To all the members of the S*B*A* family: THANK YOU. THANK YOU. Since I have no words to say exactly how humbled, honored, and grateful I am, I will say it again and again, though it will never seem like enough: THANK YOU! May the Lord greatly bless each and every one of you for what you have done in His name!  xoxo, "Miss" Catherine

Though this day was called "Miss Catherine Day" all the glory goes to our Father above. In no way, shape, or form do I think I am a saint or some incredible person because I am moving to China. I am going because I am CALLED by the One who had this in His plan far before I was even born. It is not about me, it's all about HIM. I will look back on this day and thank my dear God for showing Himself to me through your outpouring of love!

"I thank my God every time I remember you" Philippians 1:3

Sweetheart made a shirt for this day--complete
with my name and picture drawn on it :) 

Thank you again from the bottom of my grateful heart.

A crazy, full week

This week was a busy one! It is the biggest week of the year for the Pre-K class because we celebrate finishing all the letters the alphabet by inviting the parents to the cutest-prek-program-in-town! The class did great and I was so proud of them for getting on stage to sing and dance their hearts out. We practiced so hard and I turned into my full on STAGE MOM mode :) We strive for our own version of perfection here...haha!

My students wear a uniform, so today we were excited to dress up! 

And because people don't think my co-teacher and I are crazy enough....that night (our program was in the morning followed by a regular school day) we hosted our 24 students for a pizza and pajama movie night as a fundraiser for the school! A 3-hour party that was definitely a party! A child even said, "This movie is so funny, it just kills me!".

Comfy and Cozy to watch our first movie...

After 7pm your teacher turns into a jungle gym :) 

please notice the child on my back...haha! 

(add to that other "wild" events such as a very large spider incident, a completely mixed up schedule, hours and hours of rain and tornado warnings, the end of school wrap-ups, and of course loads of fun!) 

Whew. I am tired just typing that out.

Not just physically, but emotionally too.

When my kids sang "Praise Him, Praise Him" at our program:
Well, I could have just melted right then and there. 

It is down to the wire...that is, me leaving for China. 

I am SUPER SUPER SUPER excited to go and I CANNOT WAIT to hug, hold, and cuddle those kids again. Thinking about it certainly makes me giddy! 

But at the same time, I am so sad to leave.... God is calling me and I know I must go. I think the hardest part is the anticipation of moving. The packing up, telling my replacement all about my job, doing "the little things" one.last.time, and on it goes. I find myself wanting to squeeze in one last game of CandyLand, a few more pushes on the swing, another science experiment, reading a class-favorite book again and again, and sweet conversations (especially the hilarious ones about China). It's no secret that I love teaching and am incredibly proud of the program my co-teacher and I built. I don't want to focus on "the lasts" but instead, anticipate all the exciting "firsts" I will experience--in a brand new country I might add.... so here's to savoring every last minute of Pre-K!!! sniff sniff....