- end of an era - again -

Last year we had to say goodbye to Juffie Rieja, the pre-school-teacher who made me chose the Steiner School ten years ago for definite. We had been dabbling with the idea, but i was totally convinced when i spoke to Rieja for an hour, back then, and so the move to Holland was made that bit easier. All the kids were in her class for their first two years of school experience and - apart from Max, who found it a bit of a step back, having just started Reception Class in St. Leonards and now he had to play with blocks again - liked it lots there. Rieja has a sort of natural warmth and made every child (and i include myself in that) feel like they were just fine as they were. The farewell was very emotional, but we had another year to go and the teacher who replaced Saint Rieja had a bit of a way to go where finding her feet was concerned. Big shoes to fill, and all that... It didn't help that she kept coming back to help out and just won't retire.

But now Polly will move on to Year 1, the classroom will be annexed by the toddler-group and what used to be pre-school, will not be the place it used to be... Time to move on then.
This morning i spent an hour or so putting things from the class into boxes, dismantling corners and doing my own bit of letting go. It hasn't been the same since the other teacher went, and this whole year has felt like a slow process of moving on, so today will be the end of that.

To steal a poem i found on the Net somewhere...

Moving On

I am moving on
reaching toward my hopes and dreams
It has taken me far too long
to reach this place, it seems

My fears may try to hold me back
To try and block my way
But with courage and faith in my heart
I will get there come what may

The road will be a long one,
And it may be rocky, too
But when I reach this place in time,
My dreams could all shine through

I am coming nearer to my goals
And my excitement grows
The plans I have made will soon be real
Along with the destiny I chose

Though I have been tossed and turned in life's storms
I will surely see a brighter dawn
I'm no longer held back by my fears
I'm finally.... Moving On