A tribute to Woodway Elementary

 This week wraps up a huge chapter in our lives.  Here are my thoughts on our time at Woodway Elementary.

 Nearly 9 years ago, we started our adventure into the school years.  Matthew, dear sweet Matthew, was ready for kindergarten at around age 3.  And while we live in a world where so many parents hold their kids back to be the oldest students in their class, I believe we would have redshirted Matthew into kindergarten if we could have!  He was so excited to begin the adventure.  In fact, I clearly remember me stopping to talk to a friend on the way to class on his first day, and Matthew exclaiming to me in his manliest 5 year old voice, "Hurry up, Mom!  I have business to get to!"  Not only was Matthew excited, but I was as well! You see, as much as I loved my baby years with the kids, I had always felt like I was born to be an elementary school mom.  I couldn't wait to get started!

I absolutely loved our time at Woodway.  It was such a sweet place for my kids to go from babies to serious students.  I will never forget the day that Thomas came home in 2nd grade to tell me that Mrs. Mosley "changed his life" by introducing him to Mark Twain!  He went from having an average interest in books to being a voracious reader who was a finalist in the Name That Book competition in 6th grade this year!

And when Bryon and I were deciding whether our summer birthday Mary Beth should start school or wait, we remembered that she had been a regular at Woodway since she was a baby.  All the teachers knew her, and the wonderful office staff would give her a visitor badge that matched her outfit in her preschool years!  She was so at home there that we couldn't imagine waiting another year to send her!

The week before school started this year, on the day that the kids found out their teachers, I had many teachers from the past contact me to see who Mary Beth had gotten for a 4th grade teacher.  It really struck me how invested these teachers were in our lives even after the school year that they had my kids.

So this week, as we walk out of Woodway for the last time, I leave with a sense of gratitude.  Not only for the loving environment that my kids learned in, but for the friendships I've made.  And it's definitely time.  For while I always felt like I was born to be an elementary school mom, I'm kind of excited about being a high school mom in the fall as well!

God bless you, Woodway Elementary, and all the teachers, parents, students, and staff that enriched our lives!