Last Day of School

I couldn't believe when I woke up today that it was going to be the end of my second practicum experience.  These past 6 weeks have flown by.  I have made some amazing friendships and learned so much!  I wish I could bring Colwill Primary School back to Utah with me.

Today was extra fun because our Harakiki team had a park clean up day!  We all walked to Moire park about ten minutes away from the school to help pick up rubbish.  This term all the classes are focusing their units around environment.  In class we have talked about how to make our school environment better and today we were helping make our community environment improved.    One the walk over Riana started bringing out a ton of different lollies that I hadn’t ever tried before.  She was so sweet and shared them with me on the walk over to the park!

This was on our walk

The Harakiki Team w/ Mrs. Chase giving directions

We got sweet as "car for our coast" bibs to wear as we pick up the rubbish haha

My sweet, tough year 7/8 boys!

After the cleanup we gave the students time for morning tea to eat their food and play on the playground.  During play time Riana and I decide to record some interviews on my camera :)

After we did our cleanup we had an hour of working on a writing project and then swim time.  The kids were begging me to come swim with them but it was a little bit cold.  Finally I decided to give in.  We played keep away girls vs. boys!  It so fun :)  I’m going to miss swim time during school.

The other teachers at the school were so sweet to bring treats and snacks to thank us for our work at Colwill.  At the end of the day we sat with teacher in the staff room eating the food and socializing.  Two of my boys, Zane and Henare, walked into the room.  They came right up to me and said “Good bye Ms. Bringhurst” and gave me a big hug!  This was huge because these 10 and 11 year old boys were never ones to be huggy and sentimental at all!    I was shocked and it almost made me cry.  I am going to miss my tough little boys.  It was fun to play softball, basketball, and swimming with them because it gave me a chance to really connect with some of them.  But this hug at the end was really big.

My students were so sweet in saying good bye.  I was overwhelmed with love notes, thank you notes, pictures, gifts, lollies, and hugs!  I couldn’t believe everything that they did for us.  Even random kids that I didn’t know were telling me how much they were going to me ha. 

I had a few presents in particular that really stood out to me.  The first was one of the funniest things that has happened to me at this school.  I went back to visit my year ¾ class and bring them a little treat for being such good students when I was in their classroom.  Of course all the little girls and drew me pictures and one of my little boys Ani even had a plastic “Winner” metal for me.  One of my students Moki, who is one of the cutest little boys I have ever seen, decided that he wanted to give me something as well.  He didn’t have much but he found a dollar coin in his pocket.  He preceded to hand it to me.  I told him no, no I can’t take your money.  You keep it!  But he was persistent and finally forced it into my hands.   Later that day school was over and I started heading towards the front of the school.  Christine and I were still surrounded by kids hanging off us and getting hugged by them.  Even Moki found me again and gave me a big hug.  Then he looked up at me and said “Ms. Can I have my dollar back now?” haha I laughed and handed the money right back.  It was so funny to see that he wanted to give me something so badly but he really did want to keep that dollar.  Haha gosh he is so cute!

I also had a sweet little Korean student named Min Gyeong.  She made me a beautiful card with pop out letters and she gave me a friendship key.  It matched a key that she had.  We put it onto our name tags we made at Tech together and she had me promise I would keep it forever.  I am going to miss her lots.  Even though it was hard to understand her because her English wasn’t very good, she was always happy to see me with a big hug every morning and afternoon!

Another one of my students, Szahn, pulled me aside in the morning.  She had gotten me a lotion pack and half of a crystal rock.  She said it was our friendship crystal because she has the other half that goes with it.  She said that as long as I keep it we will be friends :)

 Here is little Filipi- We've been friends since the very first day I came to school haha I'll never forget my little funny moments with him!

 Here is my whole room 18 students that are year 7/8 minus two kids that were absent today.  

 Here is Min Gyeong!  We are holding our friendship keys that are hooked onto our tags we made!  Excuse my stringy hair, I had just gotten out of the pool with my kids.  I did my best to try and keep my hair dry.  Gosh I am turning my mom.  Who tries to keep their hair dry when they are in the pool ha, Suzanne does :)

The last day we started to give out our email addresses so that we could try to keep in touch with some of our kids for a little while.  It will be so great if I can hear about graduations and other exciting events in their lives. We got the first email from Riana.  She is so sweet, it made me laugh and smile as I read it!  Here's the email!

Hi Awesome American Teachers,
 
Its Riana,
Im really going to miss you when you leave to go to Rotorua.
I hope you will never foget about me because il never forget yous.
You never growl and are so kind and pretty.
When you leave il have noone  to have as much fun with you guys.
My expeience with you people was so amazing your funny nice & taleneted.
Highlights.
Miss Bringhurst: Tech was so cool how Mr Parker had the hots for you,  your answer (HE WAS SO OLD !)xxx gonna miss you Heaps ! xxx :) 
Miss Wirthlin:Our funny times were so cool your so awesome and fun hope you've had fun with us gonna be sad to see you leave! xxxx :(
Miss Goode:You were cool at the NorthWest swimming thanks for the awesome compliment btw about my swimming skills ! xxxx :L you are so fun to hang out with
Miss Burnett:OMG what to say about you WOW ! you standout I thourght you were a NZ teacher for a second you stand out in the Colwill Crowd !xoxoxoxoxoxoxox :P 
WOW this is making me wanna cry typing this hahahaha but it was so cool to meet you im really gonna miss you out of the whole entire school you were my favourite student teachers still are but i dont know what to say i guess.Maybe just Bye and Il miss yous heaps .
Beyond the past few weeks ive learnt alot about you American people there are alot on different things about us but the same thing that we have in common is the passion and friendshop we have and I hope it will never end between us ! Thanx for being great friends with me! IM GONNA MISS YOU HEAPS ANDI LOVE YOU LIKE BIG SISTERS ! btw Miss Burnett i love the Taylor Swift shirt i wish i could have it your so lucky and i wish you the best for the future ! xxxx ! PLZ never forget about ME !!!!!!  xxxxxx xx xxx xx xxx xx xxx xxx ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Ever lasting kisses and hugs !

Today really was such a great day!  Tomorrow morning at 6am I am heading with the whole 16 group to the Hamilton Temple and then on to Rotorua!  I won't have my computer for the next few days on my trip so be patient with the blog posts.  I'll probably only make two or three more before I come home because of all the traveling!!!! I can't believe its coming to an end.


Oh and probably the very best part of my day today was getting to talk to my brother about his MISSION CALL to GUATEMALA RETALHULEU MISSION :)  I am so excited for him!  He is going to be an amazing missionary!  He is such an example to me.  I look up to him so much.  I really love my brother!  He leave's August 10th  so I'll get plenty of time to spend with him before he has to leave.