As our school year is truly coming to an end, we are making all the final touches to our portfolios. They are all so excited to see everything they have worked on and saved for the past school year. It really is a very big book, and it is just a fraction of what they have worked on this year. It puts in perspective how hard they have worked and how much they have grown. For creative writing, we did our final writing entry. The prompt was… In TK, I loved to… We got so many great responses. Everyone knew their answer right away and they were excited to put it on paper. For literature, we read A House for Hermit Crab, by Eric Carle. This book lines up with our ocean theme and it is a classic book for this age. However, as we come to the end of the school year.... the end of preschool.... we made a more personal connection. As the children saw that the hermit crab was happy in his small shell and he made a comfortable home with his friends, after a year, he grew too big for that shell and he had to leave it behind. As he gave his happy home away to a smaller crab, he was excited and ready to set out for a bigger home because he knew he was ready. We talked about how we are getting ready to do the same thing as we move over to the big school and enter kindergarten. We have spent this past year growing, learning, making friends, and doing great work to prepare for our next exciting step. And when we make that step, we will be ready. When the story ended, the children were surprisingly quiet, and I got a few extra hugs. The children wanted to make a story connection, and I just happened to have one for them to do. They enjoyed making their own little house for Hermit with all his little friends around him. One of the classroom’s favorite books this year was Pretzel, by Margret Rey and H.A. Rey (1944). They loved it so much, they wanted to make their own Pretzel. They got to color and cut out Pretzel, which is two pages long, and then they got to find all the letters to spell out the title. Some friends wanted to write the title on their own. And a few children wanted to add Greta, the other character in the book. It was so cute to see how much they loved the book. Along with getting ready for our performance, making our background for the stage, and putting together something special for Father’s Day, we have stayed busy till the very end. I wouldn’t want it any other way. Have a wonderful weekend, As we come to the close of a joyful and memorable school year, I want to take a moment to celebrate your children's incredible growth and accomplishments. Over the past months, I’ve had the privilege of watching your little ones bloom — not just in size, but in spirit. It’s truly remarkable how much they’ve grown physically, with stronger bodies, more coordination, and more energy! But what stands out most is how much they’ve grown emotionally. They’ve learned to share, take turns, express their feelings, and build friendships that make our classroom feel like a second home. One of the highlights of our year was watching them prepare for and proudly perform at our class presentations. They practiced with dedication, supported one another with kindness, and lit up with joy when it was their time to shine. Their excitement and pride were truly heartwarming to see! It has been an absolute joy and honor to teach this group of bright, kind children. Thank you for sharing your children with me this year — they have brought so much laughter and love into our classroom, and I will cherish every moment spent with them. Wishing you all a safe, sunny, and adventure-filled summer. I can’t wait to see all the wonderful things your children will continue to accomplish as they grow! Best wishes for a restful, peaceful Shabbos,