Saying Goodbye to an Incredible Year
The beginning of each new year presents itself with a plethora of opportunities and a wide range of possibilities for the school year. Looking back on our 2022-2023 school year, I hold such a heavy heart for the goodbyes and so much happiness and appreciation for the incredible moments of learning, growth, and exploration. I want to thank each and every wBee for the amazing times we have spent together, for letting me join in on their curiosities and little wonders, and for all that they have taught me throughout the year. I also cannot be more grateful for the amazing community of parents, nannies, grandparents, and other caregivers that have partnered with us and have been an amazing source of care and support. Lastly, I want to send so much gratitude to each wBees teacher for coming to school each day with so much care and dedication to providing an enriching and nurturing space for our students. Their commitment to making wBees a special and unique place is felt through their creative problem-solving, their attention to each child, and bringing their authentic self with their many talents and passions.
As we say goodbye to this wonderful year with our class of 2023 wBees, it’s hard not to feel nostalgic. I think back to all of the amazing discoveries inside the classroom and within our community; we contemplate the many big questions we explored; we savor the unforgettable laughter and sweet connections; we think about all the new dinosaur/vehicle/truck names we learned; and we are so grateful to the amazing contributions every child, family, and staff member made to this community.
It can feel overwhelming to say goodbye, whether it be to move onto a new chapter at a new school or to step up into a new classroom at wBees. We can assure you that your children will move forth with a strong foundation that will carry them for years to come. While this year was filled with learning letter sounds, pouring, counting, and matching, they have also learned a plethora of social-emotional and personal skills that will prepare them for the world beyond these doors. They’ve learned to be bold advocates for themselves and others, to be gentle caretakers of their environment and the living things around them, to value and express their inner voice with pride and truth, and to be brave explorers, risk-takers, and critical thinkers as independent learners.
As we move into this transitionary period during summer and into the new year, we’d like to share some thoughts on how to guide the next few months with grace and ease.
Celebrate the success!
Your wBee has done so much this year! As teachers created portfolios and wrote letters these past few weeks, we reminisced on the change and growth that each child has experienced. It’s important to let your child know how amazing all of their small and large accomplishments are and to champion their efforts. As I’ve mentioned before, it’s important to remind children that they can do hard things! You can use their portfolios and letters to prompt conversations about their favorite works, their memorable connections, and all the special moments they’ve had with their peers and teachers in the classroom. Remember to celebrate their social and emotional growth just as much as their physical and cognitive. We’re so proud of our wBees!
Maintain and Transition through Routines
Our wBees are not at the age where they can fully cognitively understand the “end” and “beginning” of timeframes. They might still ask, “When are we going to school?” or “Why are we not packing my backpack already?” Be patient as they slowly transition out of their school-year routine. We recommend continuing any positive routines that will help with transitioning into summer camps or activities. Slowly add or change things in their routine to help their internal clocks and sense of order adjust and adapt to these changes that can feel quite overwhelming to littles.
Stay connected with friends
Whether your child is off to bigger adventures at a new school or they’re returning for another awesome year at wBees, we hope you continue to foster the wonderful connections that were made this year. For many of our students, this is these are their first friendships and the peers that they’ve explored and learned alongside for so long. Cultivating those special moments and having a dynamic group of playmates over the summer and beyond will help to reinforce the wonderful social skills that they’ve been developing and will continue to mature.
Tune in on emotions
The end of the year can feel confusing for young children as this has been their life and daily routine for so long. As you move into summer plans, camps, and vacations, check in on your child’s emotions and how they’re processing these new experiences and changes. It’s ok to have big emotions! To feel confused, sad, or overwhelmed is totally normal during the days and weeks following the last day of school. Give your child some extra space and love as they process the end of this chapter and the beginning of the new one. Utilize stories, play, and visuals to work through big feelings and prepare your child for the next event.
Planning for what’s to come
Allow yourself and your child some time to soak up the sun and have fun this summer! It’s so important to rest and recharge for the upcoming year. Balance some “me” time with prep time as you look toward the future. For peace of mind for yourself and your child, it’s best to get ahead of the game with any registration paperwork and necessary planning for the new year. As the summer ends, begin to mention any changes, start setting up new routines and schedules, and give your child a heads up on what’s to come to prepare them.
Most importantly, there’s no better way to prepare your child for a new adventure than to give them the space to explore, the love and care they need, and quality time with their most important caregivers. Focus this time on reinforcing expectations and boundaries, continuing to build their frustration tolerance, and working on their abilities to express their feelings, emotions, and opinions. Champion their voices as they continue to learn to advocate for themselves, give them space to try new challenges and the time to figure out tricky new skills, and allow them to be the silly, sometimes beautifully nonsensical moments of early childhood. They’re only this age once, and oh, what an amazing time it is in their lives! Everything they are experiencing now is the ground for their journey up ahead.
Thank you!
We feel so grateful for your trust and partnership throughout this year! We understand how important and precious these early years are, and we are so glad we get to spend it with your children. We aim each and every day to provide them with the most enriching and nurturing space for them to develop their sense of self and their identities to become the wonderful and unique individuals they all are. We wish you all an amazing summer, and we look forward to seeing some of you back in the fall! Please never hesitate to come by for a visit or a high-five when we see you at the park! And as always, I’m always available if any questions were to come up as your child continues on!
With love and gratitude,
Victoria
