Today was a day of ‘last times’.I strolled down the corridor one last time poking my head into the classrooms and wishing my students good luck. I watched as each teacher continually scanned the faces of their students wanting to embed each child’s face into memory. I saw the sadness, the realization that they wouldn’t see most of ‘their’ kids grow up into young adults.

The last half hour of St. Paul’s went by in slow motion, no one wanted it to come to an end. No one complained when the Principal was late dismissing, everyone was silent until sobs could be heard of the loudspeaker half way through the prayer – then the schools was filled with both children and teachers saying goodbye. Children and teachers filled the courtyard and backyard together hugging and not wanting to let go – it was heartbreaking.

I thought the little kids would have me in tears, but the 7th graders got to me – those hard nosed ‘don’t care about anything’ teenagers grabbed hold of me and wouldn’t let go. My son sat alone scanning the courtyard, taking it all in, most of his friends wandering around, passing the exit gate time and again not wanting to walk through it.

No one was smiling, no one was making plans for the summer, the excitement of summer vacation marred by their beloved school closing it’s doors forever…and I walked out of the gate for the last time.