You know it's summer when...

-Greenmarket produce is actually cheaper (and much more delicious) than the grocery variety.

-Someone pops a fire hydrant. The function I observed was more car wash and less kid sprinkler, but still.

-You get flashbacks (heat stroke?) to the barely bearable heat of my very first month in this 4th floor, non-cross-ventilated apartment.

-You have time for volunteering and babysitting and actually hanging out with friends... So much that you kind of forget this is "vacation".

-You can truly wish teachers and administrators a happy summer and thank them for a fantastic year because your 5th graders have graduated and you will not be returning to the school until September!!!! A note on these 5th graders: Throughout a good portion of the year I found this grade the toughest to engage and relate to, in part because of their bigger class sizes (28 compared to around 20 in every other grade), in part because of my difficulty in lesson/unit planning for older grades. Between a really successful spring concert and a half-dozen graduation rehearsals, I complete the year feeling most bonded to these soon-to-be-middle-schoolers. They stepped up their game for these ceremony songs (and all other procedures for that matter) in a way unseen in the rest of the year. They delivered each piece in strong, clear, projected head voice with expression and pride. Witnessing Miguel and Ashli and Eric (what a voice--who knew!) and others get so INTO the songs in their faces and performances... Mind-blowing. I'm in the right profession. =)

A few long-overdue pictures...

PS 43's auditorium, "decorated" for spring concerts

This is what it looks like when a kitchen self-destructs.

No more pesky cabinet! Or usable drinking glasses for that matter.

Gorgeous Wave Hill (of septuagenarian-oriented Mozart concert fame)

A few of my proud, deserving 5th grade graduates

PS 43 in all its stately, UNOBSTRUCTED (just in literal time for graduation) glory!!!!!

The happy feel-good moments are becoming a bit cumbersome to the flow of the blog... Consider them integrated (i.e., Greenmarkets, fire hydrants, 5th grade pride, unobstructed schools) unless otherwise noted from here on out in your readership.

Love, Hugs, & SUMMER!!!
Ms. Phillips, with pride