Volksmarch

During Hailey's last week of school, the entire school went on a Volksmarch to Buffalo Park.  (From Wikipedia: Volksmarching (from German Volksmarsch meaning "peoples' march") is a form of non-competitive fitness walking that developed in Europe.)  The kindergarten and 1st graders route was about 3 miles roundtrip and the upper grades made a wrong turn on their route and ended up walking at least 5 miles roundtrip!  A lot of parents and siblings joined in the fun and the commissary provided lunch for everyone!

The upper grades starting out on the left and BOTH kindergarten classes waiting patiently on the right (the only two kindergarten classes combined had probably 16 kids total...just over half of ONE full-size class!!!)   

Checking out the stinky piggies! (And Luke played "pass the baby" all day!)  :)

The buffalo!

At the bird sanctuary...I can't think of the German name that's on the sign; come to think of it, I'm not sure the true name of "Buffalo Park" (that's just what the Americans call it!) We got to see (yay!  ughh!) that snowy owl eat 3 baby chicks!!!!

Lunchtime and the school waiting to walk back

Feeding the pigs our leftovers from lunch!

Hailey with her medal after finishing the Volksmarch and then on the right her entire class (having popsicles)

After the walk, we came back into the clasroom to pack up the last of the kids' supplies, artwork, etc.  And then the tears started.....there is something to be said for the special bond that is formed when someone other than family takes such good care of your children.  I would have replayed this year over and over for the rest of my life and been so satisfied. 

Mrs. Winter passing out her end-of-the-year-gifts to her students.  She gave them each copies of Bear Snores On with a special message written inside and a class photo and a kindergarten completion certificate (which we taped into her book)

The kids with Hailey's A-M-A-Z-I-N-G teachers!