Finally an Update :)

I know it has been so long ... I am sorry, but the last month of school was very hectic!! I am going to quickly go through updates on various things and then I promise to do this more regularly since summer is finally here!!!

SCHOOL:
I am done teaching for this year ... School starts back up on Sept. 8. My students overall (the whole sixth grade) mastered 76% of the 6th grade standards for NY State. A first year TFA teacher typically does not make "great gains" (70%) or "significant gains" (80%). But I did!!!! I am very proud of my students - they worked soooo hard the last 6 weeks of school.
I am sending my lowest 4 students to summer school - A being one of them. He was upset at first, but knows that he needs to go and he is definitely motivated to learn all that he can. I have 5 students that I am considering "promotion in doubt" I gave them a "summer packet" that they must complete before Sept. 8 and if they complete it and show that they know their stuff I will promote them to 7th grade, otherwise, they are going to repeat 6th grade. I promised those students that I would meet with them this summer to help them if they wanted. We will see if any of them or their parents call.
School ended yesterday and D's father called me (this is the student I am very close with and she is super special to me, I have fought for her all year) and he wanted me to know how much he appreciates what I have done, he wanted to buy me a gift which I told him was completely unnecessary and he said "this is how I am, please let me" so he is going to take D with him to get me perfume and I will most likely see her next week. One of the other students, S, I was close with and on the last day she handed me a folded letter, in it she wrote a poem she found and wanted to dedicate to me ...
"I love my teacher
She is full of life
I love my teacher
She does cause any strife
I love my teacher
For she is full of light
I love my teacher
She is always bright
I love my teacher
For she doesn't get in a fight
And, I love my teacher
For she tells me to look on the side that's bright"
It was accompanied by a letter ... "Ms. Belz, Finaly school's over! Thank you so much for all these 10 months. You've taught me a lot of math. We've had a lot of funny memories in room 7. All the times me and Soquania were laughing non-stop, getting warnings and you putting our names on the section sheet. But it was all worth it, because I think you'll remember us for all the crazy things that's happened. All the "wats up" calls, handshaking, and hugging will stay in my memory of my FAVORITE TEACHER! Have a great summer vacation with Steve. See you on Sept. 8! Love ya!"
She truly is a sweetheart!! I am going to take her and about 4 other girls to Central Park this summer with another teacher. These girls are our "lovelies" and I couldn't imagine a year without them.
I have another student we will call L, she came up to me on the last day crying and handed me a note, her's read ...
"Dear Ms. Belz,
Ms. Belz, I don't even know what I'm going to write because what you have done for me over this year has no explanations. You are my best amiga that a student or friend could have you are something special. And I hope you learned it I am always going to remember you and I'll love to keep in touch with you Friend to friend cause even it I don't get to go to the new BECA I still wanna keep in touch with you. I love you and the relationship we had when I had a problem or something will never get erased. Love, L"
(I wrote it just how she wrote it).
My students are super special!!!

STEVE and I:
We went apartment hunting and saw 3 apartments in Hartsdale, NY (it is midway between his work and my work). We found a dream apartment - it is absolutely gorgeous!!! It has a large living room, dining room, state of the art gorgeous kitchen, bathroom, big bedroom and balcony off the bedroom. We also have tons and tons of closet space!!! It also comes with air conditioning!!! We signed the least last Wednesday and will be moving in July 30!!! I am soooooooo excited to start this chapter of our life!!!

GRAD SCHOOL:
My summer class is coming to close - it has been really difficult - tons of work!!

GOING UPSTATE:
We are going upstate for the 4th of July weekend. I am very excited about this because we get to see his brother, sister-in-law and their kids plus his sister, nephew, and his parents!!! We are going to have such a great time!!!! His dad said that he would take me fishing on Friday - I am really looking forward to that!!!

SARAH and ALY:
My friends since 1st grade are coming up to visit me from July 28 to August 4 and I am very very excited!!! We will take them super fun places, go shopping and eat some good food!!!!

More to come!!!! I will post pics of my students later this week and more of Steve and I!!!!