To the Kindergarten Class of 2020,
This was your big year. I watched your little hands reach for crayons on the first day of school. Those same crayons are sitting in an empty classroom right now. If I had known our last hug was the very last kindergarten hug, I would’ve squeezed you a little tighter.
First of all, I want you to know that I am so very proud of everything you accomplished in kindergarten.
You learned how to add, subtract, and count to 100. You learned to read words, sentences, and even books. I watched your eyes light up as you sounded out your very first word and realized you were reading. Yes, you! You can read. You are wonderful. You are sweet. And even when your behavior is challenging, you’re learning. You’re learning your limits and testing boundaries and you’re learning to grow up along the way. Most importantly, you’ll leave this year with two very important traits: resilience and the ability to adapt. These traits will stick with you throughout your life.
Kindergarten ended abruptly for you. There was no Easter egg hunt, May Day, or even kindergarten graduation. You were robbed of all the most exciting parts of kindergarten, and that breaks my heart. I want you to know it’s not anyone’s fault. Sometimes bad things happen and you can’t control them. But there are some things you can control: You can control yourself and how you respond to the bad things. Always remember to breathe and make smart choices — just like we talked about in our classroom.
I think about you every day.
I miss your crazy questions and listening to you read. I worry about your parents, their jobs, and their health too. Do you have plenty of food? Are you scared? Some of you have a yard to play in, but many of you don’t. Five-year-olds need space to run and fresh air to breathe. If you do have a yard to play in and space to move around, I hope you realize how wonderful it is. I hope you’re seeing things through a new lens and appreciating little things like you never have before — I know I am.
We didn’t get to say goodbye, but I know I’ll see you soon. When I do, you’ll be a big first grader. Can you believe it? Someday, you’ll tell your grandkids about kindergarten. I hope you remember your first time on the bus, all the exciting books we read together, and how much your teacher loved you.
Congratulations to the Kindergarten class of 2020.
Love, Mrs. Longmire
This is so beautifully written. It had me in tears. Can I share this with my students and other Kindergarten teachers?
Of course!!
Aww thanks for this i read this to the kids and they really miss there school and friends. Thank u and they can’t wait to get back to school.
My daughter was finally thriving after struggling with severe anxiety in her preschool. Her teachers were wonderful and she was making friends and feeling really happy. She wanted to play violin at her concert. She never got a field trip. I feel like she was robbed of her last year of developmentally appropriate schooling.While 1st grade is important, in really should involve more child directed play and activities and center around joyful learning experiences. I feel like she was robbed of joy.
Thank you for sharing.
Just as a minor note, as a parent I would be very uncomfortable with my child’s public school class doing an Easter Egg Hunt.
May I ask why you’d be uncomfortable with the Easter Egg Hunt? The fact it is an ‘egg hunt’ took all religious connection out of the event. Yes it is still called an Easter Egg Hunt, but that’s what the little plastic things they hunt for are called. Now if she was sharing the story of how Mary Magdalene and the other women found the empty tomb, I could understand being uncomfortable seeing as it’s a public school. They’re five and six years old. Kids have such a short time for make believe and pretend play. Don’t ruin the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, and the Tooth Fairy for all the little ones who have a fun childhood!
I agree 100% with your reply. Kids should be allowed to be kids and then as they grow make their own minds about what they believe and don’t believe. They grow to fast as it is.
I agree 100% with your reply. Kids should be allowed to be kids and then as they grow make their own minds about what they believe and don’t believe. They grow to fast as it is.
I have been so sad for my daughter in kindergarten. The things they are missing is truly heartbreaking 💔 . She absolutely loved her teacher and hugged her everyday and made her pictures! Life as we know it has truly changed. Will anyone ever be comfortable with kids hugging them? Will they get to be kids that hug each other and swap germs all day? Its sad and scary 😢
This sums up beautifully what my heart says to my kinder students right now! ♥️ Thank you for putting it into words & allowing us to share it!
Thank you for writing and sharing this! I just posted it on my son’s digital classroom page. It had me in tears, and I know it will bless his teacher too and other parents too. ❤️ I’m so grateful for teachers who love their students- so impactful!
Very well-written 🙂 Do you mind if I use this with my scrapbooks as I say farewell to my little ones?
Yes, you can!
😭😭😭 Reading from Texas… So sad. My daughter is in kinder this year. So this hit right in the feels.