Dear Ms. DeGrote’s Class 2020–2021
I love each and every single one of you. I am so proud of you and how much you have grown over the short amount of time I was given in your education. From dealing with the back and forth between online and in person school, to getting a brand new teacher half way through the year, I can’t imagine how hard it must have been to be as strong and creative and positive as each of you are. You are amazing little humans and I wish I could be there year after year to see you grow into the positive influence on the world that the world needs.
You have no idea what our time together in the classroom has given me. You have given me the courage to seek more teaching opportunities, the poise to keep going even through the hardest of days of this pandemic. I am not going to lie to you, teaching during this time was rough. But EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU helped me through it by being the most amazing students a teacher could ever ask for.
I have received some of the sweetest most valuable gifts a teacher could ever ask for: my students. You have given me physical gifts, such as gift cards and drawings, to emotional gifts, such as hugs and videos of gratitude. I have so much gratitude for YOU. You are the reason I teach. You are the reason I keep teaching. You are the reason that I love teaching. Keep being your wonderful, amazing, creatively silly selves. I keep you in my heart and hope to keep in touch. You can stay up to date on Ms. DeGrote and all of my teachings on this blog!
New Beginnings
In other news: I have accepted a job as a 4th grade teacher at a charter school in Aurora. I am so excited for this next chapter in my life and career and honestly wish you all could transfer over and be in my class again this coming school year.
But, instead, I want you to promise me something. You will always be a DeGrote Dalmatian. Promise me that you will stay proud of who you are and stay strong through the tough times. DeGrote Dalmatians don’t give up, we don’t lie down and we don’t cry mercy. We fight for what we believe in and we stay strong and work hard. Our Dalmatian family will grow through the years but I will always remember ALL OF YOU as the ORIGINAL DALMATIAN CREW!
Go, be strong, be wonderful, be true to yourselves. I love you guys.
