This is being written as a separate post (a sort of sister post to this one) because this isn’t about me. OK … its partly about me … but mainly about an amazing group of year 8 students!

Today proved that to me that what we do as classroom teachers matters – I’m not saying that all the other “non” teaching stuff isn’t important (it needs  to be done) but sometimes when we’re doing other stuff we forget that it is the time in lessons that the vast majority of students will remember.

When my year 8’s joined the school two years ago, I started playing a song at the start of the lesson during which they completed the paper version of timetables rockstars  – I was introduced to “Lukas Graham – 7 years” and this very quickly became my favourite tune. The group found it hysterical that my husband had changed his ring tone for me on his phone to this song … I just loved the way they would all stop and sing the chorus VERY loudly and I would have to constantly remind them to “get on with it”;  I’d even been told off for the noise from them singing on more than one occasion! Anyway, it became “our song”

This morning a few of the girls came along to my room first thing and asked if they could do a “thing” they’d been working on during our last lesson together today. Of course, I told them … little did I know!

It turned out that the group had been mobilised through group chats or whatever they use for that kind of thing and they had a plan. What they did is a massive achievement and says a lot about their maturity and thoughtfulness. There are so, so many individual achievements and being part of their journey for the last two years has been a privilege – I am exceptionally proud of the way they brought this together and the fact they have really gelled as a group … My group … “our group”

 It started with a few speeches … I know it’s not very professional to admit this but I was gone – tears were rolling. I did try to hold it together – I promise I did! Their “thing” then involved them singing their own version of “our song” … they handed me a paper version with the lyrics on and I could barely read them through my tears. It was superb!

So, to you lot I want to say: Thank you, year 8 you have been amazing! I will miss every one of you and I am sure you will all go on and have amazing adventures in life. Always be awesome!

PS: The reference to the “Boss” comes from my “brain, book, buddy, boss” display that includes the below picture of me at their age! It is sat on diary on the floor having just been taken out of my bag ready to go somewhere safe for the next time I get a classroom of my own again!