Scott

On Friday, June 15, Scott's school had an amazing celebration for him.  He's leaving his beloved elementary school (that post is back here) and going to be principal at the middle school.

It was a very difficult decision for him.

Because his elementary school is the most amazing school on the planet.

Truly.  There is no other school like it.

I've been by his side while he's been principal since Abigail was just out of diapers.

I feel like my girls were 'raised' while he was making this school magical.

So in a way, these were the most magical years of our lives.

And it was a very difficult decision.

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So at the beginning of June one of his teachers emailed me and told me their plans for saying goodbye to Scott.

One of the things they invited me to way their last CLIMB (Scott started all this, it stands for Character Lives In My Behavior) Assembly. So I worked it out with my classroom and my principal. I picked up Abigail at her school and we arrived at Scott's school just as they were starting.

He didn't know I was coming.

They were doing their 'regular' assembly (which was amazing)

And then at the end of the assembly a teacher spoke telling Scott that it wasn't over.

They began by welcoming Abigail and I and they presented us with long stem red roses, one for each year he was a principal at that school.  And they gave roses to Abigail (and also for her to bring home for Anna who couldn't be there) I was so taken back with emotion.

Each grade level (Kindergarten - Sixth) got on stage one at a time and spoke about their principal. They each presented him with a book. They spoke about him and sang to time.

(look at his face in that photo)


He was speechless and tears were sure in my eyes.



At the end of all of the presentations they all sat down and there was a 15 slide show/movie on his years at this school. It was incredible to watch and look back at all of the work he's done at the school.



I watched him sitting right there with his students with the biggest smile on his face. I was so proud of him in that moment and so grateful that he was being honored in such a powerful way.



And also so happy that Abigail was there to see her daddy in a different way. Loved by hundreds. Cherished.

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Now this last little part takes a tiny bit of explaining.

At the start of each school year Scott has choose a song and a picture book as his school's theme for the year. I've watched him each summer think and think and think about the work he wanted to do each year; a goal he wanted for his teachers and for his students. And then he'd go about finding a song that would guide them and a book that he would read to each and every class throughout the year. There was a Tshirt for every teacher with the theme as well so that they could wear it to the monthly CLIMB assemblies.

Well they ended this very last, honoring CLIMB assembly with one of those songs, Try Everything. (a really powerful song about never giving up; how we don't learn without getting it wrong)

And (unplanned) the teachers were so filled with joy for him they spontaneously got up and started dancing around the auditorium. It was amazing.

I was so moved I didn't start recording until it was almost over. Just wanted to get a snip of it here on this blog to never forget...

• how much he is loved for who he is
• how much they wanted to honor him for the work he did
• how much the students adored him
• how much he will be missed

We will never ever in our lives forget this school and these precious years in our lives.

Not ever.