On Monday, the children learned that Friday would be Mira’s last day at NSW. Mira shared her upcoming travel plans to visit her family in Ithaca, New York, and also communicated how she was feeling – “I’m feeling excited because I get to play with my cousins. I’m also feeling sad because I’m going to miss playing with my friends, looking at the books, and playing with the puzzles and ponies.” She also told the group she will be attending Mar Vista Elementary in the fall. Together, the children brainstormed ways to celebrate Mira’s last day of school.
Everly: We can make a poster like we did for Dillon.
Rufus: It can say, “Have a good time at your new school, Mira.”
Jack: She likes ponies. We can draw ponies and cut them out and put it on the poster.
Susan: What other messages would you like to add?
Keaton: We can write, “We love you!”
Everly: We can put teardrops because we will miss her.
Mars: We can draw hearts and cut them out and put them on the poster.
Golda: We can cut out hearts and put them on a string like we did on Valentine’s day and hang it so she knows that we all love her. The heart can say, “Golda loves you.” Everyone can put a message in a heart. We can also make cards for her.
Elliot: We can make cards that are shaped like ponies!
The children also had an opportunity to share their feelings and memories about Mira.
Penny: I like to play Frozen with Mira. I’m Elsa and she’s my baby husky. She supports me with the letters I can’t write and by helping me clean up stuff even when she didn’t do the mess. My feeling is happy, excited and sad all mixed up together. I’m excited because she’s going to see her cousins. I’m happy because I feel like she’s going to have a great time, and I’m sad because I’m going to miss her.
Golda: I feel happy about her having her last day. Sometimes she plays ponies with me and I’ll miss playing ponies with her. I’ll miss her because I love playing 101 Dalmatians with her in the Wood Chips.
Asher: We played in the House Area and when we went there, it was amazing! She’s really funny.
Elliot: I’m feeling sad because we won’t see her at school anymore, but we can still have playdates with her. I like playing ponies with her. We make castles for the ponies out of pillows, boxes, and chairs.
Everly: Mira likes the color violet and I like violet too. I like to play ponies with her. We play family with them. I’m feeling sad because Mira’s leaving. I’ll still see her though.
Mars: I like playing family with Mira in the House Area. I’m the dad and she’s the baby husky. I feel sad that she’s leaving. I love her.
Keaton: We usually play games about baby huskies and it makes me happy.
Jack: I like playing baby huskies with Mira in the Wood Chips. I’m feeling sad because she’s leaving. I’ll miss her. Mira is going to Mar Vista Elementary and I live by the school so I can visit her. I can even walk there!
Eve: I like to play puzzles and superheroes with Mira. I like that she plays with me a lot. I feel sad that Mira is leaving. I will miss her.
Rufus: I like that she’s feeling happy about seeing her cousins. I like to play princesses with her in the Wood Chips.
Thoughts from Aloe Veras:
Colin: I love you, Mira! What are you going to do in your new school?
Poppy: I love you. I want to have a playdate.
Dylan: I love you. Goodbye. I miss you.
Chloe: I love you, Mira. I wish you love your new school.
Goodbyes are always filled with many things, sadness for what will be missed, excitement for what’s to come, and hope for future hellos. We are so excited to celebrate Mira’s last day and know it will be filled with laughter, dancing, air hugs, and a special lunch thanks to Amy and Andrew. As we send you off, we wish you a trip filled with happy encounters and long-awaited hellos!! Know we will hold you forever in our hearts.
