Working with Riley's class

While we were in Texas, the parents had to work a set amount of hours volunteering at the school. Yorktown Christian Academy was a wonderful school for us to be starting all of our academic careers (Riley as a student and me as a parent). Plain and simple, they expected the parents to be involved!! Such a difference when we came here!! Just put your kid on the bus and away all your responsiblity goes with the bus?? After a couple of weeks, I couldn't handle it! At YCA, we talked to the teacher everyday as she walked the child to our car. . . more later. . .family calls. . .
Now a month later - I am finally sitting down to work more on my blog!
SO I went in to talk to Riley's teacher. WE all LOVE Miss Buckley!! She is a wonderful teacher, calm, quiet but loves the kids. We decided that I would come in a couple of times a month and make crafts with the kids. We made peppermint cocoa mix for Valentine's Day, rainbow fruit salad for St Patricks' Day, handprint bunny's for Easter, Mother's Day brooches and Key chains for dads. I also went in as a mystery reader. I read a few Eric Carle's books and then ended with the Very Hungry Caterpillar. Then I left them with a kit of caterpillars that would develop into butterflies! They loved it!
I also joined the school's PTO because I read that it is important to show how you value's your child's education. I had no idea what a PTO does!! Last school year, our PTO raised something like $22,000!!!! for our school use!! Without the PTO's money, the school would be without many programs!! No exciting morning programs. The district has cut field trips so the PTO provides the money to bring special programs to the school - like a traveling zoo, plays, naturalist, etc. I CAN'T believe what all a PTO does! SO get involved in your child's school!!
Well, at the end of the year, Miss Buckley wanted me to come in so the class could thank me for all I did. I wanted to help out the class 1) because Riley wants me to, 2) I enjoy it, 3) I want to be a help to Miss Buckley and 4) because I realize that this is a way to shine my light to children who might not see much of Jesus in their everyday life. Well, I was NOT expecting what Miss Buckley and the class did for me!!! They had a large cake that said "Thank You Mrs Lierman", she made a book where all the kids drew a picture and wrote what they liked doing the most with me, made me a picture frame with a picture of all the kids and all the kids signed their names AND THEN she gave me a Vera Bradley bag!!! What!! I was trying to help her out and show her MY appreciation for being a wonderful teacher to all these kids!! I just can't believe it! :) Let's see what I get done next year!! I am looking forward to it! :)