Eight weeks

Yes friends and neighbors, eight weeks.....
Eight weeks of school left with students, give or take a few days.
We know it and they know it. We count down, and they count down.

About eight weeks... and then they walk across a stage. My partner and I stand
there in suit and tie, hand them a package of certificates, shake their hands, and an hour later they are gone. Most never to return within our sight.

Oh, some will come back to visit. Far more than in any 'regular' school. We have former students dropping in so often it's unremarkable now.. almost daily. Maybe not an occurrence that rings bells, but its part of why we do the job. The chance to see what becomes of our kids.

Of this years crew.... I suspect the number will be less. Just a gut instinct.

That's another bit of the magic.... later this year they give us a new class full of students to shape and mold, tweak and tune, lead ..... and prod. Each year a new group of faces spending their entire senior year with us to grow... or not.

Their perspective is too short to see what we see.... the change that happens from the day they walk in, till the day they walk the stage. For some it's impressive, and heart warming. For others, heart breaking in it's absence.

Eight weeks...... and I don't know whether to cheer or sigh.