Thank you, Van Asselt Elementary!
This morning, I dropped off a huge batch of granola for the staff and teachers at Van Asselt Elementary. This posting is dedicated to them and the beautiful old building being vacated as part of the district's school closure plan. The whole staff and program is moving to the former African American Academy down the street (a really long and political story), and it's sad to leave that building. Especially since it coincided with Van Asselt's Centennial, which we celebrated last week.
Even though Wyatt's only been there a year, I'm surprisingly nostalgic about that building, and wanted some photos of it before it's not part of our everyday lives anymore. I wish I could post photos of all the amazing staff and teachers, but I don't have time or permission. I've been around a lot of organizations, and they are one of the most dedicated, wise, and collaborative groups I've ever seen. I'm sure things aren't perfect, but I can tell they like each other, like their jobs, and really, really care about the kids. 
I feel a little overcome with emotion, actually, writing this and ending the school year. So I'll try to be concise and facebooky about it and list a few things I've loved.
25 Things I Have Loved about the 2008-2009 School Year at Van Asselt Elementary:
(and please forgive that I don't know everyone's names)
- The vigilant, organized bus routine with Megaphone Man
- The peony blooming right now along the walkway
- The incredibly orderly lines of kindergartners every morning at 9:00 in the playcourt
- Ms. McPhail, Wyatt's Shout-it-from-the-Rooftops-Great teacher
- "Mr. J," who's been volunteering at Van Asselt since his kids were there (and that was awhile ago. He might not want me to say how long)
- Principal Turner, who seems to delight in her job,the children, and staff in her care
- End-of-the-year Field Day, where the Facilities Manager barbecues the smokiest, most tender ribs (pictured)
- Going to the aquarium with Room One
- Going to the Children's Museum with Room One
- Seeing Wyatt be TOTALLY SERIOUS about doing his homework thoroughly and on time
- Rita in the lunchroom--her kindness, cheerfulness, and connection with each child
- The AMAZING artwork everywhere, on every surface
- Witnessing the patience and deliberateness of the staff, even at the end of long and trying days
- Asking Wyatt every day on our way home, "What did you have for lunch?" (He details it perfectly. His mother's son)
- The fish tank near the main entrance. Perfect for wiggly toddlers.
- The beautiful field on the ridge, planes flying overhead into Boeing Field
- Students and families from every corner of the earth
- Friday assemblies--Cinco de Mayo, Lunar New Year, Christmas--more holidays than I ever knew existed
- Signs translated into innumerable languages
- Those cute little drinking fountains
- Ms. Mulder, who reads with enough expression to put any tired mother to shame
- Seeing Wyatt read like a champ--it's truly miraculous what has happened in 9 months
- All the emphasis teachers and staff put on social skills
- Music, art, and gym classes that keep the right brain strong
- Seeing Wyatt and Oscar walk through those big doors every day, knowing they will be loved, challenged, and nurtured
P.S. I left a stack of business cards with the granola, hoping they'd come here and read about themselves. If you're one of those, thank you. Thank you, thank you. Your work is not unnoticed. Have a rejuvenating summer.
June 15, 2009
Reader Comments (15)
What a great testament! Love all the love coming through this post towards Van Asselt.
i am all teary reading this. i remember when w was the fattest baby on the planet, and now he's reading and one summer away from 1st grade! yikes. as a teacher myself, i feel overwhelmed by your gratitude, even though it's not directed at me. i hope many, many staff from van asselt come by to read this tribute to their hard work and care. you are an exceptional mother and lover of people. that is a gift to us all.
This is me not writing about Seattle Public Schools, school closures, teacher layoffs, or South Seattle politics. I'd like a cookie for my heroic efforts.
I seriously don't know why I'm tearing up over this...maybe the pregnancy hormones!?! =) I'm thankful to hear that there is such a nurturing school environment closeby that Norah could potentially go to. What beautiful pictures, Sarah! And when did Wyatt get so old??? It doesn's seem like that long ago that you were pregnant with him. Jeesh!
Sarah, I love the photos you did share. I especially like the black-red-yellow-brown-white rainbow!
PDS, You deserve a baker's dozen cookies for that. Good job!
(But if anyone wants more information on the issue, you now know who to ask!)
As well as a brilliant chef, you should be applauded as an amazing photographer! The pictures are fabulous.
I also love that you have a list of 25 things you loved, rather than the rather cliche 5 or 10. More is more, especially on a food blog!
as an educator himself, every time i would see my grandfather, he would faithfully ask, "what did you learn in school today?" i can't tell you how much i LOVE your daily question. YOU KILL ME.
I can haz rib?
I can attest to Van Asselt's praiseworthiness in teaching Wyatt (my grandson) to read. Saturday night I took Wyatt and Loretta to Zippy's Burgers in Highland Park. While we were waiting for our order amidst the beehive like chaos, Wyatt found a hamburger joint joke book on the counter. He read me two or three of them, before it occurred to me that Wyatt was reading to me rather than me to him. Thanks, Van Asselt, for your contribution to our burger run. (And thanks, Zippy's, for being one of the best little beehive burger joints I've ever been to. No joke)
This is bittersweet. And the photos are so so good. And it was so sweet of you to bring everyone granola. It would have made my day :)
I sure hope the faculty at Van Asselt reads this. Thanks for having such a grateful heart ,and for making time to show your appreciation for their care of Wyatt,and the rest of the children that attend the school.I'm sure you made their day. Thanks for making a differance wherever you go, and always focusing in on what's good and praiseworthy.
Thanks as well ,for raising my grandson in an ethnic diverse communitly,and for all the wonderful opportunities he has had to learn from them. It blesses me that you value your community,and are open to receiving and learning from them, as well as esteem them.
Hopefully the granola will speak for itself.
Happy Bday, "Tantrum"! Thanks for giving us so many gifts of ideas, inspirations and pleasures in your 35 years. I'm currently in the middle of making a yummy galette and shared a batch of Margaret's cookies with my middleschoolers this week. They weren't as amazed as I was (go figure--they don't like pecans) but I'm already scheming a way to make them again. For myself. Thanks. Your parents must be so proud of their 2 amazing Murphy daughters. Wow -- the talent surely spills over. CJ
p.s. Thanks, also, for celebrating teachers. As I was reading your post about Wyatt's school, I thought, "Wow! A mom who's keenly aware of the blessings and miseries that accompany teaching. Thanks for remembering them with some yumminess. You're a mom-with-amazing-kids that teachers fight over."
For some reason this site is blocked even from teacher computers, so I hope others remembered to look from home. I'm glad I did.
Made me almost cry. Perfect time to catch up on my reading as I wait for your husband to rescue me from being locked out of my car...which I did being so distracted by your blog in the first place...making my grocery list in the car, looking over your Asian salad!
Hi Sarah, I just want you to know how touched I was by your tribute to us at Van Asselt. I loved the pictures, you really captured our school. Your granola was delicious and appreciated by all of us!! I'm sorry it has taken me so long to see this,(busy packing), but I will make sure others see it too! Thank you for all of your kind words, we are really going to miss that building!