Click here to listen to this week’s JAM – 100 Days of May
Over the last few years, many of us in schools have increasingly talked about the “100 Days of May.” The reference is to the intensity of this month in schools, with so many end of year events and gatherings that, by the time we make it to June, we feel like we have lived through at least 100 days.
This year, as May neared, I, along with many friends and colleagues, quickly started referring to the 100 days. Indeed, several of us noted that the 100 days had already started in late April. Then, with the arrival of May on Monday, I found myself nervously looking around … has it started?
It was at that point that I realized that I might need to reframe this for myself a bit. In particular, I recognized that what had started as a clever, light-hearted and reassuring expression was starting to obscure the possibility of the month ahead.
May is, in reality, one of my favorite months in school. In the next five or so weeks, we will experience so many of our most beloved traditions – the Walk-a-thon, JK/K Family Celebration, 1st/2nd grade Author’s Walkabout, the 8th grade Musical – “Willy Wonka,” Reunion, Team Day, Recognition Ceremony, and, of course, 8th grade Promotion.
With all of these events happening, the biggest challenge in May is to try to stay in the moment, to not start looking ahead to the next event before the current event has even happened.
Each parent listening to this has meaningful moments on the horizon, whether it’s watching your child move across the JK/2 playground as they transition from Kindergarten to 1st grade, seeing your child read their original story during the Author’s Walkabout, watching your child walk across the stage at 8th grade promotion, or listening to your child enthusiastically recount the details of Team Day and how their team had the best cheer of anyone else at school. These moments happen throughout the year but they feel particularly poignant in May, as we see our children reaching the end of this school year and often recognize the significant physical, emotional, and academic growth and changes that have happened.
Yesterday morning, as I walked into school I came across one of our most long-tenured and beloved teachers, Ms. Long. “How’s it going?” I asked.
“Well, it’s May,” she said. We both smiled at each other. “We are pretty lucky to come here every day, aren’t we,” she said.
“We are,” I agreed.
Here’s to May – all 100 days. I’m going to savor every moment.