The End (of year 1)

WE DID IT! After a year of long days, late nights, tears, stress, anxiety attacks, and trying everything we could to motivate kids to give their all to showing what they know for test-taking, we beat our rigorous goal that we were so scared was impossible.

763! That's our projected API score. It's nothing compared to San Marino, but it's a lot for our kids, our first year teachers, our first year principal, and our first year school. The tears that exploded were tears of relief and from a joy that came from being able to say, "It paid off. We did it!"

Standardized testing is not everything. It is only one measure of learning and it is a hurdle that all schools have to get through. I am so proud of my students and so thankful for such a supportive and encouraging team who pushed me to dream a little bit bigger every day.

Here's what our room looked like the week of testing...

The kids wrote encouraging messages to each other.

The kindergarteners wrote to encourage us.





The school staff gave their support in each classroom. Even Mami Tere who doesn't speak any English copied down some words of encouragement!



Making these made me a bit choked up. I wanted the kids to do well so badly. I wanted them to feel successful. And I wanted our hard work to pay off.





Lots of prayers. Lots of hard work. (And probably) lots of boring lessons. But guess what??? WE DID IT!!!