*Long insta post alert!* This picture is so special to me. A year after starting my new #job, today, the last day of term was a moment to be marked. This year I had the joy of #teaching 10 wonderful #teenagers- 7 of whom, I will #teach again in their final year of #school from September. This year I also met a beautiful friend for life- Camille, who got me that gorgeous jewellery you see in the picture. She’s leaving her role of teaching assistant to go and start her teaching #career & will do an amazing job but will be sorely missed. Now the other #gifts… The wine from one of my 14 year olds who managed to buy it herself without I.D. Oh gosh…🙈(why is it that I still get ID’d?), the Galaxy chocolate and card -from one of my girls who came to school early this morning and locked herself in the classroom so she could write the card which contains the sentence “we appreciate your time and your ability to make a dead subject interesting."☺ The Lindor from one of my boys. I greeted him at the door as he walked down the street and he almost instantly said/shouted in embarrassment, referring to the bag in his hand- "my mum gave me some chocolate to give to you…I’m not good with this kind of stuff (gets to door-hands over chocolate, avoiding eye contact) here. Thanks.” And the crisps- one of my boys noticed the others giving presents and took it upon himself to go to the shop across the road. In his typical class clown fashion, he came up to me and said “miss, I wanted to get you something you haven’t already got from the others and budget was tight…so here you go!"😂

This year I’ve had major downs with these guys, but I’ve also had incredible ups! They started in September pretty deluded about the whole idea of school & learning, having just been removed from mainstream schooling. Today they’re becoming appreciative, respectable, aspirational young people with so, so much potential. I’m so proud of them all & thankful to God for where He’s placed me.

Here’s to the 6 week holiday and all that next year has in store! 🍹💃🎉