We will be celebrating the end of our preschool year in a few weeks. We have a whole-school celebration in our town’s high school auditorium for all the family, friends and teaching staff who attend. Last year, instead of purchasing store-bought graduation hats (which were getting kind of expensive to keep purchasing), we made our own. Here is how we made ours to celebrate the end of the school year.

First, cut down 8 1/2″ x 11″ cardstock into 8 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ squares. We then have the children personalize their hats by writing their names on the cardstock or using sticker letters to spell their name. This way, we know whose hat is whose, and it gets children involved in the process of making their own hat. Then, teachers attach the cardstock square to a styrofoam or plastic bowl using a brad.

Next, punch holes into the sides of the bowl to tie on pieces of yarn, which are used to tie the hats onto the child’s head. This year, we will try using plastic bowls, as we feel they will hold up better if the child tugs on the yarn. Styrofoam bowls will work also, and is what we used here – but we did find that some of the bowls ripped if children pulled too much on the yarn.

Lastly, make tassels out of yarn using the instructions found on www.ehow.com and attach to the hats by tying to the brad. Adorable way to celebrate a preschool graduation!

As a Director of a child care program, it is bittersweet when the end of the school year rolls around. My heart is always happy for our students who have completed a year of school and I am proud of those students who are ready to move on to the next step in their educational careers… but at the same time I am sad to watch some of our students leave.

As an early childhood professional we form strong relationships with our families. For some of our students that come into care as infants, we watch them grow from a baby into mature children. During those years we form bonds with parents as well. When it is time for a family to leave a program it can be emotional for the child, the parent, the staff and a Director. Each year I dread saying goodbye to families, but the pride in my heart gives me the strength to watch them go.

I make it a rule to never actually say the words “goodbye”….for I know that I will see families around town at the grocery store, at the mall, out to eat, etc. I also make it clear that our families are always welcome to come and visit and to attend our annual family events. Letting go is never easy, but knowing that we will see each other again makes this process a little easier.
It is important for staff to have some kind of closure at the end of the school year. I know that at our center many teachers will have their classes talk about what their favorite part of the school year was. This exercise gives the children a chance to re-live their most memorable experiences while at our school in a positive way.

However your center decides to end the school year, be sure to thank families who have chosen your program, show gratitude towards those have volunteered their time and express your gra

titude toward your hardworking staff. Don’t say goodbye, simply say “see you soon.”

Last week I put together a post about favorite preschool teacher gifts and mentioned having the children putting together a scrapbook. I really liked the idea of each child making a page to put into a class album for the teacher. Turns out, my niece’s 1st grade class was doing exactly that – and I had to share the adorable pages! Their teacher is going to love it!