The end of the school year is here, and we can now look back at all the great memories we made in grade 1. I had a great time this semester and I hope my students did too. We had Buggy dancing to “There’s a bug in my room”, and Mr. Finn’s River dance tutorial on St. Patrick’s Day. We had Card games, and role-plays, and children trying to hide inside desks. I really enjoyed this year.

At this point we are also granted the opportunity to look at the future, which is awesome. Students plan to go off to enjoy the adventures of summer vacation, making more great memories that we all can share with our friends at ZhongDe in the fall. Summer also bring forth in some an uncertainty about the new school year.

At the end of every year, foreign teachers in the bilingual program are asked by students and parents if they will continue to teach their child (or themselves) in the following year. This is a hard question for us to answer every year, as of course, we would love to continue working with the same children and to help them grow into wonderful people. This is not always possible.

    Every year, the foreign staff expands, and as it does so the school moves us to positions where we can be the most effective. This is very much like schools in western countries. Some of us are our most effective at certain grades, some of us are needed to be moved to other grades or subjects to help guide the new staff as they come into the school. Some of us are asked to guide new programs or activities the school is opening. This gives students the opportunity to learn more about the world they are living in, as they get to have various teachers from different places around the world.

    I loved being in grade 1 class 5, and had a great time with the kids this year. I will still be in the school: to help and watch over the kids as they grow up, and continue to learn. I will still be proud of them, and talk to them in the school. I will, however, be passing the reigns of both English and Math teacher over to one of our other great teachers. I am not 100% sure which lucky teacher it will be, but I know the students will be in for a wonderful grade 2 year.

    I, however, will be back in grade 1 again next year. The school has asked me to help guide the new American Primary School program into fruition, and help it have a successful first year. I am both excited and saddened by this posting. I am saddened because, as with each year I have worked as a Teacher, I must set my students free to fly where they will. Sometimes to watch them grow, sometimes not, as they fly off to other wonderful adventures. I am also excited at the opportunity to try and bring such a new program to a Wonderful School like ZhongDe.

    My door will be open next year, for any students that would like to visit, or need advice. My door will be open for any staff that need the same.

    Have a great summer, and let me know how it was in September.

Chad Baldwin