Today was the last day of school for my boys. As we drove home after closing school chapel (one of my favorite traditions at St. Anne’s), I looked in my rear-view mirror and was surprised at what I saw.

As I am singing - okay, belting - outloud, “School’s out for summer!” and “Summertime, summertime, sum, sum, summertime!” both of my children looked sad. Huh? It’s SUMMER!

And yet, what a compliment to the school and their teachers. They were sad that school had ended. They love school. And what a gift to a parent, to know that my children are so happy and so well cared for at a place where they spend so much time away from us.

This is exactly what I was looking for when I was looking at schools: a community that was safe, caring and nurturing. How lucky to have found it.

As we continued to drive away from school, I too started thinking about friends and teachers - and some who are both - whom I will miss this summer, and I began to understand a little bit of what my children were feeling. I too draw strength from my friends at their school and I too will look forward to August when we return, refreshed and ready to start all over again the busyness of the school year.

Tomorrow we leave for a long weekend with a few families from our school. Again, we will celebrate the end of school - and I know my boys will be happy because their friends will be there. Thankfully, some of mine will too!

We have a busy June in our home, so summer “vacation” won’t really begin until July and August. But I hope you (and your children) have a wonderful summer with your family and friends, taking time to remember these special people and times together.