Earlier in the year, I visited one of the students from last year's class. He had a traumatic experience during Christmas Break, last year, and then moved to a new school for fifth grade. I knew he was having some difficulty with the transition, so I took a short trip to his school during my planning time. The principal was able to pull him out of his classroom, and we talked in the hallway for a brief time.
Mr. Hoggatt?
Here she was, after weeks of being away from me, and seeing me in a different setting than ever before, and she was amazed. She immediately approached me and embraced me. "I miss you so much," she declared, and I I hugged her back, I could hear the playground teachers behind me set out a big "Ahhh." The two of us walked into the building to chat. Shortly afterward, she showed me to her classroom where I returned her to her teacher.
Sometimes the little gestures make big differences in the lives of our children. I pray that the short time I had with each of these Hoggatteers will stick with them as they move forward. After all, once you become a Hoggatteer, you will always be a Hoggatteer.