Juf/Meester - EN

I’ll miss you, Mr. Thompson

I’ll miss you, Mr. Thompson

Original title: Ik ga je missen, juf © 2017 Clavis Uitgeverij, Hasselt – Alkmaar – New York Text: Annemie Vandaele Illustrations: Carolien Westermann www.clavisbooks.com www.annemievandaele.be www.carolienwestermann.com

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St Mary’s Primary School 2022-2023

Dear Mr. Thompson,

Thank you

helping me this year, and for all of your great lessons. Kind regards, Olivia

for

The classroom belonging to Mr. Thompson is filled with excitement. Olivia seems nervous and is having trouble sitting still.

“Good morning everyone!” says Mr. Thompson.

“Welcome on this very special day, the last day of the school year.” Olivia gulps.

Mr. Thompson wanders around the classroom.

“We’ve made a bit of a mess this year” he says, smiling.

“I think we’d better tidy things up a bit first.”

He grabs some buckets and mops from the cupboard and everyone gets to work. “Olivia,” the teacher says, “would you like to help me?”

Olivia and Mr. Thompson get a basket and place this in the middle of the classroom.

“Well done, everyone!” says Mr. Thompson when all the work is done. “Now grab your things and come with me.”

As the last day of school always feels festive, everyone has brought in some treats. The children put all of the treats into the basket and their bags.

They form a line and walk to the woods. The heavy basket drags along the ground. Olivia is at the back. “Come on, Olivia” says Mr. Thompson. He offers her a hand and brings her to the front of the line.

“Over there, Mr. Thompson, that looks like a great spot” whispers Olivia. They all sit down in a clearing, right in the middle of the woods.

“This is the perfect spot to enjoy your treats together” smiles Mr. Thompson.

“And when you’re finished, you can play in the woods.”

After a lovely hour, it’s time to go. Mr. Thompson claps his hands.

“It’s a shame,” he says, “but it’s time to go back to the hollow tree. Your holidays are about to start.”

As soon as the school bell rings, everyone runs out happily.

“Goodbye Mr. Thompson, enjoy your holidays!” they say.

Olivia is very quiet, and slowly steps outside.

“Olivia?” Mr. Thompson says. Olivia sits on a tree trunk, her little shoulders hunched.

“I’m really going to miss you, Mr. Thompson” she sighs. They sit together in silence for a moment.

“Do you know what I enjoyed most?” asks Olivia.

“That time we baked nut cakes and hid them for our friends in the woods. Do you remember how we fell in the stream and got all wet?”

The teacher definitely remembers. They laugh together as they think back on it.

“Wait!” says Olivia. She walks around to the back of the hollow tree and comes back holding a piece of tree bark.

“This is for you. It’s the biggest drawing I’ve ever done for a teacher.” Mr. Thompson smiles.

“You know, Olivia, I miss people too sometimes. But you know what I do?” Olivia shakes her head.

“I try and do something fun every day.” “Does that make missing them less bad?” asks Olivia. “Perhaps not, but it makes me feel happy.”

“I’m going to do fun things during my holidays, too” Olivia decides.

“I’m going to play outside lots and lots.”

“That’s a great idea” says Mr. Thompson.

“Time to go, Olivia, mum’s waiting.”

Olivia gives Mr. Thompson a quick hug and gets going. The teacher waves to Olivia and says “bye-bye Olivia, enjoy your holidays.”

“Bye-bye Mr. Thompson.”

Just before Olivia disappears, he whispers softly “thank you.”

It’s the last day of school, the holidays are about to start. Everyone in the hollow tree seems happy about this, thinks Mr. Thompson, except for Olivia. She’ll miss her teacher very much. Luckily, Mr. Thompson has just the trick to help.

A heartwarming story about the school year coming to an end. For teachers and little ones.