Saying Goodbye I: Our Final Grade 6 Swim Party

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Photos, top to bottom:  Photo1-3:  three views of the Toledo Family pool, overlooking the sea;  photo2:  looking north along the coast toward the Almadies and the westernmost point in Africa;  this stretch of coast is known, in part, for its world-class surfing, the swells breaking on shallow, sea urchin-filled volcanic rock;  photo3:  note the breaking swell in the background;  surfers and boogie boarders were dotted along the shore;  photo 4:  sea nymphs Anthea (Australia) & Selma (USA);  photo5:  Selma & Audrey (Congo) leap into the pool while Franzi (Germany), Will (USA), Derek (USA), Damir (Belgium/England) & Anthea look on;  photo6:  Franzi, Audrey & Selma;  photo7:  Tyne (S. Africa), Franzi, Selma, DonaMaria (USA), Cristina (Spain), Anthea & Filipa (Portugal) take the plunge, while Audrey, Yoel (Israel), Charbel (Cameroon), Ben & Derek watch;  photo8:  Selma & Anthea;  photo9:  Adam (USA);  photo 10:  the girlz: Emily (USA), Chiaki (Japan), Marie (Belgium/France), Filipa, Cristina, Tyne, Anthea & Selma.

The school year is ending, and my sixth grade celebrated it yesterday afternoon with a pool party at the Toledo's home in the Almadies.  

All in all, it's been a terrific year.  The kids have been exceptionally spirited, cohesive, and just plain fun.  

Emotions are ranging from sadness to elation to quiet reflection, as we all contemplate the changes upcoming.  Franzi's returning to Germany, Emily's moving to Ottawa, Derek's headed to the DC area, Yann to Angola.  Friendships shift to Facebook and email.  We're all anticipating the freedom of summer, freedom from the routine of school, returning home, or away on holiday.

It's very important that we close the year as positively as possible.  It's in the nature of memory that the most recent feeling tones coat the memory of the year, protecting it (it was one of my favorite years), or leaving it open to the decay of time (I don't remember much about that year).  The memory of the relationships will persist much longer than the last book report, as many of us know well.