as the school year winds down.
Our students are now about half-way through Advanced Placement examinations.
That will be followed by Maryland's High School Assessments in three subjects.
Seniors leave us soon, with graduation on the 29th.
And for those teachers retiring, we are now in the period of celebrations.
Yesterday after school, at a nearby Mexican restaurant, we have an informal gathering for two of those leaving. One who arrived in the building the same time as I did has been in charge of teachers for the past few years. The other is a foreign language teacher retiring after 40 years in the system.
Perhaps 70 or 80 people stopped by during the several hours. That included a number of teachers who have themselves retired in the past few years. It included our immediate past principal, now functioning at a county-wide level. It included a former assistant principal now himself about to retire from his position as a principal at another school. Family and some friend of the two retirees. Much of our current faculty.
Most of hose no longer in the building know I am also retiring - several of them follow me on Twitter, or read my posts here through Facebook. Many asked me what I am doing next year, and of course I do not yet know for certain.
We had conversations about how the school has changed.
We caught up with what those who have left are doing.
The most common words directed at me from those already retired was "congratulations!"
The time is getting close.
Those that can will stop by my own mini-celebration on May 30th.
June 11th I will walk out of the building for the last time.
Yes, indeed, the time is getting close.