Nicholas' teacher for the last three years, Herr Ruetsche is not returning in the fall to be Sarah's teacher. We were very disappointed to hear this, as he has been an absolutely amazing teacher for Nicholas. Once he finally grasped that Nick was way beyond a lot of the kids in class when it came to reading, he started giving him extra assignments, or different ones than the other kids. He also gives him special math projects to do so he is constantly feeling challenged. That is a lot of extra work on the teacher's part as well, and we are always telling him how much we appreciate it. Unfortunately, he wants to work less hours next year, and the school board wants him to work more, so they let him go with a healthy severance package and hired a full time teacher for Sarah. She also seems very nice, Frau Nicollier, and Sarah can't wait to be a first grader!
To say goodbye to the kids, Herr R. planned a sleepover in the school. The parents were invited to the first part of it, where we watched a slide show he had put together of lots of the things the kids had done during the past three years. He had put it to music and it was very well done and entertaining. After that was over, we parents gave him a going away gift, and then we all said goodbye. He took the kids out into the forest for two hours to help them get nice and tired. haha. He said the next day that it didn't really work. Then they came back in, got ready for bed and watched "The Babynator". Once by one they all dropped off, although Nicholas said he thinks he was still awake at 2:30! They were up by about 6, got dressed, cleaned up their sleeping stuff and had breakfast at the school.
Unlike Sarah, they had to stay for the whole day's school afterwards. Nick came home rather short-tempered that afternoon and was asleep faster than he has ever gone to sleep in his whole life, except for when he was sick. He was really looking forward to this sleepover, and I think he had quite a good time. We will miss Herr R. very much, and especially his imaginative way of teaching. I think Nicholas will remember him positively for the rest of his life.