Wednesday
May 22, 2013
Can someone please pinch me?
May 22, 2013
Can someone please pinch me?
I believe time just flew right past me.
I was just barely walking my cute little nervous boy to his first day of Kindergarten
and now the year is over and he has graduated!!
He's a completely different and grown up kid.
Physically
and
Intellectually!
I am SO proud of him and what he's accomplished in 9 short months!
I got to the school early that morning and got the best seat possible.
We all awaited anxiously for our pint size graduates to enter.
Walking up the middle aisle onto the stage.
The Class of 2025
After Principal Barker welcomed everyone,
all four classes performed an opening group musical number.
Then each class did their own special number.
Mrs. Gokool's class was the finale.
And they rocked that joint!
The other classes sang cute songs.
But Anden's class did the Cha Cha dance and got everyone going!
(the Moms had already gotten a preview but they saved their best performance for now!)
(video coming soon!!)
Then each class was presented their diplomas individually
Anden's class was first since they were still on stage from their dance number.
Waiting for his name to be called
ANDEN HARBECK
Exiting the stage while carefully holding his diploma
After the ceremony we took all sorts of pictures and said our goodbyes!
Anden, Andrew, Scott
Anden & Ms. Julie (teacher's assistant)
Anden & Mrs. Gokool
Clearly Anden was done with pics by the time his own family entered the scene!
I love you my little Kindergarten Scholar.
You make me so proud!
Now there's no way I can leave out a very significant part of this event.
Today was extremely bittersweet.
Let me explain.
On Sunday night,
a Phoenix Police Officer was on a DUI stop in a rough part of town.
As he was finishing up,
an SUV sped by and hit him.
And killed him.
And took off.
Tragic and senseless to say the least.
I saw the news Monday morning while I was getting the kids ready for school.
The Officer's picture looked way too familiar.
It stuck in my mind but we hurried on our way.
Well I was at Ridgeline that morning for Water Day.
One of the other parent volunteers sadly and lovingly pointed out.
"I can't believe Tatum's here today" as he gestured over to the cute little
brunette kindergartner that I've seen so many times before.
Confused we asked why,
"Her dad was the cop that got killed last night."
My heart dropped to the ground and shattered.
That's why his picture looked so familiar and I couldn't get it out of my head.
Ridgeline is a small community charter school.
We don't have a bus system.
So every day for 9 mos you saw the same parents, same faces,
walking their kids up to school
and picking them up after school.
We may not know each other by name.
But we definitely know the faces.
And he also lived in Anthem with us.
As soon as I got back to work that day I googled all the information I could about it.
Yes, most definitely that was the man I saw almost every day picking up his cute little girl.
He was only 29.
He leaves behind a young widow
and an adorable 5 yr old daughter.
Two days later was to be the first big academic milestone of his daughter's life.
Kindergarten Graduation.
I couldn't stop crying all week.
The school parents didn't know what to do to help.
It was a somber and heartbroken mood.
Tuesday was just like any other day
as we all did the usual routine of waiting for our kids outside the school doors.
However the kindergartners all came out holding a letter for their parents.
Mrs. Gokool grabbed my arm and whispered in my ear.
"Read the letter and be here early tomorrow. There's going to be tons of people."
We were rushing straight to dance class so I waited to read the letter in the car.
And I cried.
And cried.
In a full page single type letter the Principal had the daunting task
of carefully acknowledging the school's success while lovingly telling
the parents of the news of Office Daryl Raetz
and that he was one of our school parents.
He then told us how the Phoenix PD wanted to show their support for the Raetz family
and be in attendance at tomorrow's Kindergarten Graduation.
The kids immediately noticed I was crying,
"Mommy what's wrong?!!"
Then I had the job of telling these little souls about what happened to their friends' dad.
I was a mess.
The kids took it well.
I tried to stop thinking about it all night
But it was impossible.
I laid out clothes and prepped for my little boys' Kindergarten graduation.
Suddenly this mundane task of prepping clothes and bags each night
became a blessing to me
instead of a chore.
Because I still had the chance to physically attend my son's Kindergarten graduation.
When I arrived at school very early the next morning,
I couldn't have been prepared for what I saw.
At 7:35 am (graduation wasn't until 9am),
there were already at least 100 police squad cars lining the streets.
There were uniformed men and women everywhere.
I humbly wandered my way into the gym and found a seat.
There we waited until the event was to begin.
The emotions in the room were sky high.
I couldn't hold back the tears.
Most parents were already emotional about their little kindergartners achieving
this "big kid" status.
But now we had an additional element to be a part of.
At 9am,
the line of officers began entering the gym single file.
The line was endless.
They stood amongst the walls.
The three walls of the gym were filled three rows deep with officers
that had come to support Tatum and the Raetz family.
I was in awe.
I have never seen so many officers in one gathering.
They quietly stood in the background
yet their presence was deafening.
Then the 80 kindergartners filed into the room and up onto the stage.
Most had no idea why so many police were there.
They were just excited for their moment in the spotlight.
Tatum was beaming.
Glowing with happiness and excitement.
As were her family.
Who were sitting right in front of me.
Principal Barker opened the event by thanking all that had come.
And acknowledging the Phoenix PD and Officer Raetz.
We took a moment of silence.
Then the festivities began.
It was hard to focus on the joy and innocence of the event
without constantly glancing at Tatum's mom and family.
Without glancing back at the 300-400 officers that were there on behalf of Daryl.
But everyone truly had a good time.
There's something about 5-6 yr olds singing and dancing that heals the soul.
Before I had even left the event,
I had several friends and other school parents of older grades texting me
to see how it went and that pictures were already on the internet.
I told them it was humbling, amazing and I feel blessed to have been a measly part of it.
Later that day I found some of the pictures/footage online.
I've included the links below for my own journaling purposes
and also to give you a glimpse into what really happened at
Anden's Kindergarten Graduation.
Hug your kids a little tighter.
Say I'm sorry more often.
Say I love you more often.
Life is too short.
http://www.kpho.com/story/22401167/police-stand-in-for-fallen-officer-at-daughters-graduation
Today was extremely bittersweet.
Let me explain.
On Sunday night,
a Phoenix Police Officer was on a DUI stop in a rough part of town.
As he was finishing up,
an SUV sped by and hit him.
And killed him.
And took off.
Tragic and senseless to say the least.
I saw the news Monday morning while I was getting the kids ready for school.
The Officer's picture looked way too familiar.
It stuck in my mind but we hurried on our way.
Well I was at Ridgeline that morning for Water Day.
One of the other parent volunteers sadly and lovingly pointed out.
"I can't believe Tatum's here today" as he gestured over to the cute little
brunette kindergartner that I've seen so many times before.
Confused we asked why,
"Her dad was the cop that got killed last night."
My heart dropped to the ground and shattered.
That's why his picture looked so familiar and I couldn't get it out of my head.
Ridgeline is a small community charter school.
We don't have a bus system.
So every day for 9 mos you saw the same parents, same faces,
walking their kids up to school
and picking them up after school.
We may not know each other by name.
But we definitely know the faces.
And he also lived in Anthem with us.
As soon as I got back to work that day I googled all the information I could about it.
Yes, most definitely that was the man I saw almost every day picking up his cute little girl.
He was only 29.
He leaves behind a young widow
and an adorable 5 yr old daughter.
Two days later was to be the first big academic milestone of his daughter's life.
Kindergarten Graduation.
I couldn't stop crying all week.
The school parents didn't know what to do to help.
It was a somber and heartbroken mood.
Tuesday was just like any other day
as we all did the usual routine of waiting for our kids outside the school doors.
However the kindergartners all came out holding a letter for their parents.
Mrs. Gokool grabbed my arm and whispered in my ear.
"Read the letter and be here early tomorrow. There's going to be tons of people."
We were rushing straight to dance class so I waited to read the letter in the car.
And I cried.
And cried.
In a full page single type letter the Principal had the daunting task
of carefully acknowledging the school's success while lovingly telling
the parents of the news of Office Daryl Raetz
and that he was one of our school parents.
He then told us how the Phoenix PD wanted to show their support for the Raetz family
and be in attendance at tomorrow's Kindergarten Graduation.
The kids immediately noticed I was crying,
"Mommy what's wrong?!!"
Then I had the job of telling these little souls about what happened to their friends' dad.
I was a mess.
The kids took it well.
I tried to stop thinking about it all night
But it was impossible.
I laid out clothes and prepped for my little boys' Kindergarten graduation.
Suddenly this mundane task of prepping clothes and bags each night
became a blessing to me
instead of a chore.
Because I still had the chance to physically attend my son's Kindergarten graduation.
When I arrived at school very early the next morning,
I couldn't have been prepared for what I saw.
At 7:35 am (graduation wasn't until 9am),
there were already at least 100 police squad cars lining the streets.
There were uniformed men and women everywhere.
I humbly wandered my way into the gym and found a seat.
There we waited until the event was to begin.
The emotions in the room were sky high.
I couldn't hold back the tears.
Most parents were already emotional about their little kindergartners achieving
this "big kid" status.
But now we had an additional element to be a part of.
At 9am,
the line of officers began entering the gym single file.
The line was endless.
They stood amongst the walls.
The three walls of the gym were filled three rows deep with officers
that had come to support Tatum and the Raetz family.
I was in awe.
I have never seen so many officers in one gathering.
They quietly stood in the background
yet their presence was deafening.
Then the 80 kindergartners filed into the room and up onto the stage.
Most had no idea why so many police were there.
They were just excited for their moment in the spotlight.
Tatum was beaming.
Glowing with happiness and excitement.
As were her family.
Who were sitting right in front of me.
Principal Barker opened the event by thanking all that had come.
And acknowledging the Phoenix PD and Officer Raetz.
We took a moment of silence.
Then the festivities began.
It was hard to focus on the joy and innocence of the event
without constantly glancing at Tatum's mom and family.
Without glancing back at the 300-400 officers that were there on behalf of Daryl.
But everyone truly had a good time.
There's something about 5-6 yr olds singing and dancing that heals the soul.
Before I had even left the event,
I had several friends and other school parents of older grades texting me
to see how it went and that pictures were already on the internet.
I told them it was humbling, amazing and I feel blessed to have been a measly part of it.
Later that day I found some of the pictures/footage online.
I've included the links below for my own journaling purposes
and also to give you a glimpse into what really happened at
Anden's Kindergarten Graduation.
Hug your kids a little tighter.
Say I'm sorry more often.
Say I love you more often.
Life is too short.
http://www.kpho.com/story/22401167/police-stand-in-for-fallen-officer-at-daughters-graduation
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