We made it.
The last day of fifth grade has arrived, and somehow my little girl is no longer so little. Mini Me has officially finished her final year of elementary school at Zion Lutheran School and is preparing to take the next big step into junior high.
Now, before anyone gets too emotional, let’s remember that junior high is literally a walk across the parking lot from the elementary building. She’s not changing schools. She’s not leaving home. But as any parent knows, sometimes the smallest physical steps represent the biggest changes.
As she heads toward junior high, she will gain more independence, face new challenges, discover new interests, and continue becoming the person God created her to be. Meanwhile, this early childhood Noteworthy Mommy is entering completely unfamiliar territory. Aside from my own junior high experiences, which, if I’m being honest, have been carefully tucked away in the farthest corners of my memory, I don’t know much about this stage of parenting.
But before we start looking ahead, I want to pause and celebrate what an incredible year fifth grade has been.
From the very beginning, Mini Me was blessed with amazing teachers. Miss Skerston and Mrs. Cornejo helped prepare her academically, socially, and emotionally for the transition to junior high. They challenged her, encouraged her, and helped her grow in confidence. Most importantly, they loved her and pointed her to Jesus every single day.
Fifth grade was filled with unforgettable adventures.
There were field trips that brought learning to life. Mini Me toured Busch Stadium, stepped into the world of business at Junior Achievement BizTown (where she proudly served as the CEO of a technology company), and attended Lutheran High’s spring musical, which only deepened her growing love of musical theater.
The friendships this year were especially sweet.
One of the highlights of the year was discovering that her best friends were all in the same class. Even better, their group welcomed another girl who may have been new to Zion but was certainly not a new friend. Mini Me and the “new girl” had known each other in preschool, and it was wonderful to watch that friendship pick up right where it left off. Together, this quartet of girls became nearly inseparable. They supported one another, laughed together, and created memories that I hope will last for years.
Mini Me also stepped outside her comfort zone and tried some new activities.
She joined the fifth-grade choir under the direction of Mr. Thoelke and immediately fell in love with singing. She also began learning the clarinet with Mrs. Thoelke. While the clarinet wasn’t quite an instant success story, she signed up for band again next year, so I’d call that a win.
She even gave volleyball a try.
One of my favorite moments was the first time she successfully served the ball over the net. Her entire team erupted in cheers. It wasn’t about winning a game or scoring a point. It was about perseverance, encouragement, and celebrating a teammate’s accomplishment.
Academically, fifth grade brought some exciting milestones as well.
This was the year her class tackled classic literature, reading books like Bridge to Terabithia, Holes, Hatchet, and Where the Red Fern Grows. Her love of reading continued to flourish, culminating in an incredible achievement: reading more than one million words during the school year. The reward was a special pancake breakfast served by her teachers, a well-earned celebration for a girl who loves stories.
Then there was Camp Wartburg.
For Zion fifth graders, Camp Wartburg in Waterloo, Illinois, is practically a rite of passage. A two-night stay away from home. No technology. No screens. Just nature, friendship, faith, and adventure.
Mini Me could hardly contain her excitement leading up to camp. She carefully packed everything herself and was completely prepared for the experience.
While she quickly discovered that the wet cave adventure was not exactly her favorite activity, she absolutely loved the creek walk and canoeing. Although, according to her detailed report, she and her best friend spent a fair amount of time trying to figure out how to steer their canoe and may have crashed into an overturned canoe along the way.
The best part for me came after camp.
I was fortunate enough to drive the girls both to camp and home again. The return trip was one of those unexpected parenting moments that becomes a treasured memory. For the entire drive home, I received a complete recap of every moment from Day One through Day Three. I learned what they ate, what activities they did, who liked what, which events received the highest ratings, and which ones did not. At some point, I believe notes were consulted, and there may have even been a hand-drawn diagram of the bunk room involved.
It was glorious.
Those conversations are the kinds of gifts that parents don’t realize they’re receiving until they’re happening.
Fifth grade also brought several beloved Zion traditions.
There was the planet project, where Mini Me chose Uranus. There was the famous egg drop challenge. There was the research paper, for which she studied Chile and even interviewed a missionary family friend who had served there.
And then there were the special touches that made the year so much fun.
One memorable highlight was trivia day, complete with themed tables and snacks. Mini Me’s group proudly won the award for best-decorated table with, of course, a plant-themed design. Because if you know Mini Me, you know plants were absolutely the correct choice.
As wonderful as all the projects, field trips, activities, and accomplishments were, the greatest blessing of all was knowing she was loved.
Every day she was surrounded by teachers who cared about her. Teachers who not only taught math, reading, science, and social studies, but who also taught her about Jesus. Miss Skerston and Mrs. Cornejo modeled God’s love through their patience, encouragement, kindness, and guidance.
That is something I will always be grateful for.
So now we enter summer.
A season of swimming, sleeping in, lake house adventures, and making memories before another school year begins.
And then, before we know it, we’ll make that short walk across the parking lot.
Junior high is waiting.
There are exciting things ahead. There are probably a few scary things ahead too. If I’m honest, both of us are feeling a little bit of each.
But the same God who walked beside us through preschool, elementary school, field trips, volleyball games, choir concerts, Camp Wartburg, and one million words read, will walk beside us into junior high as well.
Wherever we go and whatever lies ahead, we know this:
Jesus is already there.
Noteworthy Mommy 