Superman

This past weekend, my amazing group of 5th grade boys lost one of their "teammates". Israel Joseph was only ten years old when he died of cardiac arrest on Saturday morning. 

While we try to teach our children all about life,

Our children teach us what life is all about.

~Angela Schwindt

Israel was a joy to have in my class. He was a natural leader. He had such an excitement for movement and learning. His eagerness for dance spilled out onto the floor every day, in the form of his graceful movements. He was one of the kids in class who truly loved to dance.  I could always count on Israel to answer any question I posed to the group. He was not only a great example to his peers, but brought so much joy to our class.

Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them. -Richard L. Evans

When I spoke to the children about it on Monday, they requested that we do some of Israel's favorite moves as a way to celebrate him. He always loved jumping. We would often having jumping contests to see who was the highest jumper. Israel was always one of the highest jumpers in the class and almost every class would request that we do his favorite kind of jump, 'Supermans'.  

It is so difficult to process it all right now. It is difficult since I worked so much with their bodies every day. This past Monday, I was constantly looking for him in his 'spot' in class. I kept seeing him in my mind and the part during class where I would always go over and fix his foot on the barre.  He was a wonderful boy that will be greatly missed.

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall 

see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your 

delight.

~Kahlil Gibran