The end of the school year is upon us and this year, this is going to be a struggle. The kids' school is closing. My kids' education is just about at the top of the "most important things I care about" list and I'm having a hard time finding any humor in this turn of events.

What I do want to focus on is the wonderful teachers, staff, and other families that have made up this special place and thank them for the foundation that they have provided for my kids. Interestingly, my first encounter with Our Lady of the Angels Academy was on an assignment for this newspaper. Following the first round of Panther Valley church closings, I was sent to do an article on the extraordinary efforts that the school went through to continue to be viable as the churches that supported it were closed down. In what some might consider a divine intervention, I was also just starting to think about where to send A to preschool.I attended small schools from elementary school through high school, before going on to a major university that was home to over 30,000 students. Each of these schools was exactly the right place for me to be at the time, and while I didn't have much choice in my elementary school, when I transitioned to middle school and then to college, each of those schools just "felt right" to me. I was looking to repeat that Goldilocks feeling for my kids.I had visited several preschools, but just wasn't finding the place that clicked for me. At the time I was sent to OLOAA for the story, I didn't even know they had a preschool. Upon meeting members of the faculty and staff and hearing their stories and seeing their obvious love and dedication, I began to see my children's future at this school. What impressed me most was their commitment to keeping the school and the tradition of Catholic education in the "Valley" going strong. It gave me a good feeling to know that such motivated, dedicated people were planning on keeping this school going for a very long time. I don't understand how everyone who visited and saw this school couldn't understand what a gift it is.My kids love going to school. There is no other way to put it. Sure, we have our off days when no one feels like getting out of bed, but school itself has never been the issue. I have been spared the battles that so many of my friends have with "new math." My children have never come home with homework that I had to explain to them. Sure, we have had our fights over actually getting their homework done, but not about how to do it. They will be well-prepared to transition into any other school's curriculum. I'm not worried about that, I'm just sad that they have to do it at all.From Cinderella's Ball to Science Extravaganzas to well, just about any project A has had to do in the past seven years, these teachers have known how to work together to create enthusiasm and love for learning. That is a rare and wonderful gift. Teachers, please know that I have appreciated every single moment that you have guided my children and taught them and loved them. There are days when I wonder if you might love them even more than I do. You are certainly more patient and tolerant of their nonsense than I am. Thank you for that.I'm not from "the Valley." But, after sharing the past seven years with the families in all three of my children's classes, I feel like I am.We have become friends, we have become family. When you are part of a group of people working together for a common goal, you get to know each other very well. For years, these have been the people that I've worked with shoulder to shoulder, as a parent volunteer, as a chaperon, as whatever I could do to help out with the school.And, for the last few weeks, we have all cried together. From Cub and Girl Scouts to swim team to people who just flat out make me laugh no matter what, these people are now a part of my life beyond the school, and I am grateful for their friendship. While I know we will keep in touch and keep crossing each other's paths, I feel like we're at the end of the "Breakfast Club," and even though we may still be at a school together, it's never quite going to be like it was."Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened," or however that quote goes. Right now, I feel like I will be crying for a long time, but I know that my memories of my children's time at OLOAA will always make me smile and I know that as my children are growing on a solid foundation. I will always appreciate those that laid the first blocks.(Also, if you are reading this and you happen to have an "in" with the pope, could you ask him to intercede on our behalf? I'm told that he might be the only person who might be able to help us save our school.)Liz Pinkey is a contributing writer to the Times News. Her column appears weekly in our Saturday feature section.