ABC Countdown to the Last Day of School

  • Post category:School
  • Reading time:3 mins read

It seems a bit odd to be posting this End of the School Year Countdown a week after he graduated, but this is the way that the school calendar was. The 8th graders graduated last weekend while the rest of the students had one more week of school before summer break.

Each remaining day of the school year had a theme based on the letter of that day, starting with A on April 21st, and ending with Z on May 26th. Stacy loves these themed days. Unfortunately, this may be James’ last one. I am not sure if they will be doing them in high school.

 

A colorful calendar titled “ABC Countdown to the Last Day of School” is taped to a wall. The calendar lists A through Z, each letter paired with a themed day and date, such as Beach Day, Crazy Sock Day, Dance Party, Glow Day, Pajama Day, Rainbow Day, Sunglasses Day, and Year End Party. Two boxes — A and B — are crossed out, showing those days have already passed. Bright colors and playful fonts give the calendar a cheerful, end‑of‑year celebration feel.
The ABC Countdown to the Last Day of School Calendar

 

A: Addams Gear: Friday, April 21st

He wore the shirt, but Mommy forgot to take a picture.

A gray T‑shirt lies folded on a bed, with a colorful checkered blanket visible behind it. The shirt features a bold graphic that spells “PRIDE” in large black letters, with a stylized knight integrated into the center of the design. A rectangular area above the word appears intentionally covered or obscured, leaving only the main PRIDE graphic visible.

 

B: Beach Day: Monday, April 24th

James lies on his cushioned recliner on a carpeted floor, wearing a brightly colored Hawaiian‑style shirt with palm trees, ocean waves, and a sunset across it. A plush dog‑shaped neck pillow rests around his neck. Nearby are additional blankets and pillows, including one with a monkey pattern, creating a soft, comfortable resting setup in a casual home environment.

 

C: Crazy Sock Day: Tuesday, April 25th

He Wore Stacy’s Maggie socks.

Feet in black socks rest on a carpeted floor. The socks decorated with a repeating pattern of dog faces, white paw prints, and red hearts. The person wearing the socks is also wearing black pants and has their legs propped on a soft green plush turtle. Behind them, part of a colorful polka‑dot cushion is visible, along with a few cables and a piece of paper on the floor, giving the scene a relaxed, lived‑in feel.

 

D: Dance Party: Wednesday, April 26th

He wore his Rex & Roll shirt to the dance party.

James lies on his cushioned reclinerfeaturing circular shapes and cartoon monkeys. He is wearing a gray T‑shirt with a graphic of a dinosaur playing a guitar, along with the text “REX & ROLL” above a red circle with a white lightning bolt. A stuffed dog rests near his shoulder, and a white cloth sits close to his face. The background includes a carpeted floor and soft fabric items, giving the scene a relaxed, comfortable feel.

 

E: Extra Day Recess/Free Time: Thursday, April 27th

Extra time outside enjoying the sunshine.

A purple collage background holds two circular photos outlined with yellow shapes. In the top photo, James sits outdoors in his wheelchair wearing a light blue hoodie, blue sunglasses, and a supportive neck cushion, with a brick building behind him. The bottom photo shows James again, this time beside his nurse, both smiling in the sunlight. The words “Hello Sunshine” appear in bold yellow text across the design, giving the collage a warm, upbeat feel.

 

F: Fitness Clothes Day: Friday, April 28th

Rockin’ one of his “Chicks Dig Scars #SpinalFusion” shirts, and a track suit.

James lies on his cushioned recliner with circular designs, wearing a red shirt that reads “CHICKS DIG SCARS #SPINALFUSION” in bold white text. A black and red jacket is layered over part of the shirt. A plush brown dog‑shaped neck pillow rests around his neck, adding a soft, comforting touch to the scene.

 

G: Glow Day: Monday, May 1st

James lies on his cushioned recliner with circular designs on a carpeted floor, wearing a bright neon green shirt and dark pants. A plush brown dog‑shaped neck pillow rests around his neck. Around him are soft items — a gray‑and‑white blanket, a red pillow, and another pillow decorated with cartoon monkeys — creating a comfortable, relaxed setup in an indoor space.

 

H: Hat Day: Tuesday, May 2nd

Go Cubs!

James sits in a wheelchair wearing a red‑and‑white baseball cap with a large red “C,” clear glasses, and a a yellow hooded fleece jacket with the hood partially coving his head. The background shows a carpeted floor, part of a blanket, and a wall with a small hanging decoration, creating a cozy indoor setting.

 

I: Inside Out Day: Wednesday, May 3rd

Wearing his Back to the Future shirt inside out.

James lies on his cushioned recliner with circular designs, wearing an orange shirt and a black jacket. A plush brown dog‑shaped neck pillow rests around his neck. The background shows a beige carpet and additional soft blankets and cushions, creating a comfortable, relaxed indoor resting setup.

 

J: Jeans Day: Thursday, May 4th

James lies on his cushioned recliner with a colorful polka‑dot cover, wearing a gray T‑shirt that reads “PEDIATRIC STROKE Elevate Awareness.” He has on a light blue jacket and blue jeans, and a plush dog‑shaped neck pillow rests around his neck. The surrounding area includes a beige carpet, a gray blanket, a red pillow, and a few household cords, creating a relaxed indoor resting setup.

 

K: Kite Day: Friday, May 5th

He doesn’t have a kite, but will fighter planes do?

James lies on his cushioned recliner with circular designs, with a pillow featuring cartoon monkeys nearby. He is wearing an orange shirt printed with two fighter jets and a blue‑green jacket. A plush brown dog‑shaped neck pillow rests around his neck. The background shows a carpeted floor and part of a metallic support or wheelchair frame, creating a comfortable indoor resting setup.

 

L: Letter to a Friend: Monday, May 8th

He was supposed to write a letter to a friend, but instead chose to be Lazy after he got home from school.

James lies on his cushioned recliner with circular designs, covered by a gray blanket featuring a white geometric pattern. A plush brown dog‑shaped neck pillow rests around his neck. In the background, a red fabric item drapes over nearby furniture, adding a bit of color to the quiet indoor scene.

 

M: Mustache Day: Tuesday, May 9th

A side‑by‑side graphic labeled “INSTAGRAM VS REALITY” shows two photos of James wearing bright blue sunglasses and a neck pillow. The left image, under “INSTAGRAM,” includes a digitally added cartoon mustache for a polished, silly effect. The right image, under “REALITY,” shows James without the filter, offering a natural, unedited look. Both photos sit against a black‑and‑gray checkered background, and highlight the contrast between online presentation and everyday life.

 

N: New Name Day: Wednesday, May 10th

The students could choose a different name they wanted to go by today. James decided to stick with James. Fun fact…Stacy and I used to call him Monkey Butt because of a pair of pajamas he had when he was younger that had a monkey on his butt.

James lies on his cushioned recliner wearing a bright green shirt printed with a cartoon monkey face and the words “TEAM JAMES.” A plush brown dog‑shaped neck pillow rests around his neck. The scene sits on a carpeted floor, creating a cozy, familiar indoor resting setup.

 

O: Orange Day: Thursday, May 11th

James lies on a patterned blanket with circular designs, wearing an orange shirt with white text that reads “CHICKS DIG SCAR #SPINALFUSION.” A plush brown dog‑shaped neck pillow rests around his neck, and a soft towel or cloth sits near his face. The scene has a relaxed, indoor feel, highlighting a moment of rest and the humor‑and‑resilience message on his shirt.

 

P: Pajama Day: Friday, May 12th

He decided not to wear his pajamas because it was a Unified sports day, where typical kids and special needs kids get to play sports together, unified.

James lies on his cushioned recliner with circular designs, wearing a white T‑shirt printed with “UNIFIED Sports Day 2023 – Special Olympics Illinois – Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools®.” Behind the main text, the shirt includes a collage of school names such as ADDAMS, ALDRIN, ARMSTRONG, CAMPANELLI, CHURCHILL, FAIRVIEW, LINK, MACARTHUR, and others. A plush brown dog‑shaped neck pillow rests around his neck, adding a soft, comforting touch to the indoor resting scene.

 

Q: Quiet Day: Monday, May 15th

Shhh, he’s sleeping while he’s eating! Not really, he was getting ready for school.

James lies on a padded surface, wearing a yellow T‑shirt with red text that reads “I can eat while I sleep — What’s your SUPERPOWER?” alongside an illustration of a feeding tube. He has a light blue jacket over the shirt, and his head rests on a pillow covered in colorful cartoon designs. One hand is visible with a red wrist guard. The overall setting feels calm and comfortable, highlighting the shirt’s lighthearted take on medical support.

 

R: Rainbow Day: Tuesday, May 16th

Rocking his Special Olympics shirt.

James sits in his wheelchair wearing a bright yellow‑green hooded jacket, blue sunglasses, and a tie‑dye shirt printed with the words “RESPECT” and “Special Olympics Illinois.” He has padded neck support and red wrist guards on his hands, with the chair’s straps and controls visible around him. A dog lies on the floor nearby in a room with light‑colored walls, carpet, and household furniture, creating a comfortable indoor setting that highlights both his adaptive equipment and his Special Olympics pride.

 

S: Sunglasses Day: Wednesday, May 17th

So many choices!

A five‑photo collage shows James in different indoor settings, either lying down with supportive head padding or seated in his wheelchair. In the center image, he wears a gray shirt with a sequined emoji face wearing sunglasses. The surrounding photos show him in various pairs of sunglasses — blue, black, and reflective — along with his usual support gear and comfortable clothing. Household furniture and everyday indoor backgrounds appear throughout, giving the collage a warm, expressive look that highlights James’ style and personality across multiple moments.

 

T: T-Shirt Day: Thursday, May 18th

Rocking his Pediatric Stroke Survivor shirt!

James sits in his wheelchair wearing sunglasses, a black hoodie, and a black T‑shirt with white text that reads “PEDIATRIC STROKE SURVIVOR” alongside a stylized superhero‑emblem design. A red wrist guard covers one of his hands, and a neck support rests near his shoulders. A hand is visible near his chest, adjusting his clothing. The indoor setting has a carpeted floor and a plain wall, giving the moment a grounded, everyday feel that highlights both his adaptive gear and the strength‑forward message on his shirt.

 

U: USA Day: Friday, May 19th

He was so nervous about his poetry reading at school that he forgot about USA Day!

 

V: Virtual to the Zoo: Monday, May 22nd

Even though he had just graduated, he wanted to continue on with the ABC Countdown.

A collage features several animals — including a brown bear, three small monkeys on a branch, a panda, a tiger, a giraffe, a zebra, a lion, and an elephant — arranged around a central photo of James. In the center image, James lies on a cushioned surface under a gray patterned blanket, with a plush brown dog‑shaped neck pillow resting under his neck. The surrounding wildlife images create a playful, zoo‑themed frame that contrasts with the quiet, cozy moment at the center.

 

W: Write with Chalk: Tuesday, May 23rd

A picture of James lying on his cushioned recliner has been digitally cropped and placed over a bright chalk rainbow drawn on concrete. Pieces of colorful chalk surround the rainbow, with pastel bands of pink, yellow, green, blue, and purple forming the arc. The composition blends James’ resting pose with the vivid outdoor chalk art beneath him, creating a layered, playful visual effect.

 

 

X: eXchange Autographs: Wednesday, May 24th

On the last day of his school year, he exchanged autographs with his classmates.

A white poster board is filled with colorful handwritten notes surrounding James’ name, which appears in large blue letters at the center. The messages, written in different colors and handwriting styles, offer compliments and affirmations such as “you are sweet,” “Hard Worker,” “funny,” “stylish,” “Cool,” “good friend,” “joyful,” and more, each signed by classmates or friends. The board has a lively, encouraging look, capturing a collection of supportive words gathered for James.

 

Y: Year End Party: Thursday, May 25th

Stacy changed this to Yearbook.

A three‑image collage sits on a purple lightning‑patterned background. The top left photo is James’ yearbook portrait, showing him in a yellow plaid shirt seated in a supportive chair, with his name printed below the picture. The top right photo shows a group of students standing together in a classroom, with posters, a globe, and a door in the background; their faces are blurred for privacy. The bottom image is the cover of a junior high school yearbook labeled “2022–2023,” featuring a dark blue and purple starry design with silhouettes of students carrying backpacks. Together, the collage highlights James’ school year and the broader junior‑high community around him.

 

Z: Zip Bag and Zoom Out: Friday, May 26th