Another goodbye activity (mid-year)

At the international school where I work, we know that students will move in and out throughout the year. At the beginning and end of each school year, we have many activities and an assembly to welcome and say goodbye to these students. It was only recently that we added activities at the end of the semester before Winter Break, due to the large numbers of students leaving us. Here is one activity I have started that students seem to really enjoy:

First, we read a book I just discovered called The Littlest Evergreen by Henry Cole. It's a lovely picture book that describes a pine tree that is taken- roots and all- to be a Christmas tree inside a house, then later is replanted and grows up in a new location. We discuss how many of the students can relate to being transplanted and growing up in a new location, and how beautiful it can be to find a new home. Then, I give each student a blank tree form and they all write something they will miss about the student who is leaving. They can also decorate the tree as they wish. While they work, I have the leaving student make a homemade envelope for their "forest" of homemade trees, so they have a handful of memories to take with them if they so choose. Students told me that they really liked doing this activity, and that it helped them to think about saying goodbye before the very last minute.