This week we said farewell to elementary school and the end of grade seven for Colin. He has a great grade seven year. Colin has been at the same elementary school for eight years and has a large group of friends, many of which started in kindergarten with him. The parents and staff at the school worked together to create a series of events to celebrate the students' transition from elementary school to high school. Not all the students at the school move on to the same high school so it is a final chance for them to all celebrate their experiences and memories of elementary school together. For the families, who come together as a community in elementary school much more so than in high school, it is a chance to say show appreciation to the staff and to each other and really see that it does take a village!
Wednesday we started with a luncheon and afternoon dance with a DJ which the students worked hard all year to fundraise for. The students chose "a night on the Titanic" theme to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's sailing. I think some of the girls see it as romantic and not necessarily the disaster that it was! One of the students, and the school prinicipal actually work a PFD to the luncheone! The parents focused on more of a bon voyage theme as the students sailed off to high school.
The grade sevens wanted pizza and sushi along with Colin's punch and chocolate fountain and some special icecream sandwiches for lunch. They then danced for over two hours with no parents in the gym (just school staff)!
We came back to the school in the evening over 200 people attending an evening celebration hosted by the parents. There were speeches by the principal and teachers, each student announced, lots of dessert, lots of photos taken, visits by the students' very first principal, a slide show that showed the students at school from kindergarten to grade 7 and then the grade 7 slide show created by a group of students. This slide show is always such a highlight as it shows a baby picture for each child, another childhood picture and then a grade seven picture. Each child lists his or her best memories of the school, what they want to be when they grow up and words of wisdom.
Thursday morning was the most formal of the events and the official farewell assembly at the school. Neil and Adam and I had front row seats and watched Colin walk across the gym and receive his graduating certificate. Colin's teacher is retiring this year so this was a bit of an emotional day for her - the last grade seven class she is sending off into the world!
I'm going to miss being a part of this school community - we've been connected for ten years!
We are so very proud of Colin. At elementary school he has made good friends, has been able to express himself in many ways, has learned so much about himself and how to navigate the world.
Colin - congratulations on this milestone and bon voyage!
Congratulations to Colin and the whole family.....big steps for all.
Posted by: Nicky | 06/29/2012 at 09:56 AM