It sounds just a little bit ridiculous when I actually say it. The only primary education graduation I remember was high school. Now there are preschool, kindergarten, elementary, junior high, and high school graduation. In a way, it feels a little like the practice of giving every kid who plays sports a trophy, the losing team as well as the winning. That after too many trophies, they just don't mean anything. Maybe that will end up being the case.
However, watching my little Monkey, in his darling handmade paper-bowl-and-construction paper hat, walk up and get his "certificate of completion," it didn't feel overdone and silly. It felt like a moment to celebrate the year that has gone by. A moment to celebrate how much he has learned. And a moment to grieve, just a little, how fast the year has gone by and how much he has grown.
This preschool has been a good thing. Located on a farm, he spent his preschool days feeding animals, having pony rides, planting gardens, watching chicks grow to chickens. It's not every preschool that sends home notes that say, "Please don't send your child to school in flip flops. It makes it very hard for them to climb fences."
After the little graduation ceremony, we wandered the farm, taking pictures of Monkey with all the animals.
Then it was time to go and leave preschool behind us. We have are off to kindergarten and all that excitement. I have a feeling, much as Winnie-the-Pooh must have, that "an adventure is about to begin."
Aww! What a cutie! He looks so proud of himself to have 'graduated'. ; )
ReplyDeleteI had an 8th grade, high school, and college graduation ceremony. Well, during my college ceremony I was on a plane to a family reunion so it was a tad anti-climactic. lol!
I think the preschool graduation is so cute. And your little Monkey is so adorable! Can't believe he's going to be in kindergarten next year. I think you and I "met" when he wasn't even two yet!
ReplyDeleteAwww, congrats on the preschool graduation! So adorable. You must be so proud!
ReplyDeleteYes, Most of the "graduations" are a over done, except the kindergarten one. That first school year sets the stage for all the future looking forwards in their life. Graduation from high school and college as a future goal. I'm glad they do that. Everybody is growing up too fast..And Oh, he's so very cute!
ReplyDeleteI love the note from school! (Remember the small home town playground that said no horseback riding on the park lawn?) :)
I looooove preschool on a farm!! I've seen a couple places around ehre that advertise that sort of thing but none of it would have worked with our schedules. What a great place for him to spend such important learning time!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations graduate. I want to go to a farm school.
ReplyDeleteLisaDay
Congrats :-) He is absolutely adorable, and it sounds like you found an outstanding preschool for him. I'm a middle school teachers, and our eighth-graders have a "promotion" instead of a "graduation" ... it's semantics, of course ;)
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Monkey! He looks adorable in his graduation cap! I LOVE the idea of a preschool on a farm that encourages fence climbing! This is what childhood is (should be) all about it. Lucky Monkey!
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