K5 Pre-School Graduation

It seems like just yesterday that I walked Tessa in to her K5 class and now she has graduated!  Her graduation ceremony was precious.  The kids were so excited to show off what they had learned throughout the year.  Ms. Haynes did an incredible job getting them to sing songs or recite something for every single letter of the alphabet.

After the performance, they left to put on their robes and gowns.  Then they filed back onto the stage to receive their diplomas.

We gathered them together for a class picture.  This has been such a great group of kids.  Next year they will split and go to several different schools.  

Of course the proud parents wanted to jump in for pictures with our mini grad.  Tessa kept shifting to make sure her diploma was visible in the picture. 

 

 

We all went back to the classroom to for a last round of hugs with Ms. Haynes.  Tessa has loved having her as a teacher and I've been grateful for that.  A good teacher makes all the difference.     

Since I was Room Mom, I said a few words of thanks to Ms. Haynes.  Of course, I cried and so did she.  Most of the parents participated in a group teacher gift.  Since gift cards are generally well received, we opted to give a basket filled with gift cards.  But I wanted to make it cute so I got a little creative with the packaging.  I stuffed a french fry container with cut paper and a Chick-Fil-A card, pinned Target cards onto a paper plate target, did yellow wrapping paper popcorn for the movie tickets, tucked a Barnes & Noble card in a mini book and attached the Starbucks card to a coffee cup and put her favorite restaurant gift certificate in the card.       

After the ceremony, Ryan had to go to work but we three girls got to go out to lunch.

This school year is officially over and next year Tessa will head to "Big School" for kindergarten.  Academically she is more than ready for first grade but, with such a late birthday, we feel it's best not to rush her through school.  We want school to be a happy place, not a place of frustration and struggle.  Her K4 & K5 teachers have encouraged me that this will benefit her and her pediatrician agrees.  So, with preschool graduation behind us we look forward to a fun summer.