6th grade graduation...

6th grade graduation was last Wednesday, May 23...it was a strange graduation for me because for the first time in 24 years...I had never had this class.  The year they were in 1st I "looped" to second with the same class I had had in first.  However, that doesn't mean I didn't have any connections with this great group of kids.  Stay tuned to see some of those "special" kids.

These were part of the favors each child received.

Some years ago, we had a horrible tragedy at St. Chris when one of our 5th graders was killed in a freakish home accident...her name was Katie Bell.  Katie had given her 2nd grade teacher a spider plant the year she was with her and that same spider plant has produced hundreds of spider plants that both Mrs. McKee and I have propagated and given out over the years.  This year's 6th grade each got a start of the Katie Bell plant...and the gift goes on and on.

...and what would graduation be without a St. Christopher medal to keep them safe and sound on their travels beyond our walls.

It's amazing how our cafeteria can be transformed.

No words necessary.

And now we come to the "special" kids part...the kids that I do have that connection with even though I did not have them as a class.

Austin Sgroi...a very special kid near and dear to my heart...I "let" him sit in his brother Sam's seat and let him write words in Sam's dictionary (I forgot to check what words he wrote!!!)

Pure trouble but aren't they a handsome bunch ...as you can see, they are in the water storage room...or what we affectionately call "The Teachers' Lounge".
Sean, Josh and Bryce

Emma...

...and because she is a girl who got her hair "done" for graduation we had to show the back too...why her hands are folded I have NO idea unless she was trying to look holy...you don't fool me Emma!

The 6th graders have a neat tradition here in that they all write one line of an original prayer and then Mrs. Betz does her magic thing and it becomes one very beautiful and heartfelt prayer that the kids read during Mass...just lovely.

It's sad every year when we have to say good-bye to another years crop of amazing kids, who for the most part, have been with us since pre-school or kindergarten.  One of the benefits of a small school is that we grow so attached to these kids and their parents...but it's especially sad when the child is the youngest in the family and so we say good-bye not only to that child but to their families also.  However...we know that the majority are just moving on down the street to Cardinal Ritter Jr. High and if these kids are anything like the kids that have gone before...they'll stop by and say hello whenever they get a chance.  They always do. 


Congratulations 6th graders...you did it!