Charlie’s Rockland Graduation

Charlie “graduated” from preschool!  And this is his SECOND preschool graduation.  He is undoubtedly very advanced.  What an accomplishment!

As funny as I think it is that kids graduate about 10 times before their real graduation, I love the Rockland festivities around graduation.  Ms. Wishowski comes out with her big personality and says such sweet things about all the kids, they sing such great songs and the kids all look so adorable and grown up and proud of themselves.  This year the ceremony was short and sweet since someone in the audience fainted and they had to call an ambulance (the person was fine and I think most everyone was relieved to not have to sit through 75 kids walking up and getting their diplomas!).  Charlie was one of the few who actually got to “walk.”  They did have to call his name a few times to get his attention, which surely made the audience wonder about the “future engineer” award.  But,  he was pretty darn proud.   

Afterward the program they always have a huge party with pizza and cake and fun.  Everyone loved it except for Emmeline (and Jeff who was manning Em).  She had her own ideas about what she wanted to be doing and they included drinking from an Elmo juice box which they didn’t actually have at this event (that was the last school event).  Charlie consented to me taking some pictures of him all gussied up.  Could you guess that he really doesn’t like getting his picture taken?  Not sure what got into him. Here’s Charlie with his best bud Saul.  They’ve been best buddies since they were in me and Heidi’s bellies.  Now they’re off to Kindergarten.  I can’t believe it.  And this is Ms. Simopolous.  She has taught both Hazel and Charlie at the Rockland.  She is amazing.  Seriously, I couldn’t dream up a better teacher.  She loves the kids so well, makes them feel so good about themselves and their abilities, she’s organized, they listen to her, they love her, she loves them, they all learn, they all enjoy learning, she seems to love her job…..I could go on and on.  It’s amazing how much a teacher blesses your children’s lives.  I’m so thankful for her. 

 

I’m so thankful for what Carol Wishowski has built at the Rockland and for all the people who have built it with her.  It takes great vision to create something like this.  I’m so grateful that my kids have been able to be introduced to the world of “school” through such a loving, nurturing, happy place.  A place where they have really learned how to love learning.  I need to write a whole post about this school sometime.  I’m really in love with it.

Now Charlie’s closing this chapter of his little life, and I have to admit, it’s a little sad.  He has learned so much, made so many friends, felt so loved and accepted. 

But, he’s most certainly off on the right foot…..headed out on that life long journey of learning.