La Nina's Big Day

Today, we celebrated La Nina's graduation from pre-kindergarten. Her school had a very official ceremony. The kids were dressed in gowns, brightly painted t-shirts with the hand prints of their classmates and paper hats. Then, the teacher handed out diplomas and served up some pizza to help send this crop of five year olds into the world of elementary school.

Of the twelve in La Nina's class, eight have been together since they were 2. These kids have ate together, slept together, learned together and grown together for three years and it was touching to see them graduate as a group. A couple of the kids were very emotional. One little boy had to stay on the sidelines. One little girls cried on and off throughout the ceremony.

La Nina shed a few tears last night because she realized today was her last day at this school. But she seemed fine today and proudly accepted her diploma, then gave her teacher a big hug.

This school has done such a great job preparing these kids for kindergarten. And it's funny: it's not the best school in town. It's a good school, but it's not fancy or snooty. There is not a defined teaching style at the school. In fact, if anything, it's pretty old fashioned in terms of how it deals with kids. Rules are rules. Time outs are handed out fairly. Teachers work closely with parents if there is a problem. As a school, it's affordable, flexible and very laid back. But the one thing I notice every time I walk into the place is that the kids are happy. And in the end, a happy kid will thrive.

Next year, these twelve will start at 6 different schools. Only one boy will be at La Nina's school and he isn't taking the Dual Immersion program, so he won't be in her class. But the amazing thing is that if everyone remains in the community (and considering most of us grew up here--we probably will), ten of the twelve will reunite in high school and thirteen years from now, we'll be with the same parents and grandparents sending these kids off to college. And oh what a day that will be.

Until then, we'll have twelve little souls to watch for around town. Twelve sets of parents that we'll wave to at the grocery store. And a community that will always hope the best for each other.