Sixth Grade Grad!

Dear Lila,

Your elementary school went up to 5th grade, so you had a 5th grade graduation. Your current school's elementary school goes up to 6th grade, though (with the high school going from 7th to 12th grade), so you also got a 6th grade graduation this year!

It was your typical graduation ceremony: speeches by the headmaster and faculty (who were all considerate enough to keep them short and sweet), a slideshow of school pictures (plus the cute addition of all the graduates' baby photos!), a musical performance by the students (you and your class played a few songs on your recorders and I love you but you guys were, um, not good) and the presentation of the diplomas. After each student received his/her diploma, the headmaster made sure to pose with the student so that the parents' could take a photo. When it was one classmate's turn, she said that her parents hadn't come and your art teacher, without missing a beat, jumped up and said, "I'll take a picture!" It was so kind and yet another example of the thoughtfulness I've witnessed amongst your teachers this year.

I'm so happy that you got into Garden and that you have really thrived this year. The small, close-knit community (there are only 17 kids in your grade!) is perfect for you and though you started the school year knowing no one, you now have a really great group of friends. The four of you made up silly nicknames for each other and often call each other after school. You told me that you feel closer to them than you had to any of your previous friends and that you can tell them anything. I love that you have found that for yourself!

I am really proud of how well you have done in school this year. You had a lot more work this year but you handled it well. ELA was your favorite class (duh) and your writing has improved so much. Your teacher told me that you regularly speak up in class and that sometimes you even got into debates with your classmates about particular topics, and that is so huge for you!

You also stuck with the honors math class when most of your fellow 6th graders dropped out within weeks. You spent the year working on 7th and 8th grade concepts and your math grade was not good at the end of the first quarter (B-), but you studied hard and your 4th quarter grade was an A, giving you a final A- for the class. And you said you even like math now!

I am also proud of how you continue to be so responsible. All year, you woke up in the mornings by yourself and were always ready by the time the bus arrived at 7am. You stayed on top of your schoolwork and tests. You helped out at home with housework and taking care of your siblings. You are AMAZING. And now you have the summer to relax! 

Love,

Mom