So for three years (with one week long break each year...summer vacation? What's that?) the students in Elephant class climbed their first scholastic mountain and on August 1 they completed that journey with a graduation ceremony. Naturally this involved a series of long and complex practices, loud speakers, dancing and lots of singing. Why? You might be wondering. I was wondering the same thing, so during one of the planning meetings I was bold and asked. The response was very simple: "During the ceremony, we want to make the students' parents cry. We want them to cry so much, because they are so happy." Got it.
The final day in kindergarten began on July 31 with the students arriving in the morning loaded with sleeping bags, swim suits (complete with matching swim caps and goggles), squirt guns, two changes of clothes, a blow dryer (yes each kid had their own), towel, toiletries (including hair products), two sets of pajamas, two pairs of shoes, a set of dress clothes, a pillow and a night light. That's right folks, we are having a sleep over.
After a full day in class, the students enjoyed a special fried rice meal (including fish bait, clams and sea cucumbers) then changed their clothes into their gear for the impending water fight. This chaotic event was held on the small lawn in front of the school (the very same lawn that all the parents would sit on during the ceremony on the following day). It was fun, friendships grew closer and new ones formed. Teachers dumped buckets of water on their "favorite" students and a good time was had by all. Like all events of this kind, the clean up took 4x longer than the fight itself.
Each student bathed, then had their hair blow dried (with their personal dryer), then various skin creams were applied and the pajamas were put on. For 45 6 year olds, this took about two hours. At this point it was almost 10 pm (yes all the teachers all still there) and it was decided that the students should participate in a rousing pillow fight. But didn't we just shower and its like 100 degrees in this room? Too late. This lasted all of one minute, the strong preyed on the weak and many cowered in fear. In hindsight, this was not a good idea. Thankfully it wasn't mine.
I left around 10:30pm, went to bed and went back to school at 8 to help get the kids up and dressed for the graduation ceremony at 10. After applying all the makeup (even the boys) and various hair products, each student got in their new clothes (purchased just for this event), then put on their graduation cap and gown. I can't tell you how hot it was in that room. The kids were nervous, the boys were fighting and water poured out of them all faster than we could get it into their bodies again.
Once the parents arrived, we went for a tearful "walk of memories" around the school and to my suprise (I am pretty cynical I suppose), many of the students began to cry when they realized this was the last time they would walk these halls. One of my students had been at this school everyday for the last 4 1/2 years.
Next we proceeded onto the outdoor stage (sitting in the soaked and muddy water fight battlefield) for the presentation of the certificates. This involved each student climbing onto the jungle gym then going down the slide, running through the mud then bowing at the reception of the gift. Once each class finished this, the teachers had "ceremonial tea" with the students as a sign of mutual respect. Next two students were chosen from each class (yes that is the valdivictorian and the salutitorian), and they presented a gift to the students in the younger classes.
Once this finished all the "graduates" gathered on the stage to sing an English song to their parents, followed by a Chinese song. During the Chinese song, space was made for each teacher to give a speech to the kids and parents. These speeches were fairly emotional, particularly for some of the Chinese teachers as they have been with the same class for 3-4 years. I was moved by this (I am such a softy), when I realized just how capable and smart these kids really are. It is difficult not brag about them, but I will simple say that there were some of the most intelligent people I have ever met in that group of 6-7 year olds.
Once this finished, the English teachers stood in front of the kids and led them in one final "excercise time." Of course it was so ridiculously hot (as it was almost noon), that several of the kids felt sick and many of the parents rushed inside to bring water out for their singing and dancing kids. More gifts were given and more speeches were made. Then, suddenly it was over.
At 12:15 the ceremony was over. At 12:45 the new "Big Classes" were set up in the now vacant rooms. The shelves that were emptied with the students leaving, were then filled again with the necessities of the other students. As each "graduate" left they were also given their new books and materials that they would need for class. Afterall, school starts on Monday.
So after all that, here are the graduation pictures of Elephant class (yes these are the "official" school pictures and yes those are guns):
Thank you Elephant class for teaching me so much.
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