Sara Sandstrom-Kobi, Nederland. It is traditional for Nederland Elementary to hold a graduation or continuation ceremony for the Kindergartners. This year it was held virtually on May 21, 2020. 

Teachers Mary Waddell and Meaghan McLuckie welcomed their students and their families. They then sang two songs that the students had been practicing, ABC You Later and With My Own Two Hands.

One by one the students unmuted their microphones and shared what they want to be when they grow up and how that will make the world a better place. Students shared that they want to be doctors, teachers, inventors, construction workers, farmers, animal rescuers and even a firefighting ninja. Their dreams are big but their goals simple. They want to help others. I think we could all learn from these five and six-year-olds.

Certificates had been mailed to students prior to the online ceremony and they proudly held them up to the camera and everyone cheered. The teachers then showed a slideshow presentation that they prepared from photos taken throughout the school year. Tears could be seen in the eyes of teachers, parents and students as the music played. They then said goodbye to their teachers and their year in Kindergarten. 

Boulder Valley School District’s first year of all-day Kindergarten has been a great success in Nederland. It was a year of learning the fundamentals of reading and writing. It was also a year of learning social skills from how to resolve conflicts to going through a lunch line. The students loved going to music, art, physical education, library and the end of the day centers of building, painting and dramatic play. They grew in confidence and in inches throughout the year. 

Get ready first grade, teachers, you have an amazing group of kids coming your way! 

(Originally published in the May 28, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)