Brenna's Kindergarten Graduation

It's been quite a year!  I had no idea what we were getting into when we started school!  It has been an adventure for both Brenna and me.  Brenna loved every bit of kindergarten!  There was never a morning that she woke up and said "I don't want to go!"  And even on mornings when she was sluggish, all I had to do was say "I guess I'll call Ms. Franklin and tell her we're not going to make it to school today!" and she was up and at it like lightening!

Now, I know I complain about people who get on facebook and carry on about how fabulous their kids are at everything they do.  In most cases I know those kids personally and have an insider knowledge that they are not the saints their parents have professed them to be.  Given that information, I have a disclaimer.  Since this is my personal blog with a limited audience I chose to toot the horn of my very smart, yet very stubborn child who has done so well this past year.  She excelled in her studies!  For 4 straight semesters she mastered every skill with perfect report cards.  We were all green smiley faces all year which earned us a Good Citizenship Award.  She blew through her reading levels and by the end of the year she was reading DRA level 18 books when only a DRA level 4 is required to pass kindergarten.  Her writing quickly moved from chicken scratch to neat and legible and she mastered basic spelling using phonics!  Just to brag alittle more, all the kids were given the CogAT test shortly after the beginning of the school year.  CogAT is Cognitive Abilities Test which tests a students general reasoning abilities.  Brenna scored higher than 92 percent of children in her age bracket nationally.  She's always been a good thinker and has a natural ability to learn.  I hope this continues to carry us through the our many years of school.

Given the amount of time I spent at school I had the opportunity to get to know and see all kindergarten teachers in action.  I have a whole new respect for the teaching profession.  I also realized that like in any other profession, there are those that are especially talented in their career choice and there are those that just get by at what they do.  I have no doubt that Ms. Franklin was an answered prayer for us and we were blessed with a fantastic teacher!  I consider this one of the reasons Brenna enjoyed school so much.

Kindergarten Graduation was held the last week of school.  The kids put on a short program and then 110 kindergartens were called one at a time to receive their diploma and awards.  Brenna received  a medal for learning and reading all her sight words for the year, a trophy for participating in the Science Expo, and awards for Good Citizenship, Good Attendance, and Library Reading Club.

She looked very grown-up in her pretty dress and high-heel shoes!

After graduation, there were popsicles for everyone and a quick run through of friends.  I didn't take many pictures because things were very crowded and the kids were completely distracted.  

Unlike last year at preschool graduation, I didn't even shed a tear.  Last year I knew something was coming to an end.  She wasn't a baby anymore.  She was heading off to "big kid" school and I would be losing a very large chunk of her time that I have cherished being a part of.  Kindergarten was a tough adjustment for me.  I tried to fill my time with useful and beneficial activities by volunteering at school and church.  While they kept me busy, I was ready to have my girl back home with me, even if it was just for 12 short weeks.  This year graduation was more joyful since I was getting her back for the summer!  

And finally, here's our Kindergarten Graduate in her cap and gown!