Keeping Memories Close: Sage's Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony

Because Kindergarten Graduation was today, Sage was up at 6am so ready for it. She's been so excited about her graduation. I honestly hadn't given it much thought. I mean, I knew it was coming and was happy for her, but the wave of emotions that hit me like a ton of bricks and the gravity of what it became once I was there was another story. I can't describe it really. It's just that time is going by way too fast. I said earlier that it seemed like it was just the first day of school. Then I was thinking, "Oh my gosh, she's going to be graduating high school just this fast." Then I thought of how much she's learned and grown this year. Then I thought of things like this. I remembered thinking that something like school and growing up was forever away. I thought of how much she loved kindergarten this year and thanked God for the sweet teacher, Mrs. Brooks, who nurtured that love that Sage has for learning and school. And I thought of watching the last Oprah yesterday and how she said that the first person in her life that made her feel like she mattered was a teacher. Now, I know that Mrs. Brooks isn't the first person that's made Sage feel like she matters, but she HAS done that. And all of these thoughts were before it even began. So I was crying before it even started. AND it was hot in there.

Waiting to see boo boo

And then the graduation song started playing, and in they marched.

You can see this whole ceremony in pictures and video. Watch them walk in here.

Sage's class

Their first song that they sang was called, "It's Our Time." Sage has been singing this for weeks, but today, it made the tears flow. AND she got to play the xylophone! She said that she was one of the few that got to play because she's always so well behaved. Woot! Watch that song here.

How precious is that?

So, so sweet

Back to her seat. She's so proper. ;)

Then they sang, "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." Sage had been telling me that there was a surprise in this song. This song was fun. It helped me get a grip a little bit.

The surprise: kazoos. SUPER cute. Watch "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" here.

She said that she was the only girl that got a pink kazoo and that all of the other girls wanted it.

They had one final song. It pushed me over the edge of being able to hold my composure. On top of the words of "waving goodbye," they actually waved goodbye. I also realized here that Mrs. Brooks, who has been teaching for a really long time, was retiring this year, so she, who is normally very composed, was teary too. She's in the bottom left corner watching her students in this. Sage had told me that they would be waving goodbye to Mrs. Brooks in this song. I considered calling Dr Collins and asking him to phone me in some Prozac after this one. ;) It is a precious song. Watch it here.

Sweet Mrs. Brooks

Then Mrs. Copeland and Mrs. Brooks presented the diplomas to the class. Sage is waiting patiently for her's.

Getting her diploma from Mrs. Copeland, the principal. Watch that here.

My sweet, precious girl

Checking out her diploma

After they all got their diplomas, the ceremony was concluded and the parents signed their children out. It was very difficult with Mrs. Brooks crying and myself crying. I was able to muster out a "thank you" to her. I had sent her a card that expressed that better than I was able to today. I thought that the children weren't going tomorrow, but Mrs. Brooks said that they need to to get their report cards. I thought this might be nice for Sage, as well, so that she could spend some fun time with Mrs. Brooks.