Processional
Download the Powerpoint Presentation which was shown to the tune of "Pomp & Circumstance".

Pledge of Allegiance

Life Lessons from I Spy! (Sharon Carver, Director)

At graduation, the speaker’s job is to help the graduates, their families, and their friends to think about the learning they have done and plan for more learning in the future. As I’ve watched you this year, I’ve noticed you paying attention to your learning by being careful observers.  During our GAMES unit, we played observation games like “I Spy” in many different ways.  Today, I’d like to remind you of all the ways you learn by keeping your eyes open.

In September when you started Kindergarten, you had to notice the signs and watch the teachers in the classroom to learn where we keep materials, how we use them, and how we put them away so they don’t get lost. You also watch Miss McMichael carefully when you’re in gym or cooking class so that you can learn new warm up exercises or ways to use kitchen utensils.  Whenever you go new places, you’ll learn more quickly if you pay attention to the signs and follow good models.

Looking more carefully at the details of a new place can help you learn even more.  Remember then you studied Pittsburgh and learned about the difference between suspension, arch, and beam bridges, or when you explored Native American culture and learned about how a totem pole tells the family story.  Investigating the rock layers of the Grand Canyon showed you new color patterns of sandstone, limestone, and shale. You saw the effects of erosion that formed the canyon.  You also noticed the interesting ways that the plants and animals near the canyon are adapted to living with extreme temperatures and lots of time with no water.  You can deepen your learning by paying attention to details like these.

Sometimes tools can help you observe better, like when you used a mirror to help you see yourselves while you were drawing self-portraits or when you used a tape measure to determine your body proportions and make your body portraits.  Remember when you used a flashlight to help you see the shadows of the growing chicks inside the eggs?  We also use books and the web to find more information to help us understand what we observe.  In all these ways, you sharpen your observation by using helpful tools.

Here’s one caution.  You have to be careful observing because sometimes your eyes can fool you.  When you talked about wolves, you learned about how well they can camouflage themselves so they can’t easily be detected.  When you were comparing the water containers, you learned that it’s tricky to decide which container has more water when some are taller or wider or different shapes.  Do you remember which held more water?  Right, they were all the same.  We have to think when we’re observing to be sure that our eyes aren’t tricking us.

Another challenge is that you can’t always see everything at once.  When there’s a lot to see, you have to be patient and keep looking because each time you’ll notice something different.  We’ve been playing with the I Spy mobile for months now, and we can still find new objects or sets to make the game fun.  Sometimes you also have to wait a long time to see changes.  When you got the eggs and put them in the incubator, they looked the same for many days in a row. You had to wait more than 20 days to see the hatching process and then the chicks growing.  But you persisted; you kept watching until you saw the first cracks in the shells and then you kept watching as the chicks gradually freed themselves from the eggs.  And then, remember how much fun it was to watch them grow and learn? By observing, they found their food and water; they learned how to play with the other chicks; they even noticed you watching them. 

I hope that you’ll remember all these lessons about being careful observers all through your life.  We live in an amazing world with so much to see and learn.  Can you find the words that remind us of our lessons in this I Spy puzzle?  Let’s look at them a little bigger.

Remember to watch for signs in new places and follow good models.  They’ll help you focus on the details and use tools to help you observe better.  Remember to beware – so that your eyes don’t trick you.  And be patient, because sometimes the best observations take a long time before you see the most interesting part.

Congratulations on your graduation from kindergarten!  You have grown and learned so much.  We have one more challenge for you today – one more “I Spy” puzzle.  You’ve seen all the pictures during the processional and you’ll see them again when we’re giving the diplomas.  I wonder how carefully you’ve looked at the places in this building.  Can you guess where each photo was taken?  After the ceremony, you’ll find the puzzle in your lockers.  I hope that doing this last I Spy game will help you remember to be careful observers wherever you go. Good Luck, and thank you for being a part of the Children’s School family.

Download the Powerpoint Presentation that accompanies this speech.

Presentation of Diplomas

At this point, we'll present the diplomas. Each child will walk..., turn and smile for a photo, and return to his or her seat.

Let's give a round of applause for the graduates.

Download the Powerpoint Presentation that accompanies the presentation of the diplomas.

Teacher Appreciation

As you can see from the learning experiences we’ve discussed this morning, the quality of our kindergarten program is primarily a result of the combined talents of our teaching team - Mrs. Perovich, Miss Hancock and Ms. Broughton.  Naturally, they are also supported in many ways by the entire staff, especially Miss McMichael, who leads cooking classes and together with Mrs. McGillen teaches the gym classes.  This year, we’ve had many opportunities for the kindergarten to collaborate with the 3’s classes, and as usual all the teachers work as a team. Let’s all give them all a round of applause to show our appreciation.

Kindergarten Slide Show "Forever Young"

Our parting gift to you is a slide show of Special Memories set to the music of Forever Young.

Transition to Reception

Thanks to all of you for celebrating the kindergarten graduation with us.  At this time, the children will exit first and head to the kindergarten classroom.  We hope all of you will join us there in a few minutes to collect the children.  Copies of the I Spy game are in your children’s lockers.  You have about 30 minutes to play the game, take photos, change clothes, etc.  Please then make your way to the Vietnam Veterans Pavilion in Schenley Park for the whole school picnic from 11-1.  Enjoy the rest of the celebrations!