Wow, what a day. Our first-ever Moving Up Ceremony here at Hilltop Children’s House Montessori School was a sun-drenched affair.
We gathered in the front yard with the Primary children in front of their building and the Elementary in front of theirs. Between the buildings was a small arched bridge which Mr. Tom made last night. The bridge served as a physical sign of the crossing over that takes place.
As the ceremony began, Miss Noëlle shared what it means to move up from Primary to Elementary. She talked about what changes are happening in the children, why and how the Elementary environment is different due to these changes, and what parents can do to grow with and support their new Elementary student’s development.
Then, when Miss Noëlle called each child’s name, a classmate from their Primary classroom gave them a white rose — a symbol of farewell and of new beginnings. Then they stepped over the bridge, pausing in the middle for a photo with their rose. After they crossed the bridge to join their new Elementary classmates, Mr. Tom invested each with their work bag. Work bags are one of main differences between Primary and Elementary, and are a real sign that a student is in Elementary rather than Primary.
They then were presented with a frame that has a sendoff card from their Primary classmates, a welcome card from their Elementary classmates, and a space for their own photo from this day.
Then Mr. Tom welcomed them to the Elementary class, and exhorted the entire class to welcome each other, work together, learn together, learn from one another, and be a great class, as we had this past year.
This moving ceremony was followed by a cake and bubbly reception — sparkling cider for the kids and champagne for the parents.
The Elementary kids took it upon themselves to organize a toast with their new classmates.
The kicker at the end of the day was when one of the new Elementary students asked his mother if he could come back to school tomorrow to get to work! She informed him that there’s no school tomorrow, it’s Saturday, and Elementary wouldn’t resume for three months. He was disappointed and asked sincerely why he had to wait three months to go to Elementary!
We have such great kids.
This was truly a great day for Montessori in Steubenville.