The Classroom

Awards, grad, farewells, and celebrations. Every year these topics seem to come up for discussion in every staff room. Who should get what, what should the event look like, when can we find the time, where should it be held, why do we even bother, and how are we going to make it all work???

While not getting into the whole “should we or should we not give out awards” debate – I’d like to just give my two (or three) cents on the whole “grad” phenomena. I hear people talk about there’s only one grad – grade 12, all the time. What is all this nonsense about grade six and nine grads – or heaven forbid KINDERGARTEN grad – after all what have these kids really accomplished??? They’re not going to join the work force – so why waste time?

I once read (and I wish I could remember where) a study that stated in our western culture, we don’t have enough mile stone celebrations. There is no real right of passage, no tangible look at me mommy I’m growing up. That’s what I feel these farewells and celebrations represent. They are our (as adults) opportunity to tell our young how proud we are of them, and how they are following the path we laid out for them – encouraging them along the way – letting them know they’re really accomplishing something important, not just doing busy work.

This week I participated in a 2 kilometre run/walk with my class (and I only cheated once!). Every 20 meters or so there were event organizers cheering and giving high fives to everyone as they passed. It motivated the runners. Made them proud. IT KEPT THEM GOING. That’s what kindergarten, grade six, and grade nine celebrations do for our students.

It also provides them with the opportunity to remind their parents that they are growing up, and becoming responsible. These events draw school communities together, they can make families closer, and they’re one heck of a party! Sure they can be a pain to plan – but nothing worth doing is ever easy. Celebrating every success we can is defiantly worth doing….