Tag: preschool graduation

Posted in children, grandparenting

It’s a wrap: preschool graduation

Posted on by William Douthwaite

It’s been seven years since I attended a preschool graduation. The church closed the preschool in 2017 due to declining enrollment. One grandson missed out on preschool commencement due to Covid. But today a granddaughter proudly stood with her classmates as they finished up a year of voluntary prekindergarten and looked forward to kindergarten next fall.

If you’ve ever had to chance to attend, you know it’s so much more than just walking across the stage for a photo with your teachers. The program begins with performances from toddlers, two-year olds, and three-year olds. They each had a few songs for a packed house of parents, siblings, grandparents, and other family. Each class was all smiles as they waved, squirmed, sang, and danced to some of their favorite songs.

After the little ones had been safely returned to their families, it was time for the main event. Two dozen four and five year olds in blue graduation robes, filed in and took their places on the platform. As each spotted their families in the audience, they waved and broke into huge smiles. The teachers made sure everyone was in place and facing forward as they began to sing and dance.

After a few songs from each of the two classes, all were seated as each name was called and they went up the steps onto the platform to receive hugs and a blue mortarboard with tassel. The teachers then stood on either side of each student for the official graduation photo. After everyone had been recognized, we got to hear a few more songs before more photos with family and friends. Finally, everyone got what they really wanted: a juice box and a bag of cookies.

I never had a preschool graduation. I didn’t attend preschool. In fact, my kindergarten was only half day. Real school didn’t begin until first grade in the 1960s. I also didn’t have a sixth-grade promotion into junior high or 9th grade graduation into high school. My first graduation experience was high school.

Preschool graduation was one of the most fun things I got to do as a pastor at a church with a preschool. I knew all the students from weekly chapel, led them in songs, and was thankful we could make a difference in the community simply by teaching them colors, shapes, letters, and the love of Christ.

Posted in Ministry

Open Arms Preschool Graduation

Posted on by William Douthwaite

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Last Thursday night I attended our Open Arms preschool’s twentieth graduation. A couple dozen pre-K students were sent along to kindergarten with our blessing and thanksgiving for the time we had with them. Dressed blue cap and gown, each received their diploma and we announced what they wanted to be when they grew up. There was the usual assortment of public servants I(firefighters and police), doctors and dentists, but my favorite was an aspiring mermaid!

I was privileged to lead them in prayer to open the night, and then sing some songs with them that we had learned though the course of the year. I get to read from the bible, sing and pray with them each Wednesday during the school year and summer program. It is a unique way of reaching into the families of our community, sending these students home to encourage their parents in prayer, worship and mercy.

We had no commencement speaker, nor was there a valedictorian, but a great time was had by all. My youngest daughter, who is now graduating high school, graduated from Open Arms thirteen years ago. She ran the sound board for last week’s graduation all by herself. Another grad, Tabitha, is now a teacher at our school. But the anchor of our program have to be Shari and Sarina, who have taught there all twenty years that the school has been a part of our church. In a business where staff comes and goes, it’s rare and a blessing to have that kind of consistency and commitment.

That’s graduation number two. Number three in just a few days!

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