The boys graduated from preschool on Monday, February 21st and have officially been proclaimed elementary school kids. I can't believe that they're moving on the elementary school. The closing of their preschool days was marked with a beautiful graduation ceremony. The boys will be back at the school for after school programs over the next three years. So, it's not really goodbye to the school itself, but to the teacher they spent time with pretty much every day and some of their friends who are moving on to different schools. All total, there were two classes graduating from the pre-school: the Rainbow class and the Galaxy class (eunhasuban--the boys's class).
On display outside of the cafeteria, where the ceremony took place, were drawings and letters for their teacher, Kim Bomeui. Ronan, above, wrote, "I love you Kim Bomeui seonsaengnim (teacher),"and drew a picture of a tic-tac-to game, a game he and his teacher played together often. Oliver, below, wrote, "I love you Kim Bomheui seonsaengnim."
The graduates climb down the stairs from their classroom and head to the cafeteria for the ceremony.
The Director of the school as well as the Dean of University Life were there to offer congratulatory remarks. The ceremony was very well done and each child was honored.
Kids in the 6 year-old class had come to sing the graduates a congratulatory song, and the graduates sung a song for their teacher. Ronan's voice, I swear, was the biggest of the bunch.
Big sister Dahin waited patiently throughout the ceremony. It's a new thing for her to not be the one watched--normally the brothers have to wait for her ceremonies or performances.
Then, each child was called up for an award honoring something special about their personality or accomplishments. This made perfect sense, as the kids got more out of it than if there were just to simply receive a little diploma. Ronan's award was the "Master of Bright Greetings," and the teacher who was emceeing read out the writing on the award that said, "Sung Junmo was a model for his fellow students because he was always very cheerful, greeting his friends warmly everyday with a cute little smile. In praise of this accomplishment, he receives this award." (see video posting above)
Oliver's award was the following: "Master of Cooperation. Sung Hyunmo became a model for his friends as someone who, though his gallant character, knew how to work with his friends to garner a spirit of energetic cooperation. In praise of this accomplishment, he receives this award." (see video posting above)
Above, Dahin poses with Oliver and his award, and, below, the boys gather with their friends in their classroom one last time.
The teacher and children had prepared some songs for the parents, as well as distribution of the graduation photo albums and graduation gifts for the kids. The teacher was tearful as she said goodbye to the kids. The kids were funny: "Teacher, how come you're crying and laughing at the same time?" "Teacher, your face is red!"
The kids had drawn pictures of the thing they remember best. Oliver, above, wrote "Playing the squirrel game was the most fun." I like how he drew the photo of his friend, this kid in the class who wore pinkish-red cglasses and always wore pajamas at school. The girl at the top of the structure is saying, 'Hey, hurry up!"
Ronan wrote that his favorite thing was birthday parties. I like how big the table and the decorations are. The kids are like little ants around the table.
Above, the kids with their playground buddy and classmate Chanuk, and, below, with their girlfriend, bookworm and cookie chef extraordinnaire, Hayeong. Her mom is a piano professor in my college.
Above, the boys pose with their teacher one last time. Below, the boys pose outside of their school.
At home, it was present time! The boys got some great stuff for graduation gifts. Below, the graduation albums were just beautiful. Biggest problem: no prints to send to relatives (ok, besides some little keychain sized photos). I need to figure out how to scan some of these gorgeous photos and get them to Halmoni, Bubbie, and Grandfather.
Congratulations boys on this major milestone!
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