So grandson Patrick is now a high school graduate! The School for Creative and Performing Arts held its graduation at Music Hall last night. It’s a small class – 116 wonderful kids – but the first floor was packed, with some folk in the balcony.
First came junior boys bringing in the colors, then the daisy chain, a group of girls proceeding solemnly with a long floral chain, which defined the stage. Faculty and staff, and then the seniors marching in, each major signified by a different color rope over their shoulders. Theater tech, Patrick’s major, is bright yellow.
No real commencement speaker. A few words each from the principal, a school board member, a student introducing the school counselor, who introduced the survivors – the kids who had been in that class since 4th grade, then a member of the school district administration. Two salutatorians, one of whom presented a poem she had written, welcomes from the class officers. Singing by the school choir. Several of the speakers thanked parents, grandparents and guardians. At one point, the seniors applauded all of us. Then the Valedictorian.
Then the presentation of diplomas, by major. With strict warnings that we were not to applaud and go over the top for our student. Actually, they already had it figured out. With a receiving line strung out along the stage, each name was read with everyone shouting and whooping, and when that died down, they read the next name. Very smart.
After that, it was hard to keep the kids or the audience in order, but the class president presided over the turning of the tassles, and an alumni welcomed them into the alumni association. The choir sang May the Road Rise To Meet You, and then came the march out. All Wonderful!
We took Patrick and his friends to dinner at Sung Korean Bistro, which is becoming the family’s default restaurant for all occasions, where another grand time was had by all. And then it was 11:30! Have no idea how it all took so long.
P.S. Almost all the winners of awards and all the presenters in the class were girls. Maybe two guys. The pendulum has certainly swung. Another indicator of the paradigm shift.