Class Completion Ceremony

Today was the Extra Challenge English Class 2006-2007 Completion Ceremony at my school and I just want to say . . . my students are AWESOME! I am so proud of them. They showed up and gave 100%. They memorized parts, faced the audience, spoke loudly . . . basically everything I asked them to do that they weren't doing during practice yesterday!

This is a brief synopsis of our simple program . . .

Two students (a boy-R, and a girl-H) were our emcees. They opened the program by welcoming the parents and guests and announcing that a fellow student, B, would lead us in the opening prayer. B led the group in saying "Our Father". Following the prayer, H introduced the school principal, Sir C, who gave a formal welcome and opening remarks.

Following the principal's (snoozer of a) speech, R announced that the class would present an "intermission" (the term used here for the entertainment numbers in programs). For their first intermission the students adpated a story they had read in class into a short play . . "The Giving Tree". We made props (tree trunk, branches, and apples) and hung a curtain creating a makeshift stage in the science lab where we held our classes and our program. In between each of the five story "events", they closed the curtain and switched out characters so that all of the students would have speaking parts. They did a great job.

Next, H announced that Ma'am Tracy would introduce our guest speaker. I had invited my PC supervisor to attend the program. Since she agreed to come, I asked her to give a few words of encouragement to the students (which was billed as "Inspirational Talk" in our Program). I introduced Mrs. B and she did not disappoint. She encouraged and inspired the students and parents alike. Thanks Nellie!

R then announced that the next intermission would be a poem, "One Red Apple", performed by the class. Those who were not characters in the poem stood behind the actors and spoke several intermittent lines in unison. There were 4 characters in the poem: Red Apple, Green Apple, Yellow Apple, and Johnny. The gist of the poem is: Red apple looks around and finds a "green thing" who claims to be an apple. Red apple informs "green" that he can't be an apple because he's GREEN - not red. Green apple cries. Same thing happens with yellow apple. Then Johnny comes along and sets them all straight. He tells them they are all apples no matter what color their skin, because they all have a "star within".

The "apples" wore large colored apples pinned on their front - at the end they all opened the apples and showed their stars inside . . they were all special - and they were all alike. It was sweet and they did a great job.

After this presentation, H announced that we would have the Certificate Distribution. And so we announced each student's name and they came to the front, accompanied by their parents, and received their certificate and grade card and shook hands with the principal, guest speaker, and teachers.

The final intermission was a song. They sang "I Have a Dream". The words were appropriate and heart-warming and the parents really enjoyed hearing them sing. It was nice.

Following the last intermission, R announced that the closing remarks would be given by (yours truly) Ma'am Tracy Henning. And so I did. I thanked principal and guest speaker, congratulated parents, and then addressed each of the students individually. I told them which adjectives I thought of first whenever I thought of them. By the smiles on their faces, I could tell that they enjoyed hearing how special they are to me. I didn't break down and boohoo, but my voice did crack a couple times and I got teary-eyed. But I recovered (it's not culturally acceptable to cry in public here, but what the heck . . I'm American!)

After my closing remarks, H announced that another student, N, would say the closing prayer. She came to the front of the class and said a prayer of thanksgiving for the class, parents, and teachers. I felt the love.

And so it went.

As I see it, the class and the program were both a success. It was nice to honor the students and let them see just how special they are to me and many others. They have all made permanent imprints on my heart . . . and for this, I am very thankful.