You haven't seen cute until you've seen a couple dozen 5 year olds in light blue graduation gowns and matching mortarboards with white tassels, faces lined with concentration and furrowed in nervous anticipation. (I've heard too that yawning can be a sign of stress; if so, there was one very anxious stressed out kid in the group.) Such was the scene this week at the kindergarten graduation of El Camino school.
The school year here goes from February through November. We pretty much have two seasons on the northern coast of Honduras: hot season and rainy season. Rainy season is November through February-ish, so it makes sense that the school year would follow the weather patterns. Rainy season is almost like snow days- when it rains really hard, you just can't get around out here. Rivers rise, bridges wash out, roads flood, and everyone just stays put at home until the water goes down. So our school year lets out before this can become a major obstacle to school attendance.
Kindergarten graduation is a big deal here. Every child not only has their family members present, but their parents have also asked someone to be the padrino or madrina - the sponsor/godparent. I wasn't entirely sure what the responsibilities associated with this role were, but it turned out to be 1) attending, 2) buying a gift, and 3) presenting the gift on stage to the graduate during the ceremony. Due to some crossed signals and miscommunication, I ended up agreeing to be a madrina for two different little girls.
Each of the children had a portrait taken with their family before the ceremony.
Once all the guests were seated in the classroom that had been set up for the ceremony, they marched down the aisle to 'Pomp and Circumstance.'
The program included a recitation of the ABCs in Spanish and English, memory verses, and songs.
Then came the exciting presentation of diplomas from the teachers and gifts from sponsors.
The director of the school gave a commencement address that talked about how a graduation is not just an ending and a celebration of accomplishments, but also a beginning- in this case the beginning of an education. The children did better than some of the adults at sitting still and paying attention throughout.
Then came lunch! Festive and tasty, with fruit salad, barbecue chicken, salad, and of course, tortillas. There was cake, and there were balloons. All in all, quite the occasion.
It was really fun being part of such an important celebration for our community. I also had no idea how many people I know who are connected to children at the school; many of our hospital employees were there as either parents, grandparents, or sponsors. I felt honored to be included
The school year here goes from February through November. We pretty much have two seasons on the northern coast of Honduras: hot season and rainy season. Rainy season is November through February-ish, so it makes sense that the school year would follow the weather patterns. Rainy season is almost like snow days- when it rains really hard, you just can't get around out here. Rivers rise, bridges wash out, roads flood, and everyone just stays put at home until the water goes down. So our school year lets out before this can become a major obstacle to school attendance.
Kindergarten graduation is a big deal here. Every child not only has their family members present, but their parents have also asked someone to be the padrino or madrina - the sponsor/godparent. I wasn't entirely sure what the responsibilities associated with this role were, but it turned out to be 1) attending, 2) buying a gift, and 3) presenting the gift on stage to the graduate during the ceremony. Due to some crossed signals and miscommunication, I ended up agreeing to be a madrina for two different little girls.
 |
| graduate Alison and mom Marlenis |
 |
| graduate Shelby and mom Chaito |
Each of the children had a portrait taken with their family before the ceremony.
Once all the guests were seated in the classroom that had been set up for the ceremony, they marched down the aisle to 'Pomp and Circumstance.'
The program included a recitation of the ABCs in Spanish and English, memory verses, and songs.
 |
| Some of the graduates- my 'goddaughters' far right second row and far left first row |
Then came the exciting presentation of diplomas from the teachers and gifts from sponsors.
The director of the school gave a commencement address that talked about how a graduation is not just an ending and a celebration of accomplishments, but also a beginning- in this case the beginning of an education. The children did better than some of the adults at sitting still and paying attention throughout.
Then came lunch! Festive and tasty, with fruit salad, barbecue chicken, salad, and of course, tortillas. There was cake, and there were balloons. All in all, quite the occasion.
It was really fun being part of such an important celebration for our community. I also had no idea how many people I know who are connected to children at the school; many of our hospital employees were there as either parents, grandparents, or sponsors. I felt honored to be included
