Fifth grade graduations are a thing now, modeled on high school and college graduations. Both my kids were promoted to middle school in short and sweet ceremonies but all these years later, first Nathan, now Elena, graduate like the big kids.
Yesterday was--after forty-something years in and out of Helotes Elementary--my last time to be in an audience in the cafeteria/auditorium of proud Bulldog students, gold and blue.
Parents and grandparents showed up with flowers and balloons. Cell phones were clicking all over the place as these 11 and 12-year olds walked the stage. Teachers read favorite quotes of each student and told a little about them--which I enjoyed most of all.
This class of 5th graders includes many future NFL players, as well as one new superintendent of Northside School District, a few writers and artists, a couple of police officers, one firefighter, one doctor, and several veterinarians.
When the class president spoke, he quoted Biden--to my surprise, Helotes being a pretty conservative town--calling this year's crop of graduates among the "most tolerant" of students. They are that. Kids of 2023 seem more tolerant of differences than many parents and grandparents.
Elena's quotation was by a professional rodeo cowgirl: Success doesn't lead to happiness; happiness leads to success.
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