Graduation Day :')

Woke up at 7:00am, had chocolate croissant for breakfast, and set off for school. Normally we park under the gym but today we had to park in the grounds to save the parking spaces for all the guests for the graduation. The 1st and 2nd graders were still around for 1st period only, and they were all like “Wow Jaime-sensei in a suit!” haha, cuties. The staffroom was alive with activity as the teachers made the final preparations for the graduation. The tea lady was busy making a lot of sakura tea. We had a staff meeting in the morning, and then it was just waiting till the graduation ceremony started at 10:00, so it was quite the wait. Headed over to the gym at around 9:30am, and got seated. The graduation ceremony was just as good as the practices; kids were absolutely perfect, moving like a well-oiled machine. The 6th graders looked so adorable in their suits and formal wear! They all looked very smart, the girls had done their hair nicely, and one of the girls was even wearing a hakama (6-2’s homeroom teacher was also wearing a hakama)! The boys looked very smart and handsome, a lot of them had gotten haircuts for today haha. The kids’ singing was very impressive – it gave me goosebumps! The younger grades were truly singing with all their might, and they even did harmonies and everything. After the ceremony ended we filed out of the gym in order, and then went to line the driveway next to the grounds to see the 6th graders off one last time. It was super cute, everyone was crowding around the path, and the 5th graders brought out the arches they had made/used for the farewell assembly, and all the teachers got flowers to give to the kids. There was even very fitting music being played in the background! The 6th graders came walking down to us congratulating them and giving them flowers. It was kinda funny as well because the 3rd to 5th graders would be helping us teachers spot which kids didn’t have flowers. After the mini parade finished the 6th graders were just busy taking photos with each other and all the teachers.

At 12:30 all the staff met back in the staffroom for a post-graduation meeting. It was very heartwarming because the 6th grade teachers were thanking everyone, but they couldn't get through their speech because they both just burst into tears. I never thought I would see 6-1’s teacher cry like that! And 6-2’s teacher was saying how she didn’t think she was going to cry, but when she saw the kids bow in sync today (apparently they didn’t do too good at practice yesterday) it kinda just hit her at that moment. Everyone’s eyes were a little watery at this point as we watched them express their thanks to everyone with tears and a deep bow. After that we had lunch, but I changed out of my suit before having lunch first. Then everyone was just kinda doing their own thing after lunch finished. It felt a bit weird now that all the kids are out of school. It’s been such a long while since last year’s summer holiday when I first arrived at this school! Got off work at 16:00 and went home.