Often times after I give my fifth grade “graduation” speech at the end of the school year, some parents and others ask for a copy of my words. In addition to sharing me speech with them, I figured that I would also share them here.
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Moving Up Ceremony 2019
And so we come to the end… I don’t like this moment, because I don’t like to say goodbye.
A number of parents, moms mostly, but a few dads as well, have asked that I don’t make them cry today. I can’t promise that because I might cry myself.
So, let’s not make it goodbye.
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This is a great class of students – dear to my heart. I have spent a lot of time with these students, especially this year, talking with them about so much.
I want you know something very important at the start. This is a special, a super special, group of students. This class has been complimented time and again for their kindness, respect, calmness, understanding and more. They’ve been praised more than most – maybe more than any other class.
These are really good kids.
I am very proud of them.
I know you are as well.
As parents, you did well. Very well. (Apples, most often, don’t fall far from trees.)
And, I’d like to think that as educators, we also did well.
I’d like to share some big ideas that we all talked about over the years, one last time, with the hopes that the students will remember these ideas always – to find success in life.
First – Success isn’t what we get or end up with. Success is something deeper, something that comes from hard work, perseverance, and kindness.
We become successful when we focus first on being good people – supportive, loving, and understanding.
When we know how to appreciate and empathize and care, we find success.
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