Middle School graduation

Soooooooooo much has been going on this month! Tom had his graduation ceremony from middle school and prior to that, his 8th grade trip; we've had tons of baseball (which is another post all to itself), it's the start of a new term at the college - busy, busy.

The ceremony was very nice - each kid was introduced by homeroom. They had a lovely slide show that captured the entire school year. Tom was the first picture! Then the power went out - it was very hot in the gym, let me tell you. Instead of diplomas, the kids got t-shirts. My camera wasn't behaving that night but hopefully this captures the shirts (this was taken at the reception after the ceremony).


As always, it was a bittersweet evening. The long-time principal of the middle school is retiring - she's such a wonderful person and has done so much for the school. In keeping with the way she is, she wanted to ceremony to be about the kids and not about her. I wish she'd have waited two years and retired with Sam!

There is always a post-graduation party at the local bowling alley. I helped chaperone - I think my hearing and voice is nearly back to normal now. It was a fun evening. Lots of prizes - and of course bowling is never a bad thing!

During the course of middle school, Tom's become very active in Playback theater. Playback theater was what Tom chose as his volunteer project - it's interactive theater. They visited day care centers, a couple of retirement community and their old elementary school. He's also been involved in drama and an improv group he formed with some friends. Their improv group is called "Not Gum" (don't ask me!) and they're amazingly funny. The most wonderful thing is the group of kids he's gotten to know and become friends with.

Here are a few pictures from Playback Theater:

this is Ethan, who is funny, nice, brilliant AND amazingly talented:


And a couple of group shots:



There were several going away parties for Mike, who's moving to L.A. by way of Russia:




Here's to high school!