Friday

Today it is "Pass It On" Day at Lauren's School.  It's the end-of-the-year event that wraps up an entire annum for teachers, students, parents and grandparents.

Mass is at 9:00 a.m., followed by the awards ceremony.  Every type of award is given out, from attendance, to the more spiritual sort. 

At the end of the awards ceremony, the students "pass it on," meaning that they symbolically move to their new grade, new classroom, and new teacher.  Each successive class is called up front and then sent to their new teacher and their new classroom.  Finally, they get to the eighth graders who are matriculating to something entirely new and apart from SS Philip & James School.  Some will attend Northwest Schools and some will head off to Central Catholic High School.  So there is some sadness since these students have been together in most cases since kindergarten.

And so -- where do they go during "pass it on"?  They join together and go back to kindergarten, where it all began.

One of the neat things they do at the school is pair up older students with younger ones.  Kindergarteners are paired with seventh graders, so this partnership goes on for two years.  My granddaughter's buddy made her a book with pictures and a fairy tale story line throughout.  It took time, energy, and love to make this book.  For her part, Lauren got into her mother's scrapbooking supplies, including stamps of all types, and made her buddy a handmade card.  Both of the Laurens got along really well, and the older Lauren was an excellent mentor for the younger Lauren.

Thursday was the day when the partners spent some time together one last time.  My granddaughter is understanding that things come to an end, even when we don't want them to.  She felt the sadness of the eighth graders who are separating and moving to high school.  They enjoyed a video of clips that were taken during the school year, and there were tears.

At this school, there are many traditions that work toward a goal -- of unifying the students towards the purpose of learning and growing, not only about the subject matter but also about God.  The end of the year is an emotional one even for teachers who have been known to shed tears at the "pass it on" morning.

After going to the new classroom, the students and their parents take it all in and then it's time to leave SPJ for the summer. 

We are all familiar with meetings, knowings, and endings.  It is the cyclical hallmark of our lives on earth.  Having feelings, caring, growing, learning, and loving are wonderful experiences and ones that deserve recognition.

Next year the school will have a new name -- Holy Cross Academy at SS Philip & James Church.  But for the students who have trod its halls and will return, it remains the same.  It's a home away from home, a place of comfort, discovery, and love. 

May God bless all of the children who are finishing school this week and give them a summer filled with wonder and grace.