From Kindergarten To High School, Graduating By Degrees

This week, the kindergarten graduated 38 students and the following day New Haven High School graduated 42 students. In New Haven, graduating students is done by degrees. During the kindergarten graduation, Mrs. Meyer said in her speech that the kindergarten was fortunate to be able to complete a full year in class, and that the students were now readers and writers and able to do simple mathematics problems. The kindergartners are now on their way to the in-between years where they will be able to improve on all the basic skills which were introduced to them this year.

The exciting thing to see will be to what degree do they apply the things they learned over the course of the next 12 years before they graduate again as a senior in high school.

In New Haven, being a small town, families will be able to follow the timeline of these kids as they head toward their next graduation. Some will play in sports, some will excel in academics, and some will exhibit leadership skills. All will surely go on to do great things. In the New Haven School system, the parents and the students become one big family that go through the ups and downs of winning tournaments, achieving honors and performing arts. Through it all, the parents will be cheering on not only their kids, but the whole of the student body.

This year’s high school seniors have some pretty amazing students who have achieved some pretty amazing things. For example, Emma McIntyre is heading to Columbia University with a bunch of scholarships and an intention to major in astrophysics. Not only has Emma excelled as a student and been recognized by several news outlets, but she has just finished her year as an award-winning athlete in track and cross country. During basketball season, we’ve watched both the boys and the girls have a very exciting seasons with John Leggitt being recognized as being one of the area’s top players.

Emma and John are only two examples of many members of this year’s senior class who have achieved high honors throughout their student years. Just like the kindergartners, the high school was also fortunate to have been able to attend in-class school throughout the school year.

There were challenges to be met for the students and the teachers but the challenges were overcome and New Haven High School can be proud that they exceeded expectations. This year’s class of 42 students graduated and are now on their way to jobs or more school or more training.

It will be interesting to see where the members of this year’s high school graduating class go, and to see who returns to cheer on this year’s graduating Kindergarteners and maybe add their own future children graduating by degrees in New Haven.