To Stella First Grade Graduate

On Friday you graduated from first to second grade with the traditional Trinity moving up ceremony. The night before you asked me to put my left hand on my heart and raise my right hand as though swearing a solemn oath. Then you asked me to promise that I would not cry during the moving up ceremony. However, we both know that this event is rife with tear-jerking songs and that to swear such an oath would be tantamount to lying. So I refused which was a good thing since I basically cried through the whole damn thing. But my tears are as much out of joy as they are out of sadness at the passage of time. I am so very proud of you and how far you've come this school year. It was wonderful to stand in the back of the auditorium with Vivian and watch you (and the whole Lower School) sing the family tree song. And to see you onstage enthusiastically singing with your class.

This year you learned how to read, how to write with unbelievably neat handwriting, how to spell, how to add and subtract. The stories that you write have an added level of complexity and depth. Your art projects were mostly sensational -- my favorite being your circus train.

Socially the year could not have been better. You have many wonderful friends and did not seem to have a single conflict with anyone all year. Not that conflict is a bad thing but it was a relief to have a year that was so free of social anxiety or complexity. Your friends were all just so nice to each other and you never seemed to be stressed out about anything as you sometimes were last year over social things. I know you've been a great friend too. You've led gymnastics classes on the turf and taught many of your friends how to do backbends, handstands, cartwheels, etc. You've helped and watched with pride as Maya learned to put her face in the water and then to swim.

You loved your teachers and you were so excited to go to school everyday which is truly all a parent wants. You've been so excited to show everyone the work you brought home at the end of the year. Your binder was filled with pictures that you drew inspired by poems and your monthly memories. On one page you were asked to write what your favorite thing about your room was. You wrote, "My sister". When I read that I looked at Vivian who was beaming and said, "Vivian that must make you so happy. Stella, what a nice thing to write." You looked at me and answered simply, "Well, it's true."

In addition to school things, this year you have worked so hard and improved so much in gymnastics. At your medal ceremony, your coach told me that you are really good and he wants to move you up to the advanced class and that, in fact, you could be on the recreational team should you so desire. I was kind of shocked. I didn't really realize that you had that kind of gymnastics talent. But you have worked so hard at home and at school on the turf and all your work has really paid off. This was evident to me as I stood on the floor at Chelsea Piers and watched you earn your medal. You also took chess and tried lacrosse. You liked both of them -- lacrosse seemingly a bit more. I've been impressed by your willingness to try new things, even if they scare you a little bit.

You also started piano lessons this year and have come pretty far there too. You had four recitals and your confidence has grown with each one. It is nice to see you willing to be the center of attention with all eyes on you because that does not tend to be a place where you are naturally comfortable.

A First Grade highlight this year was getting to wear your Halloween costume at school and participating in the Halloween parade. You were a little nervous about walking down the stairs all by yourself with the whole Lower School watching but you were also so in love with your Snowflake Fairy costume. You reported that it was really fun and you remembered what almost every other kid was wearing. It's great having a daughter who is so observant and loves to share information!

I remember back to the Christmas chapel when you were so looking forward to (and a little nervous about) walking down the aisle with your candle. I went shopping to try to find you a perfect dress and I did. You were really happy when I gave it to you and loved it as much as I knew you would. And it looked so absolutely beautiful on you. You were radiant walking down the aisle both at the Crenshaw Center (with the fake candle) and in chapel (with real fire!). At the all school chapel you were outraged and upset that the first grade could not be heard singing "Partridge in a pear tree" because of the loud cheering. And you were confused about why the ninth grade gets booed (which is a lousy tradition but I guess par for the course). We had such a good time at the Christmas Fair. I can see that soon you will be running around there without me and dad. You and Segi were already off on your own a little bit.

A few years ago, at a parent conference we had with your Red Room teachers, Lynn told us to really appreciate the wonderful feedback we were getting about you, that it is not always the case for parents to just hear how wonderful their children are. I have a memory of her telling us what a pleasure you are to teach because you are so enthusiastic about every new experience and by every project that a teacher introduces. This is among the reasons why it is also such a pleasure to be your parents. You are always up for and excited for any adventure and you share the things that you are doing and learning at school with such joy. Congratulations on a great year. I love you so much. Love, Mom