Eighth graders celebrated the end of middle school and beginning of high school Monday morning at the El Dorado Middle School 8th Grade Promotion ceremony.
“You made it,” Principal Mike Browne told the students. “You survived middle school.”
He told the students they had done a great job.
“They will be a class to watch at the high school,” Browne continued. “This class has set goals and they will meet those goals.”
The achievements and activities of each student were read as they crossed the stage to receive their certificates of completion.
Two special awards also were presented to three students.
The Lavelle/Monte Watts Memorial Scholarship, which is to attend a camp, was presented to Daniel Rittle. The KSHSAA Citizenship Award went to two students, Megan Elgin and Travis House. This award recognized such things as their respect for the flag, the nation, other students and property.
House, the president of the Student Council, also gave his “student reflections” on their time at the middle school.
He began by thanking parents and teachers for their support and help throughout school.
House went on to share several memories he had from middle school, beginning with walking into what he thought was a “ginormous” building. He also recalled being called sixlets, then the next year calling the new sixth graders sixlets.
He remembered the championship basketball game in seventh grade and the eighth grade football season.
“I will remember how everybody has changed so much over the year,” he said.
His best memory, though, was of their trip to Worlds of Fun and screaming on all of the rides.
He went on to offer words of encouragement to his fellow classmates.
“We can’t be satisfied with completing the eighth grade,” House said. “He have to continue through high school and graduate.”
Following his speech, Browne presented the eighth grade class to the audience and dismissed the eighth graders one last time.
