Graduation Walk at Shaw Road Elementary School

One of the traditions that I love in our district is the Grad Walk where seniors get to walk through the hallways of their elementary school while wearing their cap and gown the day before they graduate.  After seeing this in person for the first time last year while I was subbing at Shaw Road, I have been looking forward to watching Lia participate in this tradition for an entire year.  However, I found out about a month ago that her mandatory graduation practice at the fairgrounds began at the exact same time as her Grad Walk at 1 o'clock.  This is due to the fact that the elementary schools schedule their Grad Walks around the graduation practices of the high school that they feed into.  Since Lia waivered into Rogers High School, her graduation practice time was not taken into consideration.  After getting over the initial disappointment of this information, I decided to see if I could figure out a way to make it work and called the Roger's office.  After talking to a really nice lady on the phone and explaining Lia's situation, she quickly gave Lia permission to be about 25 to 30 minutes late to her graduation practice.  Although this was good news, trying to make it to both events made Lia and I a little nervous, especially since I had been told that Grad Walks can start late due to many seniors arriving late to the elementary school.

After saying several prayers this week that it would all work out, the day finally arrived yesterday.  Lia and I showed up an hour early to the elementary school so that we could go visit several teachers in the school.  We had a great time walking around and talking with teachers who remembered Lia.  I also introduced her to a few of my favorite classes that I have subbed for in addition to stopping by Ella's and Emmett's classes.  Afterwards, we met Lia's elementary friends outside the school at 12:45 and took several pictures.  By this time, several other graduates, parents, and former teachers were also arriving at the school.  It was so fun to see so many people who we haven't seen in years and briefly chat with them before the Grad Walk began.  After taking some group photos with all of the graduates together, the principal let the parents into the building first.  Once we were in place, the office staff started playing "Pomp and Circumstance" over the PA system and the graduates began walking down the hallway.  Just like last year, it was such a cool experience to watch these students proudly walk down their elementary school hallways all grown up!  Since I work at this school on a weekly basis and am very comfortable there, I ended up chasing the group of graduates around instead of staying in one spot with the other parents.  As a result, I was able to get video of Lia and her friends walking down Emmett's hallways and pictures of them walking down Ella's hallway.  It was so awesome!  The only bummer was that Lia and I had to leave the second the walk was over to race to the fairgrounds to get her to her graduation practice 20 minutes late.  Everyone else was able to stay and talk and even go out on the playground to play afterwards.  So although Lia missed out on the fun activities at the end, I am just so grateful that she was able to have this experience!

Lia standing in front of Shaw Road Elementary School where she was a student from 2013 to 2020.

The four of us standing outside Emmett's classroom.  Emmett was able to briefly wear Lia's cap which his 1st grade class thought was so funny!

Out of Lia's seven elementary school teachers, only one teacher, Mrs. Meyers, is still there.  Here is Lia pointing to her 5th grade picture that Mrs. Meyers hung up outside of her classroom.

Lia and Mrs. Meyers.

Although Lia's 4th grade teacher has moved to a different school in Tacoma, she came back for the Grad Walk.  Here she is posing with a bunch of her former students.

From left to right:

Sam, Lia, Ms. Arnett, Mollie, Sienna, and Rian

The group shot we were able to get of the graduates in front of the school sign.

A darling shot we got of Lia, Mollie, and Sienna who are her two closest buddies from preschool and elementary school.

Since more graduates had arrived in the minute or two since we took the group picture in front of the sign, we decided to take another one in front of the school.

Lia's good friend, Lilah, who moved to Kent after 4th grade came down for the Grad Walk.  We were all so surprised and happy to see her!  Here is another group picture I took with all of Lia's good friends from elementary school.

Left to right:

Rian, Sienna, Mollie, Lilah, Lia, Addy

Here is a screenshot from the video I took of Lia hugging Emmett.  Due to their unusually large age gap, I told Emmett he was probably the ONLY 1st grader to have a sibling graduating that year.  It was so fun to see them hug each other in the hallway.

Lia walking down Ella's hallway while giving all of the kids high fives.

La approaching Ella to give her a hug.

The darling photo I took of the two sisters hugging.  If I hadn't been in such a rush to get Lia to the fairgrounds for her graduation practice, I know that all of this would have made me bawl my eyes out.

Lia's Last Day of High School

It's hard to believe it, but yesterday was Lia's last day of high school and the last day of her public education career.  It still just seems surreal to me as I can barely remember a time in her life when she was not a student at a school in the Puyallup School District.  Just like always, I got up at 6:15 to make all of the kids' lunches and to make Logan's and Lia's breakfasts.  And just like always, Lia came downstairs in a rush to get out the door since she was running behind schedule.  Emmett and I were able to see her off for the very last time.  Lia then had a fun day at school, going to all of her classes to just hang out, talk, and sign yearbooks.  The seniors were then dismissed from school 15 minutes into their 6th period class and told to leave campus immediately.  However, Lia's theater/director had secretly told all of the seniors involved in drama that they could meet in the theater for a little party after school.  They enjoyed making a "candy salad" and signing the senior wall in the secret room above the theater.  After the party was over, Lia came home for a few hours before leaving again to attend the "Senior Sunset" at Chambers Bay in Tacoma and then to go see the movie, High School Musical 3: Senior Year, with a large group of seniors at a private movie theater in Tacoma.  Needless to say, she did not get home until very late last night.  It sounded like a fabulous way to wrap up her Senior year and high school experience!

I have been making Lia's school lunches every day since she started 1st grade.  It is a labor of love I have provided for her for her 12 years.  I bought this lunch box for her at the beginning of 8th grade, so it was crazy to pack it up for the last time after five years of use.

I managed to snap a picture of Lia as she raced into the kitchen to grab her breakfast and lunch for the last time before heading out the door.

I also managed to convince Lia to make a 10 second detour to the front porch for a final last day of school picture while wearing her senior overalls for the very last time.  Sniff.

Lia putting her stuff in the car for the last time.

A picture of Lia driving to high school for the very last time.  

A picture of Lia signing the senior wall above the theater.

A close-up of Lia working on her message.

All done!  Lia smiling next to her message that she has left for students to read for years to come.

Lia and Erika hanging out with two boys on one of the concrete structures at Chambers Bay while waiting for the sun to set.

Lia, Erika, and Alyssa posing for a selfie.

Lia and her beloved high school friend, Erika, together at  sunset.

Since PHS decided to change their Senior Sunset to last night due to the fabulous weather, Lia was able to find her three besties from elementary school there.  Here she is with Rian, Ella, and Sienna.

Rogers High School Honors Night

Last night, Ron and I joined Lia at her school's theater for Honor Night where the Roger's administration honored students who have a 3.5 GPA or above.  Although a few other awards were handed out, the main focus was calling up every senior one at a time to the stage to receive an honor cord that they can wear at their graduation this Saturday.  Lia was able to save seats for two of her friends, Erika and Hope, and enjoyed receiving her honor cord with these two important friends at her side.  It was a wonderful evening and a wonderful way to honor these students who have worked so hard academically these past four years. 

Lia waiting to have her name called by her counselor, Mr. Lynch, as her friend, Hope, walked onto the stage.

Lia receiving her honor cord from her principal, Mr. Smith.

Lia and her closest senior buddies.

Lia with her proud parents.

Lia's Baccalaureate & Seminary Graduation

Lia and I had a busy Sunday yesterday.  After going to church, we only had an hour at home before we left for the rest of the day and didn't get home until almost 9:30 p.m.  We started off by heading to Lia's high school to attend Baccalaureate in the theater.  Luckily, an LDS couple was in charge of planning this year's Baccalaureate program, so there were a few LDS students who were asked to be involved.  This was very different than my Baccalaureate 32 years ago where the entire program was run by Young Life students and all of the LDS students sat in the audience and were not asked to participate.  So I was so grateful to the Wards for making this change for Lia's school as the dad told me afterwards that this has not always been the case in the past at Rogers High School.  Since Lia had Sister Ward as one of her teachers for seminary in 10th grade, she was asked to be one of the ten students to participate in the program by reading a scripture passage and sharing her thoughts on it.  Lia chose to read Luke 15:4-6.  This is the message that she shared:

"In defending his practice of eating and socializing with outcasts and sinners, Jesus taught the parable of the lost sheep to the pharisees and religious leaders.  Luke 15: 4-6 says:

4.  What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

5.  And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders rejoicing.

6.  And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.  

I love this scripture.  I love this parable because it teaches that God does not ignore those who are lost or have gone astray.  He actively seeks them out, rescues them, and rejoices in their return.  These scriptures reinforce to me how much God loves us, and how every single one of us in important to Him.  Although it may be easy to feel like the lost sheep, just know He will never abandon us.  In fact, it is quite the opposite.  He is constantly pursuing us and wants us to return home to Him.  Thank you."

After the Baccalaureate program was over, the group went to the cafeteria for pictures and some refreshments.  Lia and I then raced home to quickly change and pick up Ella and Emmett who wanted to join us for Mollie's graduation party who is one of Lia's closest friends since preschool.  After spending a little over an hour at Mollie's house, we rushed home to change back into our church clothes and head to the Stake Center for Seminary Graduation.  Lia and I listened to another hour long program before heading into the gym for a second round of taking pictures and eating dessert.  I am so proud of Lia for participating in her school's Baccalaureate program and for graduating from seminary.  Although seminary became much easier when she changed to the online program for her last two years of high school, she still had to attend a weekly Zoom meeting and complete four online assignments a week.  Juggling this scripture course on top of school, homework, and her extracurricular activities was no easy task.  So I am so proud of Lia for sticking with it, passing all eight semesters, and graduating from Seminary last night.

Lia reading her scripture to the audience at Baccalaureate.

Besides sharing her scripture and message with the audience, she was also able to sing the only song, "The Dawn," that was part of the program with Concert Choir.

Lia on stage a second time to receive the white cord that was handed out to all of the students at this event.  Here she is shaking hands with Mr. Schwebke who is the advisor for the Jesus Club.

Lia getting her cord for Mr. Schwebke.

Lia walking off the stage.  I just love this picture because it has her walking past the RHS letters which I think is symbolic of things to come with her graduation in a few days.

Lia and I in front of the balloon arch in the cafeteria after Baccalaureate was over.

Lia with two of her three closest senior friends, Hope and Ani.  Unfortunately, Erika had to work and couldn't make it.

Lia with the other LDS students in her stake.

From left to right:

Lia, Hillary, Lauren, Sophie, Kaila, and Tony

Lia receiving her Seminary diploma in the chapel of the stake center.

Lia receiving her second white cord of the evening from her Young Women's President, Sister Robinson.

Although there are six seniors graduating from our ward this June, only two graduated from seminary.  Here is Lia with her friend, Suzette, who she has know since they were five years old.

All of the Seminary graduates from our stake posing together in the gym after the program was over.

Ella Goes to 6th Grade Camp

Yesterday Ron and Ella spent the day at Black Diamond Camp in Auburn for her 6th Grade Camp.  This is a tradition that Ella's elementary school has done for years and is something that the 6th graders look forward to all year long.  Unfortunately, Lia's was cancelled due to the pandemic, but Logan was able to go and have a great time.  Just like with Logan, Ron was able to chaperone Ella's group that consisted of her friends Leah and Payton and two other girls, Violet and Elyse.  Although we had great weather down in Puyallup all day long, it rained, hailed, and even had thunder and lightening up where the camp is located. They did get some breaks in the day to enjoy some outdoor play, but luckily, this camp has several indoor activities that the kids were able to participate in.  Ella enjoyed playing volleyball and glow in the dark dodgeball, climbing the rock wall, riding the giant swing, swimming in the indoor pool, making smores around a campfire, and eating lunch in the cafeteria.  Overall, they had a great time in spite of the weather and I am so grateful that Ella was able to make this memory with her friends before moving on to junior high school this fall.

Ron with Ella and the rest of her group:

From left to right:

Violet, Elyse, Ella, Leah, and Payton

Ella climbing the rock wall.

The girls posing for Ron in the glow in the dark dodgeball room.

Ella on the giant swing in the pouring rain.  She was the last person to ride it before it got closed for the rest of the day due to hail and heavy rains. 

Lia's Final High School Choir Concert

Ron and I went to Lia's school last night to watch her sing in her final choir concert of her high school career.  After seeing her sing in so many concerts over the past several years, it was definitely bitter sweet.  She sang three songs at the beginning of the concert with Vocal Ensemble and then four songs at the end with Concert Choir.  In addition, her choir teacher recognized all of the seniors one at at time which is a tradition that he does every year at the June concert.  Lia was able to walk up to the front of the choir to receive a rose and her choir cord (that she gets to wear at graduation) while Mr. Wisness read her college plans to the audience.  After each senior was spotlighted, her choir director announced the four seniors (two boys and two girls) who had been voted by their classmates to receive the Most Inspirational and Excellence in Choir awards.  We were so thrilled to learn that Lia had been chosen as the Most Inspirational female student in the choir program and her name will go on a plaque that hangs in the choir room.  After receiving the Outstanding Actress award for her theater program a few days ago at the Drama Banquet, this was such wonderful news to see her being recognized a second time for her character and accomplishments in the choir program.  Way to go, Lia!  We are so proud of you.

Lia singing with Vocal Ensemble.

Lia singing the last song of her high school choir career.  Since we were sitting so close to her, I actually saw a tear drop off her face during this final song.  She shed quite a few tears after the concert was over as she has loved performing and singing so much with this high school.

Lia and the three other LDS senior girls in the Rogers choir program.

From left to right:

Kaila, Hillary, Lia, and Suzette

Lia and Hillary.  

Theses two girls met in 9th grade while running track for Rogers and become close through singing in the choral program the past three years.  They will be living in neighboring dorm buildings this coming year at BYU.

Lia and her beloved choir teacher, Mr. Wisness.