Let’s start this speech out with Stepping Stones. I was in Stepping Stones for one year, and during that year I was afraid of this kid [I couldn’t tell if it was a boy or a girl] who had really puffy and curly hair. I would think his hair would eat me or something. When he or she would come near me I would run away, very, very scared, but luckily I made it through that year.

Then the next year was preschool. I was 3, and all was good. I was in Mrs. Herron’s class, where I started to do gym, French, art, and music class, and where I learned how to read. After every day I went to La Casa until I was 5 years old, when I came into first grade and was in Mrs. Hartnett’s class.

When I was still in first grade, we went to Camp Onas. One time, all of the first graders were walking back from an activity. I decided to run ahead and in that time I fell over a log and landed in a pile of mud. Then I had no clothes to change into, because I wasn’t sleeping over, and so they had to hose me off and give me a Camp Onas shirt and some shorts. They were really big for me at the time, so I still have them to this day.

When I was in Mrs. Hartnett’s class I made a lot of friends and did lots of reports.

For the next three years I came into Upper El, which was when I started doing bigger and better projects like the Life Project. We chose a career and a place to live, and we learned about paying bills and taxes. To prepare for our trip to Williamsburg this year we each researched a colonial trade to learn how people made a living and what their lives were like.

My favorite grade was third grade because we were the boss of the first and second graders, which was really cool.

Some of the best times at this school were the Fall Festivals and Spring Flings, where I would dance, play keep-away, or be on the rock-climbing wall. Now, this year we’ve been lucky with the weather during these events, but a couple of years ago it started to rain and I was dancing because I figured that when it would rain the DJ would have to give away all of the prizes. It started to drizzle, then rain, then pour, and I was still dancing when it was pouring. Then the DJ’s stereo broke and he ended up giving all of the prizes out. I got one of the biggest prizes and that was a great experience, because I can still remember it.

Next, I would like to thank a lot of people, so please listen. First I would like to thank Mrs. Sheehan for putting up with my bad days and my good days, but mostly my bad days. Then I would like to thank Mrs. Herron for being a wonderful primary teacher, then Mrs. Hartnett, Mrs. Slattery, and Dan for teaching me all of the essentials of learning, like addition and subtraction and so on. Next I would like to thank Mrs. L., Toril, and Mr.Nord for being creative in your teaching method and making learning somewhat fun.

Ohhh! How could I forget about thanking Mr.K. for teaching me everything I know about sports, like how to hit a baseball and how to throw a football. I can remember when my team was in a huddle and then I asked Mr.K. if he could throw a Bloody Mary Pass, but what I meant was a Hail Mary, I just couldn’t think of the name.

Next I would like to thank Coco for taking all of us to the Wachovia Center twice and playing drums with the Woodland School; thank you so much for that experience. Then I would like to thank Madame Denise for teaching me French and art, Mrs. Hunter for teaching me everything I know about computers and Miss Susie for teaching us music for one year. I’d also like to thank Ms. Haahr and Mrs. Johns for introducing us to the wonderful books we read. Thank you Mom and Dad for sending me to this great school. And last, but certainly not least, my friends I have had for making me laugh and have a great school year.

This school has been my second home since I was born because my mom worked here for 28 years and summers. It has been an experience of a lifetime. Now I’m moving on to make another experience for myself and I hope it will be another great one.