Sycamore School Awards 2023

Written by: Mary Stephenson

Wearing our blue shirts we arrived at Sycamore ready for the first time in a while to actually attend the end of year promotional awards.

Gary and I showed up June 7th to give out some of the awards. I think it was a bit muddled as some 5th graders received awards on the 7th and 8th. Yet all 5th graders showed up on the 8th. I think next year if they are going to have all 5th graders coming to the “5th Grade Promotion” they might as well wait until then. I think they did this for our benefit, by not having us come both days. But in reality, since we were already over that way on Thursday it seemed only rightful that we let the kids have their proud moments in front of family.

So moving forward for next year we will talk about what their final intentions for the awards.

For those that don’t know, the kids can only get the award in the 4th or 5th grade and can only receive it once. And I think that makes it much more special and gives others a chance also.

On the 8th Lion George showed up, also with his blue shirt. I had not informed everyone what was going on, as there was doubt even on the 7th as to what was going to take place.

So the 3 of us went to the stage to hand out the Good Citizenship Awards and our new Best Improvement in Math Award for 5th graders only, and they each got our “Dream Big” key chain. Rhonda, Ron Mino, and Janet were there. And it was nice, as Ron’s grand daughter won the Good Citizenship Award.

Grateful for the added help on stage. I made the speech, George handed out the certificate and Gary gave out the key chains. Love joint projects.

Maybe I am getting a little more confident… no written speech this time around. I think it turned out okay. Well I did have tons of practice, instead of staying a sleep at night!

Good Citizenship Awards:

Sophia Phatteeranon, Payton Lamb, Sonny Replogle, Maite Arellano-Pagazza, and Jake Tucker.

Best Improvement in Math (2 – 5th grade classes)

Connor Meyers and Daniel Torres-Noyola

It was an interesting ceremony and making it a big deal is that they will now be going to a different school. Exciting and yet scary, not only for the kids, but probably for the parents. What will there almost teenager encounter in the new environment? The principal (Angie Biancalana) had some words of wisdom for the parents that will soon be entering the age of their kids knowing everything. She talked about the cell phone and we are all familiar with the dangers of social media abuse. The hopes are that parents take the advice and help their kids navigate through it.

Had to laugh when there was awards for “Old Timer’s”. Funny to think of a 5th grader as an Old Timer. The definition is that the student has attended Sycamore since Kindergarten.

A couple of books were read: Be You and Oh, the Places You’ll Go.

Didn’t stay for the party in the Sycamore garden.

Big day for some young 5th graders. Wishing them all success in their new schools.