Yes! Vedhika has graduated on 17th July 2009, at the age of three and half……She has completed her Preschool.I was surprised when I first saw the invitation from her “OUR LADY OF THE WAYSIDE PRE-SCHOOL”. Yes it was an invitation to attend the graduation ceremony on 17th of July 2009.
The ceremony started at around 10:00am. There was a small introduction by Ann Marie, the head teacher about the ceremony. All the kids marched into the ceremony hall with hundreds of flashes on them. They assembled on the dais with the help of their teachers. Vedhika was right at the centre in the first row, sitting next to her friend Anupama.
On the command from the Head Teacher/Program Conductor the kids started singing rhymes (specially trained). A pianoist was in place to synchronize the kids who were singing on their own rhythm. Vedhika even bypassed the pianoist and was singing rhymes louder on her own (nice to see and hear).
The teachers distributed the hats (traditional black hats for the ceremony) to all the kids. Veebha helped Vedhika to wear the hat with full resistance from Vedhika’s “Rettai Kudumi”. It was fun to see that. Kids were proud and they received their certificate, mentioning their successful completion of their Pre-School.
What next…. Photo Session. Yes, we struggled a lot to take one good photograph of Vedhika with here hat in place and certificate on her hand. Myself and Veebha managed to take a snap with the newly graduated girl after some promises (what else... chocolates after the photo session).
Lunch Time.
Parents were asked to bring some sandwiches/snacks/sausages etc for the gathered parents and kids for the lunch. Veebha managed to do some bread pizza (of course with the help of Vinod… just kidding) in the morning. Vedhika took her mom’s help (identify the Veggie items) to choose her lunch from the arranged buffet. I have to mention here about the appreciation Veebha got for her bread pizza. Every one who ate the dish praised her for the perfection and the taste.
Raffles tickets were sold. Veebha spent a couple of pounds in that and as usual she did not get any prize. But she was happy and proud enough (I am not exaggerating) to leave the compound with her proud daughter who had her graduation some time before.
Hats off to the “OUR LADY OF THE WAYSIDE PRE-SCHOOL” teachers team who have arranged for this programme. Vedhika gave all the teachers a greeting card with her name printed on it (with the help of her amma) and did not forget to take a photograph with all the teachers.And we too personally thanked all the teachers individually for all the knowledge Vedhika has gained from the preschool. We are really thankful to one and all as we have only good memories as far as Vedhika’s time in the preschool is concerned.
Vedhika has to wait another two months before she start her nursery in the Blossom Field Infant School (Big Akka School as far as Vedhika is concerned).
*It would be nice if the “Traditional Hat Toss” was included in preschool graduation ceremony schedule.
