GVMS Graduation

 8th Grade Graduation

Gunnison Valley Middle School

 

 It is so hard for me to believe that McKenna is old enough to be graduating from middle school and moving on to the high school next fall.  The past three years has been such a learning experience for both of us, good and bad.  I look back to when McKenna went into the sixth grade and I am so proud of her for the growth she has made in those three short years.  Her involvement in academics and extracurricular activities has helped her be the talented young lady that she is today.  She was recognized for being an 8th Grade Class Officer as well as being on the Honor Roll all three years of middle school.

 

Tonight's graduation was a nice celebration for this group of eighth grade students.  McKenna has made so many great friendships with so many of the students in her class.  It is amazing to me as I heard each of the students names read as they were announced , that there are still so many kids I do not know!  She, however, knows them all and seems to have a friendship with each of them. 

 

For the gradation program, several of her classmates spoke and then each student was announced and was able to shake the hands of each of the teachers in the middle school.  I am so grateful for so many of these teachers and the friendship McKenna has developed with them.  As I watched her walk across the stage, so many of the teachers smiled, laughed, hugged and shook her hand in appreciation for who she is and what she stands for.  She spoke highly of so many of her teachers through the years, that it is nice to know that the feeling was probably mutual.  After each student was announced, there was a class video presented.  Each student's picture was shown and it was fun to hear the cheers from McKenna's classmates as her picture was shown on screen.  I am so proud of who she has become through these middle school years.

 

 

F - Mason Cox, Kolton Peterson, Jarek Jensen aka Do-Do.  Middle- McKenna, McKaylyn, Halle Bjerregaard, Stockton Hansen. Back - Hayden Booth aka Bubby.



McKenna, Jayden Jensen, and Monica Mendez

 McKenna, Kezzley Winn, McKaylyn Edwards, Halle Bjerregaard, Taylor Brackett

 

Our family minus Lottie, she didn't want to cooperate for this picture!

 



 

Halle, McKaylyn, McKenna, Allyson, Emery Bjerregaard. 

Allyson and Emery have gotten to be friends this year in the first grade, so they thought it would be fun to get in the picture with their big sisters.

 

Halle, McKaylyn, and McKenna.  These three girls have become good friends over the past three years, especially more this last year.  They are beautiful girls and have so many of the same interests that they enjoy being together, whether its sports, singing, or dances, they have shared it all!

 



After her big night, we went out to eat at Casa to celebrate.  When we got home, she had a chance to open her gifts.  We gave her a Willowtree figurine, Signature Collection called Shine, which stood for 'You Have a Radiant Inner Light'.  She also received flowers, cash, and a Subway gift card. Afterwards, she headed to McKaylyn's house for a late night party with a few of her classmates.

Congratulations McKenna!  We are proud of you and all that you have accomplished!

 

As a side note, the cute sign is hanging on the stage for graduation, McKenna gets the credit for making that.  She said several days before graduation, Diane Dyreng called McKenna out of class to come to the office.  She said that she was a little nervous why she was being sent to the office during the middle of class hour, but much to her surprise, Diane wanted her make a GVMS - Class of 2015 graduation sign.  She knew McKenna was creative and so she wanted to have her make the sign rather than having the cheerleaders from the high school do it for her.  I think she did an awesome job with it and it made for a perfect backdrop for the photos that were taken that night.