End of school year
The school year – certainly one of the strangest ever – has come to a close. Last week, the girls participated in a series of (virtual) end-of-year and good-bye activities, including the very moving candlelight ceremony for 7th and 8th graders. In normal years the 8th graders extinguish their candles and hand off their head-of-school status to the younger grade; this year, Zoe and her classmates held up candles while their older peer provided some words of wisdom over Zoom.
Among the gems: “Enjoy the time you have left at Brandeis – it goes so fast.” “Don’t take seeing your friends or being back at school for granted.” “Really treasure your moments at school and with friends – live in the moment.” “If you wind up going to Israel, have an extra amazing time in our honor.” (The annual 8th grade trip was, obviously, cancelled.)
There were a lot more comments like the above, and quite a few tears, and I was moved by the maturity and insight of these 13- and 14-year-olds. It’s a huge deal that Zoe is about to enter her last year (!) of Brandeis, and I hope she takes their words to heart…
-M
