Commencement speaker for P.S. 46 – an eye opener
It was a surprise when old friend Janet Elias, the technology instructor at P.S.46, the Alley Pond School, called and asked if I would consider being the commencement speaker at the school’s 5th grade graduation. The 474 students were saying goodbye to their home since kindergarten and moving on to middle school, scattered and separated from their beloved teachers and friends.
What I didn’t expect, even though I knew the school to have superior leadership, was to be totally blown away by the international student body and their idolized and adored principal, Marsha Goldberg.
They didn’t know that I have a special place in my heart for fifth graders because, in what I call my “first life,” I had taught fifth graders and loved those 10-year-olds. It’s an age of transition – the kids are mature enough to talk to like adults and smart enough to care about their future.
So it was a magical moment for me, as I entered the school auditorium and saw the shining faces of the graduates and their smiling camera-packing parents, filling every seat in the large space, something I hadn’t anticipated. It’s hard to figure out what to say to these transitional fifth graders.
One thing I did know was to keep it brief. And I did.
But, I couldn’t help but be blown away by the sparkling students dressed in their finest clothes. These kids represented the world. In the row behind me I saw children of Hispanic, Indian, Sikh, Asian, Caucasian, and African and Caribbean heritage. They all stood proudly as they sang the “Star Spangled Banner.” Then a color guard passed the flags to the 4th graders, who are moving up in September.
The children have a music teacher who led them in songs. My favorite was “I Believe I Can Fly,” sung in loud, clear, melodic voices. I must admit I was stunned and couldn’t stop smiling as I watched, in amazement, the ballroom dancing presentation. Here were these beautiful children dancing their hearts out. I was enchanted by them as they danced the sophisticated Tango, did a Jitterbug and a Cha-Cha. It was a “WOW” moment.
But during the presentation, the principal leaned over and said sadly, “The cost for this class is $5,000 and our grant wasn’t renewed.” While the performance was going on I was already thinking of how we could raise the money to make it possible to continue. I didn’t have to worry for too long, however.
As part of the program, the powerful Parent–Teacher Association co-presidents, Donna Benkert and Eva Tahliambouris, spoke with tears in their eyes and a tissue box on the podium of their closing the door on the Alley Pond School. Their two children were graduating and would be moving on. Their devotion for so many years had obviously made an enormous difference in their children’s school and therefore their lives.
P.S 46 has been rated one of the best in the city and as I watched a video of the senior year activities, I felt like I was visiting a private school. The extra-curricular activities included a senior trip to Baltimore, a senior dance, a sports day and more. Many of these were made possible by the extra funds raised by the co-presidents of the PTA. They held back their tears as they announced a gift of $15,000 from the PTA