Friday, June 12, 2009

Amanda is officially a high school student!!

Amanda's Middle School promotion ceremony yesterday was fabulous! Can't even believe she'll be in high school in the fall!  It's been 11 years since she was my student in preschool where we first met.

Here is Amanda walking into the Social Hall as the promotion ceremony began. She survived 8th grade and the first year of her CI among many who don't exactly think kindly of cochlear implants and those who get them.

Here she is walking onto the stage to receive congratulations from the Superintendent, Director of Instruction, Guest Speaker and Director of Residence. She also received her hard earned 8th grade diploma.
 

Her good friend and fellow graduate, Sisilia and her family made candy leis for all the graduates.  They also made flower leis and head pieces which they shared with Amanda.  The girls were really weighted down. Sisilia is a year younger and maybe 3 heads taller.
   


Joseph was really proud of his sister.   So proud in fact, he didn't even complain, too much, when she adorned his head.  She likes to share.  :-)
        


And of course you gotta pose with the family in attendance.   Here are Amanda's mom's mom and her husband, her mom's sister and her daughter...and Gonzálo, Joseph and me.  Missed my sons, Amanda's stepbrothers Joel and Trevor...but they're off in other states with their own commitments.
   


Here is Amanda posing with her Middle School Principal for three years, Tammy Mitchell.  Amanda received the 8th Grade Principal's Award this year at the awards ceremony last week.  :-)
     


And last, but certainly not least, are Amanda and me after lunch at Souplantation.  A great end to a great day!

5 comments:

Charlotte said...

Thats Awesome,

Congrats to Amanda...

Regards

Charlotte xxx

Kathryn Mora said...

Dearest Amanda,

Congratulations on your graduation to high school.
I am so proud of you and all of your accomplishments since I first met you over eleven years ago.

It's been wonderful to watch you bloom and grow into the beautiful young woman that you are!

Lots of love,
Aunt Kitty

Elizabeth said...

Congratulations, Amanda!!! Way to go! Your dress is so pretty... and whoa! I've never seen so many fancy accessories!

Anonymous said...

WOW!! congratulations :) !!
Hope you will have good studying in High school, it should be fun ;)

Way to go A!!

Betty :)

Jennifer Bruno Conde said...

Thanks, Charlotte, as always for your support!

Sister Kathryn, Whoa, that sounded really weird. Cuz I KNOW you're not a nun!! But you are my sister! So Kitty, thanks and Amanda thanks you! Hard to believe we met this new high school student as a three year old in 1997! Well, you met her in 1998 and you know under what circumstances THAT happened!

Elizabeth, yeah, Amanda was certainly weighed down down "accessories!"

Thanks, Hong Kong Betty! Amanda is NOT looking forward to the increased homework...but is excited to be entering high school. :-)