Hawthorne Wildcubs Move Up!

June 24 was the big day for our Hawthorne “Wildcubs” as Principal Anne Stern lovingly called her students. She opened the ceremony with the Pledge of Allegiance and Star-Spangled Banner before introducing Superintendent Dr. G.

View all the photos from the Moving Up ceremony here.

Dr. G congratulated the second graders and thanked teachers, staff, and parents for their partnership. Drawing from “I Hope You Will Know” by Jaren Ahlmann, he emphasized that while academic success matters, becoming good humans is most important. “I hope you will know that kindness is like sunshine,” he told students, encouraging authenticity and resilience. He reminded them that “the world needs your kindness like the earth needs rain, like the beach needs waves, like the sky needs stars.” Following tradition, he presented the classes by their future graduation years: “the Columbus Class of 2028, Westlake Middle School Class of 2031, and Westlake High School Class of 2035!”

Mrs. Stern challenged students with three goals: be resilient and never give up, treat others with kindness, and use words to explain and ask for help. She celebrated their growth as “writers, readers, mathematicians, athletes, artists, and community members” who set beautiful examples for younger students. She shared Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young” as her wishes for students and families, closing with her signature phrase “Thumbs up if you’ve got it!” as every student raised their thumbs. “You will always be home at Hawthorne,” she concluded.

Assistant Principal Erica Denman congratulated the class and honored retiring staff members Mrs. Luzon and Mrs. Stern. The PTA presented Mrs. Stern with a sketch of Hawthorne inscribed “An excellent principal is difficult to find, hard to part with, and impossible to forget,” along with announcing a dedicated library space in her honor following renovations.

Under music teacher John Hahn’s direction, students performed seven songs including “May There Always Be Sunshine,” “Count on Me,” “Graduation Song,” “One Drop,” and “On My Way” featuring soloist Eliana Gjokaj. They closed with an updated version of the original Hawthorne Elementary Song, incorporating lyrics about saying goodbye to Hawthorne and hello to Columbus.

The ceremony concluded with family photos at a decorated flower wall. The school held two ceremonies to accommodate all families with unlimited guests, moving the event indoors due to weather. The PTA provided beautiful decorations and candy-covered pretzels for each graduate. Congratulations to all second graders as they prepare for Columbus Elementary in the fall!