Classmates, family, friends, and staff celebrated Sequim School District’s fifth and eighth graders finishing elementary and middle school last week.
Heavy rain on the afternoon of June 16 brought Greywolf Elementary’s fifth grade celebration inside. Teachers gave out certificates in their rooms and the school’s other grades lined the halls to give high-fives and fist bumps to the new middle schoolers. Snacks abounded for fifth-graders afterward.
Van Johnson, a fifth-grader in Josiah Sutherland’s class, said he’s excited to start middle school and he has good memories from elementary school, including going on a field trip in second grade to Salt Creek.
Later on June 16, Sequim Middle School teachers and staff held a drive-through for eighth-graders with certificates, dancing and cheering staff, and a photo booth. The school’s end-of-year dance for seventh- and eighth-graders was held earlier in the month, staff said.
Emma Gilliam drove through with her parents Glenn and Kecia Gilliam and extra passengers — two puppets and a rubber chicken — cheering her on. She said her dad originally wanted to drive up in an RV.
As for her time in middle school, Emma said there’s too many good memories to list, but said she appreciated “being able to have connections with people.”
Fellow eighth-grader Juan Moreno said he enjoyed making friends, and he’s looking forward to learning about automobiles and robotics in high school.
On Friday, June 17 Helen Haller Elementary teachers and staff handed out candy leis and certificates at their drive-through event for fifth-graders moving onto middle school, offering a photo booth where students could take pictures in fun outfits. Earlier in the day, the school held a “grad walk” for its fifth-graders in the courtyard.
The first day of classes for the 2022-23 Sequim School District school year is set for Sept. 7.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Eighth grader Laila Sundin leans to receive a certificate for finishing the school year at the Sequim Middle School drive-through event on June 16.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Eighth grader Elaina Drennen pulls up in style in a van celebrating her time at Sequim Middle School and moving on to high school.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Zach Post high fives Clyde Baldassare as he goes through the Sequim Middle School drive-through event on June 16.
Mary Johnson snaps a photo of, from left, Coleman Keate, Van Johnson and Nolan Stewart in Josiah Sutherland’s class at Greywolf Elementary after they received their certificates for finishing fifth grade and moving onto middle school.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Fifth graders from Aaron Reno’s class at Greywolf Elementary Alice Hodge, Silas Harrington, Jordan Rogers, Alexa Fuller and many more walk the halls as schoolmates from other grades cheer for them on June 16.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Fifth graders from Aaron Reno’s class at Greywolf Elementary Elias Shinkle, Corbin Strawn, Brooklyn Sorensen, Mylie Johnson and many more walk the halls as schoolmates from other grades cheer for them on June 16.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Fifth graders at Greywolf Elementary Mylie Johnson, Payden Geller, and Alexandra Gonzalaz-Adams walk the halls as schoolmates give high fives and fist bumps on June 16.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Jocelin Hough, Kloe DeMeyer and other Greywolf Elementary fifth graders walk the halls as schoolmates from other grades cheer for them on June 16 as they move onto middle school next fall.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Helen Haller Elementary fifth grader Olyver Van Selus receives a candy lei and certificate from his teacher Saxon Holt on June 17. The school held a “grad walk” for its fifth graders earlier in the day and held a drive-through celebration for its fifth graders.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Fifth grade teacher Kaitlyn Freed and her student Jair Gomez pose for a photo at the selfie booth at the drive-through celebration for students moving on to middle school from Helen Haller Elementary.
Piper Jackson and Alex Worth take a photo at the selfie booth as Piper’s dad James snaps a pic too. The fifth graders participated in Helen Haller Elementary’s drive-through event celebrating students moving up to middle school.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Fifth grade teacher Eric Danielson greets his student Max Brouillard on June 17 and gives him a certificate and candy lei for completing the year and moving on to middle school.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Lincoln Forrest reaches through the sky roof for his certificate-of-completion for eighth grade from teacher Holly Raemer at the Sequim Middle School drive-through event.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Adrianna Sixtos snaps a photo of teacher Shannon Paselk, and her sons Juan Moreno, eighth grader, and Diego Moreno, a sixth grader. Juan just finished his eight grade year and said he’s looking forward to learning about automobiles and robotics in high school.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Eighth grader Rylee Gillaspy high fives Sequim Middle School’s Timberwolf during the school’s drive-through celebration of students moving onto high school. Rylee rode in his dad Lucas’ 1949 Chevy Fleeting that he helped him work on.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Teacher Shannon Paselk greets eighth grader William Young as he rides with his sister Zoie through Sequim Middle School’s drive-through event recognizing moving onto high school.
