Graduation Weekend

This past Saturday was Graduation Day at my sisters' school. She is a high school grad now! Four years ago she decided that she needed to get out of the town she lives in at home, in North Carolina. She then did research to find a boarding school that met her priorities:
1 - not at home
2 - equestrian program
3 - scholarship monies to give

She found her high school home in Chatham, VA at Chatham Hall. It's an all girls school that met all three of her standards for choice. Another Chatham Hall alumus: Georgia O'Keefe!

Saturday was a georgeous day, weather-wise, which set up for a beautiful ceremony of graduation. A graduating class of about 40 certainly did not take as much time as last years graduation that I attended, a class of 500+. (Can't remember exactly how many, but a TON.)

The day started with breakfast in their hotel-like dining hall. at 10 we were ushered into a very simple but very elegant baccalaureate service. If you have never heard an all girls choir sing a hymn, you should! It's very sweet sounding. I couldn't even sing, for fear that I would mess up the sound.

The actual presentation of diplomas was preceeded by presentations of awards. Everything from dance to academics. Michelle won an English award, which suprised the heck out of her! I remember hearing last week that she was writing a paper for english while studying for Spanish, so I guess she did not get the two mixed up! The presentations were short and sweet, with the service capped off by an interesting poem by the Rector. He took all of the girls' names and created a poem ranging from the girls hobbies to college choices. It was neat to hear his perspective of each graduate. That's one of the many reasons to attend a small school!

Now she heads to college in Richmond. It will be a lot closer than her high school, so hopefully we'll get to know her better during the coming years. She's a good kid... better yet, she's a good young woman!

Here is a picture of "the kids." I will add a couple of other pics later, but this is classic. (Left to right: Me, Anny, Michelle, Nadia, Jason) If you notice Anny's expression, she is being tickled from both sides! :o)