Our Second Graders Moved Up!

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Hawthorne Elementary School’s second graders made it official: they are headed to Columbus Elementary School in the fall, and they celebrated the milestone in style. Twice. Due to inclement weather, two Moving Up ceremonies were held indoors at Columbus, but the change of venue did nothing to dim the energy in the room.

Principal Anthony Carolini welcomed the crowd and reflected on just how far the students had come. He reminded them that they had grown not just physically (taller and with a few fewer teeth) but also socially and academically. He recalled favorite memories spanning all three years: kindergarten field trips and new friendships, an unforgettable first-grade field day, and a second grade packed with legendary moments, from ice cream parties and duck visits during STEM class to Fun Fridays, theme days, the Legoland trip, and students stepping up to lead class jobs and help with morning announcements. He had challenged them in September to be the best in the building, and by his account, they exceeded every expectation.

“Once a Hawthorne Star, always a Hawthorne Star,” he told them. He asked them to stay curious, be brave, make mistakes, and keep the golden rule.

Superintendent Dr. Peter Giarrizzo addressed the students with a message about wonder. He called them “professional wonder hunters,” the kind of people who don’t just see rain but find stories in clouds, who notice ladybugs under leaves, who look at the world with wide-open eyes. He asked them to make three promises as they move forward: look up, lean in, bend low, and reach for new heights. He thanked the teachers and families for helping students find their joy, and reminded the graduates of the road ahead: Columbus through 2029, Westlake Middle School in 2032, and Westlake High School in 2036.

Assistant Principal Erica Denman, who serves in that role at both Hawthorne and Columbus, closed out the ceremonies with an official welcome to the newest Columbus students. As Principal Carolini noted, she is the bridge between the two schools. She congratulated the graduates and asked each class to stand, the official moment they moved up from second to third grade.

Throughout the ceremonies, students performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” together, along with four songs that captured the spirit of the occasion: “On My Way,” “One Drop,” “One Year Older,” and the Hawthorne Elementary School song.

The celebrations continued long after, with families and friends gathering in the gym hallway and outside the school, where graduation decorations set the perfect backdrop for photos and a few last moments together.