Stories

Eight-grade graduation is right around the corner. This is an important and moving event, as it signifies an important passage in the lives of our 8th graders. They are moving on and up – leaving our school to write the next chapter of their educational story. They are more than ready for this transition and are well prepared to be successful high school students.

The feedback we get from high schools about our students is consistent. Prep graduates are academically able, mature, confident, and community minded. They often assume leadership roles, play on athletic teams, join or start clubs, and engage in community service. We hear it again and again – there is something unique and special about a Prep graduate.

We also survey parents whose children have recently graduated from Prep. Their feedback is consistent with what we hear from the high schools: our students are very well prepared, their academic foundation is strong, and they have the character and confidence necessary for success in high school. All of this feedback points to the effectiveness of our PK-8 model. By being devoted exclusively to children and providing them with an experience tailored to their needs, we clearly provide the best preparation for high school.

Over the next few days, our 8th graders will look forward to new adventures while they reminisce about their time at Prep. It is a bittersweet moment but part of what makes the last part of the 8th-grade year so powerful. And when our students do graduate, their relationship with our school will not end but be transformed; they will officially become alumni/ae and will always be a valued and important part of our community.