This article originally appeared in the summer 2014 Harker Quarterly.

In early June a promotion ceremony was held for Harker’s grade 8 class, marking the end of students’ middle school years.

Kicking off the touching ceremony, Cindy Ellis, middle school head, welcomed the eighth graders and congratulated them on reaching this important milestone and beginning a new stage in their academic lives.

Julie Pinzás, middle school Spanish teacher and Class of 2018 advisory dean, gave a moving farewell address to the soon-to-be upper school students, encouraging them to welcome the many opportunities that await them over the next four years.

Next up was a beautiful performance of the song “Home” by the middle school vocal groups Harmonics and Vivace.

A welcome address to the Class of 2018 was delivered by rising senior Sarah Bean, who will be next year’s upper school ASB president.

Finally, members of the grade 8 class received their promotion certificates from Chris Nikoloff, head of school, and Ellis, who made some warm closing remarks. A special happening, not listed in the program, followed as the eighth graders surprised teachers with their own special “thank-you” slideshow, which they had secretly created earlier. The slideshow included numerous memorable moments shot by the students throughout the school year.

The ceremony concluded, as in years past, with the singing of “The Harker School Song,” followed by a recessional and well-attended reception held in the amphitheater.