Kindergarten

When you first walk in you would rather be anywhere else but here

You don’t know it, but this is where lifelong friendships are formed 

Pretzel stick crumbs that never leave the floor, 

Taking turns on the swings at recess, 

The silly environment of the classroom

Is something you will never forget 

FIrst grade 

You feel familiar with the school now

The energetic teachers and loquacious kids make you ecstatic 

But the fear of getting your butterfly in a cage scares you

Learning about all 50 states, waiting for your name to be picked so you can choose one

You feel accomplished knowing your multiplication tables

When you leave you take all this knowledge to the next grade

Second grade

The warm and welcoming feeling of familiarity makes you feel calm

Your friends you’ve had since kindergarten are still with you

Practicing cursive every day, and typing in the library 

Playing tetherball on the hot concrete of the blacktop

You teachers get you into reading chapter books and for a while you enjoy it

Playing sideline soccer in the gym was you favorite game

Third grade 

The best friends you made in kindergarten stick by you even in the worst times

These jubilant make you want to learn and read

You still read graphic novels and trade with your friends

You go out and play kickball, smooth and low to the plate

Homework is still out of the picture, for now

You remember your last full year without COVID like yesterday

Fourth grade

You still have two recesses everyday, but you should have savored it more,

Class starts to get difficult, but you hold on strong

You hear of this disease breaking out in a different country, but don’t think much of it

Soon it has been spread to different states neighboring yours

Before you know it school was over, just at the start of spring 

You enjoy no more school, for a while

Fifth grade

The quarantine tires you, but once you hear school is back you life turns around

You miss all your friends more than anything, but school is not the same

Split learning, half in school half online

Wearing masks and staying sixth feet apart annoys you more than anything 

This is all worth it

These teachers and kids are the most fun you’ve had in a while

Sixth grade

This is the highest point you will reach at the elementary, the acme of your career 

You feel excited to be at the top of the school, but the fact that you are leaving in less than 9 months makes you cherish everything

You meet the sweetest teacher of your life and will always remember her

The parties are the best, pizza, the pool, but canoeing was your least favorite

And then comes the end of the year, you’re leaving the elementary 

You spent almost everyday here for the last six years

All those funny memories, including the sad ones, make you never want to leave

You leave behind your teachers and classrooms, but continue your journey to the next year

Seventh grade 

Eighth grade 

Freshman

Sophomore 

Junior 

Senior

But you will never forget those six years