A group of Potomac students dance around their teacher Damian Gaglia after graduation.
Buzzy Bennett receives his diploma from Terri Klein.
Kindergarten graduate Nichole Heisey plays with a balloon after the ceremony. Within minutes of the closing remarks, students successfully popped every balloon in the gym.
Bethany Heisey walks off stage after receiving the Citizenship Award for having an outstanding attitude.
School colored balloons decorated the gym to celebrate the class of 2017.
POTOMAC - Every few minutes a balloon popped and every few minutes the gym full of people flinched and then laughed. Kindergartners and eighth graders alike grabbed at the maroon and gold balloons that decorated the stage and stomped, poked and popped them in celebration.
A few tried to suck out the helium to let out a special high-pitched "Hoorah," adding hilarity to the bittersweet vibe that filled the gym.
Eighteen students graduated from Potomac Elementary School Wednesday, June 7. Nine kindergartners received completion certificates and were briefly honored for their achievement and nine eighth graders celebrated their last day of being elementary students.
The Potomac teachers took to the stage to tell the eighth-grade class of 2017 that they were ready for high school.
"I feel good, proud, very proud," said Damian Gaglia, the eighth grade teacher. "There's so many memories of this group, I'm just flooded with them."
Many of those memories were brought to life amid smiles and laughter during a slideshow showcasing the best moments from the last year, including the recent eighth grade class trip where students visited Fort Peck Reservoir.
Two awards were also given out during the ceremony. Emma Richardson was awarded the Pioneer Award for outstanding dedication to academics, self-improvement, leadership, athletics and a joy for life. Bethany Heisey was honored with the Citizenship Award for having a positive attitude with her classmates and teachers.
Of the nine eighth graders, one will be attending Sentinel High in the fall, two will be attending Loyola and the rest will attend Hellgate High.
Teachers also took to the stage individually to give short elegies for each student. They brought up favorite memories, individual qualities to be remembered, or lessons that students taught them-the intricacies of horse care, or the mechanics of automobiles.
The ceremony was summed up well by math and science teacher Kristina Davis, speaking to Bowen Olson, but applicable to all.
"Keep making your memories," said Davis. "It's good for the soul."
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