The Sunset School student body at the year-end celebration. Not pictured, Kailish Valencia.
Sunset School celebrated their end of the year celebration on May 24, the last day of school. Family and friends packed the Lubrecht Forest Pavilion for the ceremony.
The ceremony celebrated the school year with individual student awards, drum music, recognition of graduates and an emotional thanks to teacher Miss Peterson.
"I'd like to thank the board members and staff who provided a robust and individual school experience this year," Toni Hatten, Head Teacher, said. "I like to recognize that all the students grew and developed this year, not just the graduates."
Individual awards for Most Contagious Laugh (Coen Dinger), Fearless Approach to Spelling and Excellent Encourager (Eidon Cunningham), Sight Word Wizard and Role Model Award (Olivia Paulussen), CBC Word Master and Best Smile (Odin Holwerda), Math Achiever and Entrusted Rule Follower (Mia Stehlik), Phenomenal Graphic Design and future James Beard Award (Val Hoppe), Thoughtful Socratic Contributor and Yes Ma'am Award (Kit Wilson), Writer Extraordinaire and Task Orientation Award (Conley Mercer), State Enthusiasm and Genuinely Kind Award (Mela Bradley), Remarkable Creative Writing and Hospitality (Keyvn Masters), Valor Award and Most Cooperative Assistant and Competing at the Missoula County Spelling Bee (Savina Nygard), Most Imaginative Storyteller and Fearlessly Independent (Sophia Mendenhall) were given.
Drum music, led by Matthew Nord of Tangled Tones Music Studio, demonstrated the students' abilities learned through the year in following directions, keeping tempo and rhythm and learning focus.
The three drum songs students played at the celebration represented music from Sierra Leone and Ghana. Students then sang "Sound of One Voice" with Nord accompanying on the guitar.
The kindergarten graduation ceremony celebrated Odin Holwerda and Olivia Paulussen's completion. Eighth grader Kailish Valencia was unable to attend.
"You get quite close to the students when you teach in this environment," Hatten said. "Kailish came to Sunset School as a new student this year. He took it in stride and I'm fond of him and his capabilities."
Sadie Peterson, kindergarten through third grade teacher, was given a bouquet in recognition of her work at Sunset School the past two years. She is moving to Missoula and won't be teaching at Sunset next year.
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