Kindergarten Graduation

We had a very special celebration at RIA this week - Kindergarten Graduation! Ms. Hillary graduated six students that eagerly wait for the coming of 1st grade next year. These six students represent six differant countries: England, America, Germany, Poland, Switzerland and Spain - and Ms. Hillary is Canadian, so that's seven. We held the graduation a little early as two of the students are leaving early, one on holiday and one moving to a new city in Switzerland (that would be the American student...) Due to the realities of expat communities living in foreign countries, about half of the kindergarten class will not be returning next year, but will be attending schools in other areas and countries.

This is a reality that has really touched our hearts. Transition; leaving; being the new kid; saying goodbye; saying hello to new families; new country, new language, new everything - that is something that makes these children unique. We have them but for a season, to love, to nurture, to share God's love, before we send them off again to a new place, a new home. Ms. Hillary is in transition also - she will be finishing up the school year just in time to have her first child. She and her husband (he's German, works in Switzerland), are so very excited to begin their family. As Ms. Hillary transitions from teaching to being a full-time mommy, we are also saying goodbye to a great Kindergarten teacher.

At Graduation, the students sang and did motions to one of their favorite songs: "Our God is a Great Big God!". Can you believe that they are all the same age?


The Kindergarten students each designed and made their graduation hats. There is such a huge amount of creativity in the class. They are giving Ms. Hillary a group hug in appreciation for her being their teacher. So sweet!
These two sisters (twins actually) are the pride of my library. They attended RIA for several years before transitioning to a German school. I think I have mentioned before the requirements on attending a German school if you are a resident. Anyway, the sisters' family still has library priviledges as their younger sister still attends RIA and they are voracious readers. They come in after school and check out books as quickly as they can read through them. I think their goal is to read every book in our library... Well, more power to them I say! Oh yeah, I don't think they even realize that I am taking this picture - they get so focused when they read that the world ceases to exist.

Indeed, we are learning here just how priceless each child is. As several of our long-time families are transitioning to other countries, we share many poignant moments as we work hard to say goodbye well. We are learning that time is much shorter than we would like to believe. We must hold on loosely, the students are a gift to teach for a time, only to send them on again - smarter, wiser, kinder, with God's truth in their heart that they are special and hopefully with fond memories of their time at Rhein International Academy.

Love all; serve all. Be generous.

P.S. This will likely be our last post of the year as Delynn and I frantically get ready to finish out the last week of school and get ready for the flight back to the States. We love you and look forward to seeing many of you soon!