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CROTON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y.-- Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School held a graduation procession for their fourth grade students departure to Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School today. The students sang Lean On Me, and In My Life, to a crowd dotted with video cameras, ready to document the moment.
Its a celebration, said Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary Principal Kelly Maloney, of the work theyve done over the last five years. Its also sad, because you do establish relationships with the kids. Youre going to miss them.
Sarah Murphy, a Croton resident with three children in the school district said about her son, Toby, the first day of school he said, Im going to be a senior in elementary school, and that instant he realized he would be the youngest in middle school. Toby is the first of Murphys children to leave elementary school.
The school also said goodbye to five faculty members this year, including fourth grade teacher Catherine Windrum, special education teacher Cathy Higgins, first grade teacher Judy Kamlet, third grade teacher Kathy Buckhout and school psychologist Dr. Carol Frankel. Many of the teachers retiring this year have been with the district for over 20 years, according to Principal Maloney.
Grady Stevenson, a graduating fourth grade student, said Im going to a new school, and I really like that. He also said he looked forward to putting photos of his favorite sports guys, in his locker.
Two students won poetry awards from the Womens Club of Peekskill and Cortlandt, including Ella Deutchman, for her poem Flying, and Julia Danett, for her poem The Wind. The ceremony ended with the song We Go Together.
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