Graduation Concerns Are First and Foremost

Ten minutes before the graduation ceremony, and all 20 kindergartners at Chatsworth Park Elementary School had to go to the bathroom.

Teacher Stacie Lauer was insisting. “You must go to the bathroom,” she said. “If you don’t have to go, you have to try. Does anyone know why this is important?”

Cody Merchan’s hand shot up. “This is very, very important because we don’t want to go to the bathroom when we’re graduating,” he said.

Indeed, Lauer’s class of smiling, squirming kindergartners had many preparations to make Friday, the last day of the children’s first year of elementary school.

Cody had to make sure no one messed up his dark hair because his mom said it was a special day and let him use gel.

Jordan Shreve had to get Lauer to patch the bottom of his shoe with tape because he tripped after part of the sole came off.

And Alejandra Palafex had to sit perfectly still to keep clean her ruffled blue satin dress, which all the girls said was just like Cinderella’s.

But most important, everyone had to behave--and make sure to go to the bathroom before graduation--because this was the last time they would see Lauer until September, and even then, she wouldn’t be their teacher anymore.

“I’ll probably be in high school by then,” said Jordan, adding said that he would be “extra-good” during the ceremony, just for Lauer. “She is nice.”

Hanna Berry said she would make sure her friends Cedrick Austin and Levi-Drake Blecher kept their white cardboard mortarboards on their heads during the graduation ceremony, because she too wanted to make her teacher happy.

“I love Miss Lauer,” said Hanna, who wore butterfly clips in her brown hair and a blue dress with white ruffled socks and black shoes. “She taught me take-away and pluses. She wears perfume. She smells like a flower in my frontyard.”

Lauer, 29, in a leaf-print sundress with her hair in a braided bun, seemed oblivious to the praise. She was too focused on getting her students to the ceremony and making sure none of them got lost walking from the classroom to the auditorium, or in the crowds of parents armed with cameras and camcorders.

“Come on, boys and girls, your mommies and daddies are waiting for you,” said Lauer, who has taught elementary school for five years. “This is your big day.”

Lauer led her class in a march around the auditorium to the strains of “Pomp and Circumstance.”

Only one of her boys goofed off--and only briefly--when he walked with his arms straight out in front like Frankenstein.

But all the other students walked across the stage with poise, beaming into the auditorium of flashing bulbs while graciously accepting “diplomas” from Lauer. Then they sat politely and cheered as other kindergarten classes graduated.

When the ceremony was over, and the parents returned with their children to the classroom, and Sylvan Alora gave his friends packs of grape bubble gum, and Alejandra chased Sean Braish one last time before school let out, and students gave Lauer gifts of rose-scented bath beads, candles, purple flowers and heart-shaped balloons, all that was left were goodbyes to their teacher.

One boy burst into tears and hid outside, embarrassed. “I love Miss Lauer,” he said.

Sage Khalil shyly hugged Lauer but then his father urged him to give her a bear hug, so he did before sadly walking home.

Cedrick, all proud in his black suit and tie, smiled big for a photo with Miss Lauer, which he said he will always keep, no matter what.

“I was good today,” Cedrick said, waving goodbye to his favorite teacher. “I’ll miss you. I’ll miss you.”