On Wednesday 17th of June, sixth class gathered for the last time to celebrate the end of their primary school life but in a very unique way. For the first time in the history of Ballysax, we held a virtual celebration via Zoom.
We are really happy to report that all went well and it was a very emotional and fitting send-off for the marvellous 26 children of 6th class.
We were honoured to have the Board of Management of Ballysax represented by Ms Elizabeth Smith, who read a lovely graduation prayer for us and Ms Reddy gave us a truly wonderful and heart felt speech reminding everyone how fantastic this particular 6th class have been in Ballysax. Huge thanks to Ms Reddy for all the support she gave us during the entire year and during school closure and in preparing for this graduation, she has been amazing.
Stephen played the tin whistle, Kaylagh and Abigail sang, Kaylagh also wrote a lovely thank you poem to the class. Dylan wrote and read a fantastic poem called “The class of 2020” and Doireann read out her own prayer for graduation for us. As well as that, we were really impressed with the fantastic speech that Kate and Eryn wrote and delivered for us at the ceremony as class representatives.
We also had video messages from all the staff of Ballysax to 6th class and Ms Collins read a speech too. We were so lucky to have two parents: Hugh’s dad; David and Kaylagh’s dad; Colin say a few words. Thank you for the kind words, your speeches were wonderful. We finished off the ceremony with a video of a photo slideshow of our best memories of 6th class. It was a very emotional ceremony for everyone.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the children of 6th class for a fantastic year and a wonderful Graduation ceremony. You have truly been an outstanding class who made my job very easy. It has been an absolute pleasure to be your teacher and I will miss you all very much. I wish you all the very best for next year, we will never forget you. Thanks for everything.
All the best,
Ms Kavanagh 🙂
This is Dylan’s poem:
CLASS OF 2020
WE STARTED WAY BACK IN 2012
INNOCENT AND ADORABLE, WE OUTDID OURSELVES.
A LOVELY CLASS, WHO GOT ON SO WELL,
AND FORMED A BOND OF FRIENDS WITH LOTS OF STORIES TO TELL.
WE WERE LIKED BY TEACHERS THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH,
NO DRAMAS TOO BIG OR MAJOR TROUBLE WOULD BREW.
WE DID OUR BEST AND WERE A PLEASANT CLASS,
A ‘JOY TO TEACH’ AND NOT A PAIN IN THE… NECK.
WE LOST A FEW ALONG THE WAY,
BUT GAINED SOME OTHERS TO SAVE THE DAY.
CLEVER AND FUNNY, THOUGHTFUL AND KIND,
WE TRIED OUR BEST TO NOT LEAVE ANY BEHIND.
FRIENDSHIPS FORMED AND GREW STRONGER EACH YEAR
A GREAT START IN LIFE, WE WILL ALL HOLD SO DEAR.
FOR THE REST OF OUR DAYS, AS WE WARMLY RECALL
THE GOOD OLD DAYS IN OUR PRIMARY SCHOOL’S WALLS.
SOME TEACHERS WE LIKED AND SOME WERE A BIT ‘MEH’
BUT MS KAVANAGH FOR 6TH WE ALL SAID ‘HELL YEA!’
SHE TREATED US FAIR AND WITH RESPECT
BUT AN EARLY END WE DIDN’T EXPECT.
ALMOST 8 YEARS TOGETHER AND THEN TO JUST STOP
CAME TO US ALL AS A BIT OF A SHOCK.
ALL THE MONEY WE RAISED FOR TOURS AND FUN
WERE TAKEN AWAY BY A BAT IN WUHAN.
BUT KEEPING IN TOUCH BY PHONE AND ‘GADGET’
TO NOT REMEMBER THE CRAIC WOULD SURELY BE TRAGIC.
THANKS MS KAVANAGH FOR BEING YOU
WE WILL MISS YOU LIKE YOU NEVER KNEW.
AND TO ALL MY CLASS OF 2020 FOR ALL TIME
THE CORONA VIRUS HAS DONE A TERRIBLE CRIME.
IT TOOK AWAY ALL THE FUN WE COULD HAVE HAD
AND TO BE HONEST IT MADE ME REALLY SAD
BUT AS WE JOURNEY ON NEW ADVENTURES UNKNOWN
REMEMBER THE BOND THAT HAS BEEN GROWN.
MAY WE ALWAYS GREET EACH OTHER WITH A SMILE
AND TREASURE THE DAYS BEFORE WE GO OUT IN STYLE.