Saturday March 21 is kindergarten graduation day at Kailua. The graduation march “Pomp and Circumstance” will set the mood as, parents, grandparents and guests will fill the Kailua Hall in eager anticipation of the arrival of the Class of 2015. The graduating students, in shiny gowns and togas, will be led by their homeroom teacher to begin the celebration of the completion of the first leg of a long educational journey.
As is tradition, the ceremony will open with a short prayer in Hawaiian and English, this year led by Okuto Kuroda, a five year-old kindergartner. After a brief welcome address by the principal, individual homeroom performances, all dedicated and in honor of the graduating class follow – “Roll Your Hands” by the Toddlers Class, “I Am the Music Man” performed by the pre-kindergarten homeroom and “You Are Wonderful to Me” performed by the kindergarten group. The graduating students themselves have three numbers to perform – karate demonstration, pianica pieces, and a short Hawaiian-themed musical – The Legend of the Coconut Island.
The Class of 2015 will march into the hall with the applause enthusiastic and sustained, until the children reach their pre-assigned places. Four guest speakers will deliver inspirational messages: Mr. Tetsuya Kimura of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, Funabashi City councilman Mr. Hiroshi Koishi, Funabashi Councilman Mr. Toshimitsu Yabuuchi and Principal Mr. Harunobu Nagano of Tachibana Kindergarten. The homeroom teacher presents the class of 2015 to the administration, and then, the principal, on behalf of the whole school community, acknowledges and accepts the 2015 Lani Class as graduates of Kailua. Nagomi Ebine, Yousei Otsuki, Eito Takayama and Tomoki Yamaguchi will each receive their diplomas and then sing Ichinensei Ni Nattara. The incoming Lani Class, led by Ruka Fukui, will accept the responsibilities of being the next graduating class and will vow to continue the very good job that the Class of 2015 has done.
Kotobani dekinai, time to say good bye, thank you very much for being with us, remember us in your heart, this is the message of the song by the teachers and staff that concludes the beautiful ceremony. As Pomp and Circumstance reverberates one more time, the class of 2015 proudly marches out of the hall. Graduation 2015 is sure to become another Kailua golden memory.
