5th Graders, Looking Ahead to the Middle School

"Focus on doing what is right," Dr. Kathleen Gombos, Principal of Johnson School told her fifth graders at their Moving Up Ceremony on Thursday.

About 242 students watched their peers receive various awards throughout the hour and a half long ceremony. Mrs. Fenn presented her list of awards which included the fitness awards to students who passed all four parts of the fitness test - sit ups, push ups, sit and reach, and the mile long run. Awards also given to the students who achieved the higher fitness standards.

An award was presented to those who exceeded the tri-athlon, which included a mile run, walk jump and the 100 yard dash. "You need to realize you are all winners," Gombos told the students in the audience.

Other awards given out included the Johnson Pride award, Most Improved award, Word Master awards, Cluster Awards and the Excellence in Education award.

"The middle school is going to get a good group of smart and strong individuals. Sometimes you don't have to worry about yourself but about others around you," Gombos told the graduating class.

The chorus and string students were mentioned for their excellence in their spring concerts, as well as individuals who had solos.

The 5th graders of this year had become involved with a variety of community service including the walk for diabetes raising over $7,000 in donations, Scotty Fund, Jump Rope for Heart always raising between $7000- $10,000 in donations, taking care of the school grounds, letters to the troops and many other activities.

 At the end of the ceremony, the students sang along to Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain," Chevelle's "Tonight, Tonight," and other popular songs, which they heard while watching the 491 picture slideshow put together by Music Teacher Michele Carpentier.

"I was up until midnight making sure that I had enough pictures of all the kids." Carpentier mentioned with a big smile.