Agnes Irwin Recognizes Twenty-Six Fourth Graders at Lower School Moving Up Ceremony

Agnes Irwin Recognizes Twenty-Six Fourth Graders at Lower School Moving Up Ceremony

A medley of celebrations, farewells, and cherished traditions marked yesterday’s Lower School Moving Up Day. Our fourth graders, adorned with bouquets of sunflowers, each received certificates to mark their successful completion of the LS program. Speakers and honored guests included fourth grade teachers Caitlin Sweeney ‘99 and Patty Hicke, Lower School Director Elizabeth Elizardi, Head of School Sally Keidel, and select third graders—who were presented traditional symbols of leadership from their fourth grade peers.

The meaningful impact left by the fourth graders was exemplified by their commitment to Agnes Irwin’s core value of Community, and their sense of empathy. “You are assertive leaders with strong and powerful voices,” said Elizardi. “You advocate for yourselves, each other, and our greater school community. Your documentary projects created with docutribe showcased your ability to use passions and interests to create social good, becoming philanthropic in partnerships with organizations and changemakers.”

Rising fourth graders were then presented symbols of leadership by the graduating class. Chloe ’31 received the leadership symbol of the doll from Leah ’30, Devin ’31 was presented with the symbol of the flag by Lana ’30, Ellie ’31 received the symbol of recycling from Katherine ’31, and Emerson ’31 was presented with the clipboard by Parker ’30.

Teachers Patty Hicke and Caitlin Sweeney ’99 then introduced a collective gift from the fourth grade to the Lower School—a framed portrait of the class, surrounded by the thumbprints of every graduating student. “It is their hope that every girl who reads this will be inspired to put this legacy into practice and follow their own passions,” said Sweeney.

The ceremony concluded with the awarding of certificates, complete with personalized reflections about each graduate. Select excerpts from these reflections are below:

• “Gregarious, social, unifying spirit, loves to share and work with others”
• “Natural leader, loves to learn, quiet humor”
• “Eloquent, funny old soul, gracious, kind hard worker”
• “Warm and kind, empathetic, good listener”
• “Terrific questioner, hard worker, confident, loves to read”
• “Kind, loyal, leads by example, imaginative and artistic”
• “Pensive, dreamer, proud of her heritage, a confident leader who has found her voice”