Listen to “The Graduation Day” on Spreaker.
Graduation Day
The sun was shining brightly over Maplewood School. It was a very special day—Graduation Day!
Daniel was finishing kindergarten, and he couldn’t stop smiling. He wore a tiny cap that kept slipping to one side. He had practiced his graduation song all week and even learned to sit still (mostly) during rehearsals.
Emily, on the other hand, was finishing fifth grade—her last year in elementary school. She had grown so much over the years and was now one of the big kids everyone looked up to. She had written a short speech to thank her teachers and friends.
At home that morning, their mom helped Daniel button up his shirt.
“Are you excited, Daniel?” she asked.
“Yes! But I’m a little nervous,” he whispered. “What if I forget the words to the song?”
Emily leaned over and gave him a gentle hug. “Don’t worry. Just smile and have fun. That’s what I’m doing too.”
She had laid out her favorite dress the night before and wore a sparkly bracelet her grandma had given her. She even styled her hair with a special blue clip that matched her school colors.
Dad packed the camera and made sure there was enough memory for pictures and videos. Their grandparents were coming too, along with Aunt Lily and Uncle Mark. Everyone wanted to cheer them on.
At School
The school gym was decorated with balloons and banners. A big sign read:
“Congratulations, Graduates!”
The kindergarteners sat in a neat row, swinging their feet, while the fifth graders sat behind them looking proud but a little emotional.
Daniel’s teacher, Miss Harper, called each kindergartener to the stage. When Daniel’s name was called, he walked up carefully, holding his paper diploma with both hands. Everyone clapped.
Then came the song. Daniel sang with all his heart, loud and clear:
🎵 “We’ve learned our letters, we’ve learned to share,
Now off to first grade, with love and care!” 🎵
His eyes searched the crowd until he spotted his family waving and smiling. He waved back so hard his cap nearly flew off.
After the kindergarten ceremony, it was time for the fifth grade graduation. Emily felt butterflies in her stomach as the principal gave a speech about how the fifth graders were ready for middle school.
Then Emily was called to the stage to give her speech.
She took a deep breath and began:
“Thank you to all our teachers who helped us grow. We started this journey as little kids, and now we’re ready for something new. I’ll never forget the friends I made here and the memories we’ve shared…”
When she finished, the audience clapped loudly. Even some of the teachers had happy tears in their eyes.
Afterwards, special awards were given out. Daniel got a shiny medal for being a “Super Helper” in class. He couldn’t stop looking at it.
Emily received an “Outstanding Reader” certificate and a friendship award signed by all her classmates.
The Celebration
Once the ceremony was over, families gathered outside. There were hugs, photos, and lots of proud smiles.
Their grandparents gave them cards with sweet messages and stickers inside. Aunt Lily brought balloons that said “You Did It!” and Uncle Mark brought cupcakes with Daniel and Emily’s names written in icing.
Back at home, their parents had prepared a small backyard party. There were decorations, snacks, lemonade, and a playlist of all their favorite songs.
Daniel played tag with his cousins, still wearing his medal. “Look! I’m a graduate!” he shouted joyfully.
Emily sat at a picnic table with her friends from school, giggling and taking silly selfies. They promised to stay in touch, even though some would be going to different middle schools.
“Let’s make a time capsule!” one of them said. They each wrote down a favorite memory from school and put it in a jar to open when they were older.
As the sun began to set, Mom called everyone together. She had one last surprise—a special slideshow of photos from the school year. There were pictures of Daniel’s first day of school, Emily’s science fair project, field trips, art shows, and fun times with friends.
Everyone watched quietly, smiling at the memories.
Finally, Mom raised a toast with lemonade.
“To Daniel and Emily—our wonderful graduates. We are so proud of who you are and all the amazing things you will do.”
They clinked glasses, and Daniel looked up at Emily.
“Next year, I’ll be a big first grader,” he said.
“And I’ll be a middle schooler,” Emily added.
They both smiled. Growing up was a big adventure—but with each other by their side, it didn’t feel scary at all.
That night, Daniel fell asleep with his medal still around his neck, dreaming of first grade. Emily placed her awards on her shelf and looked out the window at the stars, ready for whatever came next.
The End!
Follow-Up Questions:
- What helped Daniel feel less nervous about his graduation song?
- What did Emily talk about in her graduation speech?
- How did the family celebrate Daniel and Emily’s big day?
