Pomp and Circumstance

Wednesday. Fourteenth. November

 CHARLES MEMORIAL PRIMARY 

Grade R (kindergarten) & 7th grade 

G R A D U A T I O N 

See the closing prayer: Pastor Thwala

((and is that a bottle of wine and thanksgiving turkey?))

Mrs. Mazibuko, principal giving welcoming remarks

At each and every event Ginger and I are placed at the head table.  Even after a year of this I am still uncomfortable being in front of everyone.  At this event the head table was pressed up to the stage, which made watching the entertainment difficult.  Sharing the head table were Pastor Thwala, the principal, superintendent and several teachers.

First performance was the school choir.  Their first section was in English:

To God Be The Glory.

What would American schools be like if God were invited to attend?

Next song was a Zulu song included actions and motions.

Next the cutest kindergartens in the university sing their songs.

Oh well sweetheart, is it that boring being on stage.  (second from left)

Mugging for the camera.

Cute, cute, cute.

Community Hall filled with proud Gogo's (Grandmothers) and mothers.  Sadly, only a handful of men were present.

Giant, fluffy cakes.

The head table and the beautifully decorated stage.

The MC for the 5 hour event, one of the teachers.

 This culture loves 'recitation'. Here a 7th grader recites a poem about the importance of Education.

So proud.

Back to the program...

... the wee ones did the 'Chicken Dance' and then 'Cha Cha Slide'

no clue what the 3 'feathers' on their head is?

swing your partner

So much fun.

Meanwhile back at the ranch... little bored girl playing with her friends hair.

Now for the 7th graders and the traditional dance.

Actually, many boys came out to sing and dance but I was enthralled while videoing them.

Now, this is so awesome.  At weddings and various other social occasions, couples enter to loud music while doing a special dance.

They slowly make their way down the aisle.

Traditional dress and dance from the soon to be first graders.

Notice the little boy is wearing the animal skins, just like the big boy did.

To keep the drum from rolling, this helpful friend simply sits on it.

Someone ditched the boots mid-performance.

The superintendent from the school district gives a message filled with Scripture.  Again, what would American schools be like if from Kindergarten to 7th grade the students heard the Truth from the Bible as a guide to their lives.

Suddenly the teachers all break out in song and dance.

Exactly like the 7th graders - the Kindergartners, now dressed to the hilt, process down the aisle with the exact same dance.

Couples - hand in hand.

I realize that this is unintentionally blurry, but I like the black & white contrast.

Gorgeous little girls.

Ginger and a proud father couldn't lay off the loud music and busted out in dancing. 

Go Gogo Ginger Go.

Okay, we are at about the 3 hour mark, we've eaten our delicious lunch and now on to the commencement.

Has the paper to prove it... ready for first grade.

Standard protocol in the US dictates that the tassel be worn on the right side of one's mortarboard at 

commencement and then, during the ceremony, moved to the left side.

Here the big thing was for the slash to be placed over the head.

The took FOREVER.  57 wee ones, place the slash on, pose for pictures... over and over and over 57 times and that was just for the kindergartners.

On to the 7th graders.  More of the same... over and over and over.

Smile =)

Say Cheese (in Zulu)

Nqobile, my sweet friend, getting her diploma from the superintendent.

So very happy.

Getting the honor of the slash.

Smile this is your big day!

Mom is proud too.

Ginger, mom and Nqobile

Us mom's are so proud when our children do well.  Let's celebrate God's blessings of Nqobile completing primary school.  January will begin her education in Woza Moya High School.

Hip Hip Hooray and whoop, whoop for graduation!