2008 6th Grade Graduation Speech
(By Nikki Robbins)  

It is my pleasure to be here tonight, and I stand before you proudly and humbly as we gather together in honor of seven very special young people.

We often say that Footprints is a family, and I’ll be honest, I do feel like I have seven kids graduating today and not just one.  After all, many of these kids have been around since they were just little tikes, from the time that their own “Footprints” fit inside the palm of our very own hand.  (There are people in the room who probably even changed some diapers, but that would be far too embarrassing to mention, right?)   Time goes by so fast, the older they get the quicker it goes; so we try not to mention the fact that in a blink they now nearly tower over some of us in the hallway (some of them do tower over some of us) and have footprints that require shoes (especially Healys) that are made to order because of their sheer size of their pre-adolescent feet.

I have so many memories that are centered around this group- Sam, Claire, Michael, Erin, Jenna, Cole and Jordan, you all have been the leaders here in this place for a long time and you are a family.  Along with Ashley, Katie, Mark, Chloe and Laura, your class has been the founding group in the school here, leading the way here and forging the path to our success.

Without you and your parents, there would be no Footprints Academy .  You have shaped the Footprints culture, and your smiling faces and charismatic personalities have provided the motivation and inspiration to keep us going through the times that were difficult.  I only had to peek into your classroom at any given time for an instant dose of laughter, a hug, gratitude, or a quick lesson in true leadership and strength of character.

It was because of you that the Footprints dream became a reality. Because of the dedication of the parents here tonight, we decided to continue providing education beyond just kindergarten, and the dream to build a school for our kids, to have this very different place for them (for you) to learn and grow went from dream to reality.  As I think back- it started out as a discussion- parents really liked what we did for pre-school and kindergarten and they said, if “you do it”, we will stay…so we did first grade, then second grade…etc. and then obviously the need to expand developed and then it changed to: if you build it, we will follow!  But the dream could never have become a reality without the partnership with the parents; they worked so hard to give you this opportunity!  Not only did they believe in what we were doing here, and follow us to the new building, but they worked hard! 

They poured heart and soul into FPA to make it what it is today; they volunteered, recruited, planted flowers, moved playground equipment, built ball fields, cleaned and scrubbed and put desks and shelves together and put together an awesome P.T.A. and counted box tops and did whatever they could to invest in you!  Remember when we were all together, going to school in a strip mall?  Your parents were the ones who believed that some day we’d build something more, bigger and better, and that it wasn’t the building at all that really mattered but what went on within those walls.   What an amazing opportunity they gave you, what a place they helped to build in honor of you- what an incredible legacy you are leaving in this place.  I am deeply grateful for them- they made it happen!  I am also so grateful for the opportunity to have known and touched the lives of each and every one of you amazing young people. 

We accomplished a lot, our little family, in just a few short years together.  Your leadership in this place sure means a lot.  Just as Footprints Academy grew and grew, you kids were on that journey, taking these steps of growth as well.  You probably don’t even know it, but your presence in this place is so impactful, especially for the little kids.  Every day, in so many, many ways you provide positive leadership to them just by being the amazing kids that you are!

You are amazing kids indeed!  You have come a long way- in what seems like just a blink of an eye, you’ve gone from taking those very first steps (some of you took them right here in the baby room at Peace of  Mind)…but more recently, we’ve had to measure your growth using more like leaps and bounds for tracking.  The rate has been outrageous and quite frankly, you are hard to keep up with lately!  The teachers have complained that it’s challenging for them to keep up with you, and I’ve had several parent requests for a parent’s help line for homework support (you know, so the parents can get support to help the students with the homework).  Let’s try to keep this kind of quiet though because I think a few of the kids might still think their parents are smarter than they are.  As far as the question of are you smarter than a 5^th grader, I’d say if we’re talking about a FPA 5^th grader- then absolutely not! 

So, baby steps is where they started, but now they are on to big steps as today is graduation day.  Elementary school is behind them, the kids have successfully completed their elementary years and now they are off to Middle School or Junior High.  The Healy’s are strapped on and it’s full speed ahead for the 6^th grade class of 2008!!

They are starting what are sure to be some of the best days of their lives, and thanks to the solid foundation that has been laid for these kids; they are surely destined for success.   They have established in one another, friendships that are bound to last a lifetime through, and with the support of loving parents like you and extended friends and family and grandparents to love and support them- how can they go anywhere but the top?  The possibilities for them are surely boundless!!  All of their dreams are sure to come true as they begin their next phase of their educational life’s journey and may they be frequent visitors at their starting point here at FPA and remember us as well!  At this time I’d like to take one last opportunity to read them all a story, just for old time’s sake…

(Nikki read them the book “Dream: A Tale of Wonder, Wisdom & Wishes” by Susan V. Bosak)

May the Lord grant them boundless blessings!