“Well, I’m off to kindergarten; yes, I am!” That was the chorus our Little Acorns pre-K students sang to conclude their moving-up ceremony in the Boneventura Hall Chapel on May 31, 2024. In the fall, they will join an incoming cohort of new students to form the Oak Knoll Class of 2037 as the entire school community embarks on our historic 100th year of Holy Child education at Oak Knoll.

“Welcome on this joyous day,” exclaimed Lower School Division Head Christine Spies at the ceremony’s opening. “We’re so excited to be with you here today. Welcome to our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and special friends. We’re so proud of our Little Acorns. They have rooted themselves in their academics, self-confidence, social-emotional learning, and faith. I’m excited to watch them grow as you are as well.”

Demonstrating their confidence and poise, the students stood before a joyous audience and performed a Spanish welcome song and sang rousing renditions of “Jesus Loves Us,” “This Little Light of Mine,” and “When I Grow Up” — the latter of which is an original song composed by their teacher, Marissa Germinario, and based on each child’s aspirations for their future.

Germinario also thanked the audience for attending and said, “I want to take this opportunity to thank you for sharing your children with us this year. We’ve had such a great year with fun activities and events. We have loved watching them grow, both academically and socially. They have a beautiful bond with one another.”

That bond was evident during the concluding slideshow, which was set to music and featured photographs of the class enjoying each other and playful learning activities throughout the year. Following the slideshow, Germinario and Pre-K Assistant Teacher Anne Zucchi invited the proud attendees to the pre-K classroom for refreshments.

The Class of 2037 is Oak Knoll’s fourth pre-K class to move up to kindergarten since the co-educational program was established in 2020. Founded on the same guiding principles of Holy Child education, these Little Acorns develop a love of learning through purposeful play and approach new challenges with curiosity and critical thinking. Learn more about this distinctive program here.