On the morning of Tuesday, June 25, Liberty Elementary School fourth graders accepted their final awards and took their final trips across the stage in the gymnasium as they participated in  the Moving Up Ceremony

The event celebrated the achievements and hard work the students put in in their years at LES before they took their next steps in their academic lives—going to middle school.

Principal Robert England reminded students that what they have been learning, not just reading, writing and arithmetic, but social-emotional lessons through the Leader in Me framework, is something they would carry with them throughout their lives.

After recognizing student liaisons Amaya Burton and Henry Vogler, several awards were presented,  as follows:

• Music: Band: Alec Feliciano, Alannis Flores, Ana Hernandez, Josslynn Letohic, John Matute and Caleb McNett; Orchestra: Dean Harte, Melanie Hernandez Santiago, Lilith Lynker, Anthony Philippe, Henry Vogler and Ivan Zheng; and Chorus: Joseph Geoghan, Dean Harte, Ana Hernandez and Josslynn Letohic.
• Academic Excellence: Darius Dawkins, Blake Dennison, Damaris Jadan Pangolo, Josslyn Letohic, Lilith Lynker, Caleb McNett, Tierney Meddaugh, Levi Poley, Masharib Uddin and Henry Vogler.
• Academic Achievement: Annabella Buryiak, Joel Cruz Lopez, Crisnelly D’Oleo Garcia, Parker Gissentaner, Mairely Gonzalez Manzueta, Nayeli Hernandez Soperanez, Laurel Hook, Ryleigh LaMantia, Helen Lucero Bonilla, John Matute, Marline Mott, Cailynn Pate, Anthony Philippe, Anabella Ramos, Esmeralda Santiago Sharpe and Mirey’ah Steele.
• Citizenship: Dean Harte, Ana Hernandez, Anastasia Kelly, Caleb McNett and Isabella Puente.
• NYS Attorney General’s Triple “C” Award: Amaya Burton and Tierney Meddaugh.
• NYS Comptroller’s Award: Henry Vogler.

After the awards were presented, the approximately 125 fourth-graders walked across the stage to receive their certificates of competition, signifying they have graduated from elementary school and are now considered fifth graders.

The final portion of the program was perhaps the most emotional and the most fun, for the students, staff and families—the traditional showing of the fourth grade video, produced by fourth-grade teacher David Philips. As the students sang along with many of the tunes, a video screen displayed photos and videos from their time at LES. The video is something the students will look forward to seeing again in eight years during the senior walk.

As the lights came back up, families in the balcony were invited to the floor to congratulate their children on a job well done in elementary school.

A recording of the ceremony can be found at https://events.locallive.tv/events/149092.

More photos can be on the LCSD Facebook and LCSD Instagram pages.