Tuesday, 23 June 2026

Last Day of School - Grades 8, 9 and 11!

Well, we did it! Another school year has come and gone, and this year marks another ending and beginning, as Holden has graduated Grade 8! After 13 years of being a part of the Hewitt’s Creek Public School community, our family’s time there has come to an end. And I’m sad about it! When we were outgrowing our house in Newmarket thanks to Holden’s impending arrival, we were very intentional about which neighbourhood we chose, knowing that we wanted to stay here until you were all finished both elementary and secondary school. It seemed like such a far-off thing, since Mercedes hadn’t even started JK yet. And now here we are, 13 years later, and my last baby has graduated and will be off to high school next year!

It’s hard to believe that next year all of you will be in school together, one last time… and then we start the grad cycle all over again. I am so proud of all of you and your accomplishments this year – it’s been a big one.

Mercedes – Watching you navigate choosing higher-level courses, think about university programs, figure out what you might want to pursue in the future, get your licence, work part-time… it’s hit us that you are almost an adult and with only one year left of high school, you could be moving out in just over 12 months! I’m not quite sure I’ll ever be ready for my babies to leave the nest, but I’m so excited for what lies ahead for you in Grade 12 and beyond – prom, graduation, all the last-year stuff that comes with it, and of course, figuring out university applications and acceptances. I can’t wait to see what your very bright future holds!

Lexi – You’ve finished your first year of high school! And very, very successfully. I know you were nervous about this big transition and moving between classes and making new friends and real exams – but you’ve done so well and we couldn’t be prouder. Your work ethic and perfectionism may have driven me a bit crazy at times, but your marks and comments and attendance record reflect your effort. While we don’t have final report cards yet for Semester 2, I know already that your marks are outstanding, just like Semester 1. High marks are definitely NOT the most important thing – effort and commitment and consistency are, but it’s a nice bonus that it’s paying off for you, and I hope you’re proud of yourself too.

Holden – Last night was your Grade 8 graduation, and despite the bittersweet emotions it brought up, mostly I was just so thrilled to see you smiling and happy and embracing the moment. Seeing you before the ceremony with your large group of friends (a truly awesome cohort of boys, many of whom you’ve been friends with for the past 10 years) warmed my heart. All of the parents agreed that this group is so special – polite, respectful, kind, considerate of each other – and we’re so happy we got to give you the gift of a limo before grad to really commemorate this momentous occasion. And we’re super thankful that you all agreed to the hour-long photoshoot beforehand! I worried about you when you started school, knowing you’d always be the youngest in your class… but I never should have bothered. We’re so happy with the young man you are growing into, and I can’t wait see what high school holds for you.

 

Congratulations to all of you on a successful year – I’m so proud of each of you, and so excited to see what’s next. Enjoy your summer vacation – you’ve earned it!

Love,

Mum

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