The Class of 2014 and the Homestretch

The May 24th Graduation Ceremony will be here before we all know it and it's time to look ahead to important dates/events. The next two and a half months will be a roller coaster ride for the seniors and their parents and it all begins with mock exams next week.

Mock Exams - March 17 - 20
This year we decided to devote four days to mock exams. This change was based on feedback from students and teachers from the past several years. There are no classes for seniors these days so that they can focus on the exams. We decided on this new format based on feedback from teachers and past students. There are two main purposes for the exams are...

• to provide students and teachers with information on what knowledge and skills the students have mastered at this point in time. This information will then be used for review work and a semester exam grade.
• to provide students with an IB Exam type of environment that will prepare them for the real exams in May.

The procedures for the mock exams are posted here.

Important events/dates are listed below. We will be going over the details in several upcoming senior flex meetings.

 April 30 - Final Day for IB Students to Submit major coursework (including CAS Work)

May 2 – May 23 - IB Exams

May 9 - Junior/Senior Prom (2030 - 0030)

May 16 - Final day of classes for all seniors

May 20 - Final Grades Posted

May 20 - Senior Breakfast (0830), Graduation Rehearsal (1000 - 1200)

May 21 - Letting Go Workshop for Parents

May 22 - Graduation Rehearsal (1530 - 1700)

May 23 - Senior Awards Ceremony (1300 - 1510)

May 24 - Graduation (1400 - 1700)

Please contact Adelaide Garcia (adelaide.garcia@graded.br) if you have any questions about any of these events.

The Awards and Graduation Ceremonies: Collaboration at its best

This video shows the culminating event at what is arguably Graded's best event of the year. Yesterday the setting was beautiful, the student and teacher speakers' messages were profound and the music was of professional quality. It was truly a special celebration for the Graded community. 

After the ceremony a parent asked me, "Who designed the stage setup?" I had to think a bit because there were many people who were responsible for creating and building the backdrop for yesterday's event. In fact, every aspect of the event required a team effort. The Graduation Ceremony and the Senior Awards are the two main events for the seniors each year and they are excellent examples of the power of collaboration and team work. These ceremonies are meaningful because of the care and consideration that our faculty and staff devote to them. I'd like to thank all of those who contributed to these two memorable events.The list is certainly impressive.  

• David Bair - David coordinated the show with the entire team and he prepared the seniors during two rehearsals.
• Adelaide Garcia - Adelaide has been on top of ordering and making sure that everything is in place since August. She spent an entire day two weeks ago assigning seats. 
• Daisy Krell and Isabela Gasparian - Provided support whenever it was needed.
• Carmen Souza - Carmen helped with the senior awards ceremony and pre and post graduation assistance.
• Lika Kishino - Lika was involved in preparing and publishing the graduation program.
• The Maintenance Team - They built the new risers and have been working on the auditorium all week. 
• Dona Emilia and her Crew - Maybe the last time that the graduates have Dona Emilia's brownies and apple pies.
• Aleandro Oliveira - for the amazing job with the sound and lights.
• Robbie Stange and the Band - Fantastic performances today.
• Guilherme Faria - Arranging and performing in today's interlude
• Graduation Speakers - Ney Vieira, Lee Fertig, Amy Hunt, Mie Mizutani, Pollo Suarez, Julia Wu, Maggie Moraes, Sherry McClelland - Fantastic messages from each one of the speakers today.
• Senior Musicians - Alessandro Mondelli, Juri Takeda, Hyun Ho Lee, Kyeong Ho Park, Henrique Carneiro, Peter Greenwald, Caio Mello, Kyle Bissel, Pollo Suarez, and their backups Leo Oliveira and Kevin Bengtsson - Possibly the most talented group of musicians Graded has ever had in one class before.  
• Cory Miller and Todd Daniel - Planning and organizing the awards ceremony and calling out the graduates' names yesterday.
• Cleaning Staff - They were some of the last people to leave the school last night. 
• Senior Awards Presenters - Alain Youssef, Peter Klam, Mary Pfeiffer, Wayne Shackelford, Cris Matheus, Ty Stephensen, Jed Oksness, Robbie Stange, Guilherme Faria, Maggie Moraes, Adriana Silveira, Lauren Pool, RJ Jensen, Guilhermo Loyolla, Allyson Milner, Ange Molony, Guadalupe Alas, Beth Ramos, Jennifer Carpenter & Karin Gunn, Gila Fregonesi, Lee Fertig  - Each department put serious thought selecting the winners and the speeches were certainly special.
• Sherry McClelland and Neide Mussete - Playing piano at this afternoon's reception.
• Security - Rogerio and his team were ready to manage the influx of visitors on both days.
• The Student Marshals and Ushers
• The students who spoke on behalf of departing teacher - Andre Mendes, Inez Gil, Victor Lee, Alvaro Rossi, Alessandro Modelli, Eliana Keinan, Edu Ramos and Pollo Suarez, Luiza Kalil and Carolina Paulino, Julia Wu, Annie Groth
• All of you who helped the speakers with editing and crafting the perfect messages.