Heather Giselle Scott participated in Fourth Grade
Closing Exercises at P.S. 199 "Maurice A. Fitzgerald School"
on a sunny Friday morning in Sunnyside, Queens. The school
principal, Lillian Druck, and assistant principal, Irene
Gerhards, gave speeches, encouraging the graduating fourth
graders to "strive for excellence" and "value wisdom" as
they move forward with their education. Despite the two-ticket
per family rule, there were so many parents and friends in
attendance that nearly 100 had to listen to the ceremonies
from outside the assembly hall.
After several speeches--one in English and one in Spanish--from students, and the remarks by the principal and assistant principal, the nearly 200 fourth graders from 6 different sections stood and--facing the audience--sang "The Body Electric." Their enthusiasm and spirit was overwhelming and it took a long while for the applause to subside.
Then came the presentation of awards (a formal awards ceremony
had been held the day before). Giselle received a distinguished service medal and a certificate
signed by the head of the New York State Automobile Association
as well as NYC Schools Chancellor Rudy Crew, for having
completed her Safety Patrol duties responsibly during the
1998-99 school year. She was also among 12 students who
received medals for their achievement in music. The day
before, Giselle was one of two students in her section named
to the Honor Roll.
The next event was a musical presentation by a large group of fourth-graders, including Giselle on violin, in which the audience was treated to beautiful renditions of "Yesterday" and "Edelweiss." They were directed by the music teacher, David Breniak.
Finally, there was the presentation of certificates to the
graduates, with each teacher giving out the diplomas to his
or her students. Giselle's teacher, Daniel Dromm, has had
a very positive effect on her growth this year and it was
clear that he will miss Giselle and her classmates in 401. The
students received their diplomas, one by one, up on the
stage, in what started out solemnly and ended up by the
end a rather festive atmosphere with parents cheering their
children on. The teacher for 451, Mrs. Suarez-Mejia, went
last and gave a very motivating speech to the students and
their parents, in English and Spanish. She said to "work
hard and when the work gets hard, work harder." And she
advised parents to give their children "the best medicine--encouragement and high expectations."
On her way to celebrate over Japanese food with
her mother
and father, Giselle ran into Mrs. Gonzalez,
her teacher from
3rd grade.
