Students Celebrate Moving Up to New Schools

POUGHKEEPSIE – Kindergarten and fifth grade students from the Poughkeepsie City School District are now officially ready for elementary and middle school respectively after ceremonies celebrating their achievements during the weeks of June 13 and 20.

Director of Elementary Education Janet Bisti is proud of students’ accomplishments after overcoming a challenging year which included returning to full in-person learning. Reading and math scores improved across the district after the implementation of Ready Reading and Ready Classroom Mathematics curriculums.

“Having an aligned ELA and Math curriculum helps to prepare students for the upcoming grade level and allows teachers to see students’ progress from year to year,” Bisti explained. “We are excited to see their continued success.”

Warring Elementary School held its first in-person ceremony in two years on June 17 where over 60 fifth graders were presented their certificates to cheers from their families.

Principal Julliet Coxum congratulated the students’ achievements, while noting that this occasion was just as much for parents and guardians as it was for them.

“It’s a very important day for all of us,” Coxum said. “You have succeeded and you are ready for the next stage of your life.”

Ameila Yeargin loved her teachers at Warring and while she is nervous to start 6th grade, she is also ready for it.

“I don’t how it’s like in the middle school, but I’m also excited at the same time,” Yeargin said.

At the Early Learning Center celebrations, Principal Nadine Dargan encouraged parents to work with their children on math and reading packets the school sends home for the summer.

“We want to avoid the summer loss that most young children experience due to lack of exposure over the summer months,” Dargan said. “I am thrilled to celebrate with our families as their children begin the next chapter in education.”

At Morse Elementary School’s ceremony, 125 children moved up with over 400 family members in attendance. Principal Samantha Velez-Mitchell praised the students for overcoming challenges they endured during COVID, as well as the staff who assisted in meeting their academic, social and emotional needs.

“I am very proud of their hard work and dedication,” Velez-Mitchell said of the students.
Moving up ceremonies have also occurred for fifth grade students at Clinton and Krieger Elementary Schools. The final moving up ceremony, celebrating a class of pre-K students moving to kindergarten and eighth grade students moving to ninth grade was held.

Congratulations to all the students who are advancing.