Narrative: Farewell Class of 2018! WHO: All Experts, any students who wish to attend, staff, family, etc. (Tag if you want to, otherwise leave it as is) WHEN: June 1, Morning/Early Afternoon WHERE: The Auditoirum
Most of the Experts were counting down to minutes and seconds by the time graduation had begun. They wore robes of black and caps that matched, dangling from the top were the tassels with a little charm that said "18" on it. There was a general buzz of excitement that was both joyous and anxious. Their journey at St. Margaret's had come to an end. They were about to leave the sacntuary of the school and venture into a large and vast world. Some of them had plans to pursue further education, others wanted to travel, some wanted to do both, and there were a number ready to just breathe a sigh of relief at finally having finished.
Family, guardians, and friends were chatting away, excited to see the graduates enter. The appointed time came and the all too familiar song began playing, and the processional commenced. The auditorium quieted and the Experts entered, coming to stand in the first few rows. The faculty followed after, walking onto the stage. The Head of Houses taking up the front row along with Ms. Menides (except Mr. Kaden, who was still out of town). Some faculty wore their own robes from their higher education, and others opted for still formal yet not quite so formal attire. They looked on proudly at those students prepared to take the stage and receive their diploma.
The program went on. Ms. Menides conducted the ceremony, speaking to the students and giving them words of encouragement for what the future would bring for them. So long as they took what they learned from the school and applied it, they would be able to face most anything the rest of the world could throw at them.
Once she finished, Expert students from the choir took the stage and sang a soulful rendition of "Seasons of Love." When the song was over, only a small portion of eyes were dry in the room. Then at last, it was time for diplomas.
Instead of the planned classical music that was going to play, a mariarchi began came out of seemingly no where. They played an enthusiastic song. Most of the experts didn't look surprised at all, while most everyone else were alarmed. This dissolved into laughter and then applause, and Ms. Menides, who herself hadn't looked all that surprised at their presence, let the mariachi band continue playing as the students went to get their diplomas. Each name read and the students shook the hands of the staff present on the stage. They could pose for cameras as they walked off, and then returned to their seats.
Diplomas in hand, the student council president stood before them and had the students change their tassels from one side to the other as a symbolic gesture of their departure. The ceremony closed and the students were free to meet with their family and friends who had attended. The ceremony itself was lovely and the mariachi band were invited to continue playing.
The pranks weren't done, however, and the Experts gathered together after setting their diplomas aside to gather. Ms. Menides, almost as if she already knew what would happen, excused herself. The Experts return and began pelting water balloons at their classmates and members of staff. There was outrage but there was also even more laughter. Ms. Menides returned with Mr. Pheres, who carried towels for those who wished to dry themselves.
The rest of the afternoon was for students to say goodbye to staff and to take pictures with each other. Most would depart within the next week or so, but some would linger over the summer. They were no longer students, so that meant that they would need to leave before the next school year started and new Standards would move into their rooms. Until then, it was a time of celebration and farewells, with plenty of photos, hugs, and tears.