Graduation Day

So the day finally came. After nearly three years at Childrens Circle Nursery School, Lola became one of 30 graduates in the Class of 2011 - the largest-ever graduating class the school has seen in its 35 years.

The Dress

Lola picked out this red pageant dress weeks before the big day. (Those pony-tail holders had little gold bells on them.) Coincidentally, her good friend Emma wore the same color. Though there were no hard feelings. Both girls will be in the same kindergarten class this month, so it seemed appropos.

Of course, eventually, everyone ended up barefoot in the sandbox. The pageant dress proved more versatile than it looked.

A Packed House

The import of the evening was such that 60 grown-ups, some of whom wore high heels, sat without complaint, Indian-style on the floor for nearly three hours. (Yes. Three. Hours.)

The Group Shot

Before the ceremony, all the squirmy graduates lined up for the requisite group shot. The parents swarmed opposite them like a bunch of rabid paparazzi. Lola still managed a gracious smile.

The Tiles

One of the graduation rituals of Lola's school is the creation of the tiles. Each child paints a tile and it is affixed to the building to herald the vibrancy of his or her presence there for all eternity. (Or something close.) Here's Lola's little bit of colorful art.

The Big Moment

Lola was one of the first dozen children to receive her diploma which declared

that she had "learned to play with other children." Tim, the school's founder, said of Lola (and, ahem, no other child) "I will remember you forever." Her other teacher Rachelle noted her "big feelings," which she described as a puzzle to the staff, considering the mild nature of both her parents. "Where did this child come from?" they wondered. Lola's teachers mused about her far longer than most of the other kids that night. But is that any surprise?