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BRAINERD — The graduating class of 2034 is well on its way.
Clad in big T-shirts hanging down past their knees in many cases, the 2022 kindergartners from Brainerd, Baxter and Nisswa took to Adamson Field Thursday, June 2, for Kinderfriend Day.
Color-coded by school to make a rainbow of kids along the track, the students walked to “Pomp and Circumstance” while waving to the crowd that gathered. Shouts of “I see my mom!” rang out while parents with cameras commemorated the event in the same place many of their students will walk again in 12 years to collect their high school diplomas.
“It’s a wonderful day in their lives, obviously a big step in their education,” said Harrison Elementary School Principal James Conrad, welcoming everyone to the 35th annual Kinderfriend Day.
As kids waited for the activities to start, they expressed their excitement for the day, looking forward to singing, playing games and spending the day away from the classroom.
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“We get to be outside all day!” Baxter kindergartner Griffin Museus exclaimed, adding he was also excited to see his mom.
They reflected on what they learned over the past school year, with St. Francis student McKenna Olson saying she loved getting to hold chicks — as she hopes to be a veterinarian some day — and enjoyed learning to write her letters.
Young voices sounded through the air as kids sang tunes like “Rattlin’ Bog” and “Ants in My Pants,” moving to the music under warm, sunny skies.
All the Brainerd Public Schools elementary schools were represented Thursday, along with Discovery Woods, St. Francis, Montessori School of Brainerd and Oak Street Christian School, partaking in a decades-long tradition to celebrate some of the community’s littlest learners.
THERESA BOURKE may be reached at theresa.bourke@brainerddispatch.com or 218-855-5860. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DispatchTheresa .
