146 fourth grade students sing “Count On Me” by Bruno Mars to open the ‘Moving On’ Ceremony || Solange Jain Principal Lori Sanborn address students and their families in the cafetorium at Swampscott Elementary School || Solange Jain Ellen Hounsell’s fourth grade class honors her upcoming retirement by holding up signs and speaking to her impact as a teacher for 32 years || Solange Jain Principal Lori Sanborn shakes hands with a fourth grader receiving her Moving On certificate || Solange Jain Families take pictures of their students with their certificates in front of a blue and white balloon arch, representing the school’s colors || Solange Jain A cake reads “Congratulations 4th Grade Class of 2025” || Solange Jain
Having completed their final year of elementary education — and their first at the newly consolidated Swampscott Elementary School — the fourth grade class participated in a “Moving On” Ceremony Monday morning in the cafetorium.
146 fourth grade students stood risers on the cafetorium stage while opening the ceremony by singing “Count On Me” by Bruno Mars. The ceremony consisted of three musical performances, including “I’ll Always Remember You,” from the TV series “Hannah Montana,” and “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors.
While the day marked a milestone for students and families, it also marked the end of elementary school for the group that started kindergarten online, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Principal Lori Sanborn acknowledged their accomplishment in her welcome address.
“Your strength and determination during that time inspired all of us,” said Sanborn.
Five years after their first day of “zoom kindergarten,” the fourth grade class faced a new challenge: moving from the three previous Swampscott elementary schools — Clarke, Hadley, and Stanley — to one combined school.
“I believe that these children, because they had no choice but to be resilient over and over and over again, I would argue that these kids are going to make us very proud, and we’re going to see some magic happen,” Sanborn said.
