Principal Shawna Jessen thanks the 5th grade Safety Patrol during the Grant m. Bowler 5th grade Promotion Ceremony. Photo by Cyndi Goodrich.

By Cyndi Goodrich

Moapa Valley Progress

“Ladies and Gentlemen”, the ceremony began, “we are looking at the future class of 2018”.

Fifth grade students at Grant M. Bowler Elementary listened last week while school principal Shauna Jessen spoke about her first full class to go through the school since she became principal in 2005. She fondly reminisced about when they were tiny kindergarteners.

Awards were presented to many of the students. Presidential Academic Awards were given to students who achieved high marks in fitness along with maintaining a high grade average. Perfect scores in reading given to Shelbi Walker and Morgan Aikele. And the Presidential Fitness Awards to the students with the best times and repetitions in the competing fields.

D.A.R.E. Officer Allen Johnson, accompanied by Officer Mark Harding, reminded the students of the pledges they made to refrain from abusing drugs and alcohol. They announced the winners of the D.A.R.E essay contest as Hailee Heiselbetz and Jessica Cameron.

Finally, each student’s name was called and given a promotion certificate as they passed through a line of handshakes from teachers, administrators and officers, officially. When the students assembled back in their seats, together they sang with loud voices the Grant M. Bowler School song, claiming to be Buccaneers’ for the last time.