Ironwood Class of 2025 takes first step forward

IRONWOOD — A class of 20 future firefighters, cheerleaders and astronauts graduated kindergarten Thursday at Sleight Elementary School in Ironwood.

Niki McRae’s kindergarten class held its ceremony.

Michelle Trier’s Sleight kindergarten class will graduate Monday at 1:30 p.m., while Angela Berglund’s kindergarten class graduates Tuesday at 1:30 p.m., both at the school.

The Thursday ceremony opened with the class reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and the Wright Way pledge, part of the Ironwood Area Schools’ Wright Way campaign for character education.

Students performed some regular classroom activities to show their families and friends what they do day-to-day. Students counted to 100 by ones, fives and tens and told the audience what they want to be when they grow up.

The class includes future hunters, doctors, an FBI agent, a scientist and at least three veterinarians.

Music teacher Michelle Parks led the class in singing several songs, including, “All About Me!,” where students shared what parts of school they liked best.

“Would you like to know about me?” the kids sang. “I like many things, you see.”

Students held up construction paper with their names and answered, “I like math!,” when they heard a subject they liked.

The songs also told what the kids learned through the year, including sharing, friendship and “ABCs and 123s.”

Principal Zac Strickler said the class is living up to higher expectations than those previously held by the community. “They’ve come a long way,” he said, crediting the teacher.

“Mrs. McRae is an amazing teacher,” he said. “She’s a great person and ... a great hire for Ironwood Schools.”

The future class of 2025 will begin first grade in the fall.