Watersmeet honors 10 kindergarten graduates

By P.J. GLISSON

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Watersmeet - Ten graduates of the Watersmeet K-12 School proudly received their diplomas on Tuesday morning in the Watersmeet Pavilion.

The kindergarten ceremony was every bit as solemn and dignified as that of high school graduates, who already had their own ceremony on May 28.

"It was a really strange year," began Charly Sartori, the kindergarten teacher, who noted the COVID-19 pandemic that has been in play for more than a year.

Sartori told parents, "I couldn't have done it without you."

Kyle Chiochios led the Pledge of Allegiance and the Lac Vieux Desert Drum Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa Indians played an honoring song, led by Tribal Chairman James Williams Jr.

"Hopefully, these kids will become future leaders of the community and future leaders of the tribe," said Williams. "We might have our next president of the United States here - who knows?"

Music teacher Paris Purri led the children in singing "ABC Blues" and "The Kindergarten Class." The latter song included custom lyrics set to the theme "The Adams Family" TV show, and the kids clapped their hands and snapped their fingers to the beat.

Sartori presented playful awards for each child, and Karla Parrott also presented an attendance award to Jarett Kangas. The awards process created ongoing cheers and claps from the audience.

Superintendent George R. Peterson III gave each child his or her diploma and also expressed appreciation to Williams and the other drummers, as well as parents.

Peterson conceded that it was "a tough year," but added, "We hung in there. We worked together, and here we are."

The superintendent also noted that, as of the coming school year, Sartori will trade her job as a kindergarten teacher to become the school's secondary math teacher.

After the ceremony, parents and other family members took numerous photos of the new graduates.