Art show, awards ceremony for RPES ‘graduates’
By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Seventy-nine fifth graders formally said goodbye to Rachel Patterson Elementary School (RPES) during the local school’s “See You Later Program,” a combined graduation and awards ceremony that was followed by an exhibit of student-created artwork last Friday, May 16.
About half the “Class of 2025” were in attendance, and numerous awards were handed out in recognition of various accomplishments.
“This is an exciting time,” said Principal Jennifer Lee. “These students are finally going to the middle school. They will take so many academic, behavioral and leadership skills with them.”
The event was held at the Strand Theatre, and the crowd came close to exceeding the theater’s maximum capacity of 189. Every seat was filled, except those reserved for the students, long before the scheduled 8:15 a.m. starting time.
Parents, grandparents, siblings and others stood or sat along the walls of the rehabilitated cinema, straining to view the proceedings over the heads and shoulders of those who stood in the aisles due to the shortage of seating.
As the seats filled, a video presentation played on the movie screen, showing each of the “graduates” during their time at RPES. The musical background included “Never Grow Up” by Taylor Swift and “You Are My Sunshine” by Kina Grannis.
After the students marched into the venerable venue, awards were presented to those who won or were runners-up in the school’s annual spelling bee, those who earned A-B honor roll designation, those who earned A honor roll status, and the students with the highest averages in math and reading.
There were awards for those who were deemed most improved, as well as principal (Positive Panda) awards, perfect attendance awards, presidential awards, D.A.R.E. awards and fifth-grade completion certificates.
The crowd included Katie Thames of Atmore, who was watching the fourth of six grandchildren she has raised or helped raise through elementary school, and Aundreneika Washington of Jackson, whose brother, Isaac, was receiving his elementary school “diploma.”
When the final award and certificate had been presented, the crowd was directed next door to Encore, the renovated hardware store that adjoins the Strand, where dozens of fifth-grade art offerings were on display.
Adults and students mingled among the drawings, sketches, paintings and multi-media creations, expressing congratulations and swapping hugs and handshakes with the young artists.
The art competition was sponsored by Escambia County Cooperative Extension Service, and several Extension personnel — including Director Millie Murphree, Art Encourager Andrea Scott, Camille Minaya and Linda Crews — were there to hand out programs, direct attendees to their seats and proudly unveil the students’ artistic creations.
Culinary Arts students from Escambia County High School prepared and served ham and turkey sliders, fruit kabobs, parfaits and more. Students from Northview High’s Culinary Arts program didn’t attend but sent chocolate-covered pretzels, lemon bars and cheese straws to help feed the hungry multitude.