On June 12th and 14th, a grand graduation ceremony was held in Vilnius and Kaunas, marking the end of the academic year. Together with primary school teachers Neringa Budrytė, Jolanta Derkač, Katarzyna Christop, and Loreta Raižienė, we celebrated the graduation of the third cohort of fourth graders in Vilnius and the sixth in Kaunas. In total, 70 students from national and international classes received their primary school graduation certificates.

“Primary school is one of the most important stages of life. Only the completion of school can match this joy. However, in terms of significance, the primary school stage is even more crucial as we lay very important foundations – values, relationships, attitudes, respect for each other, and the basis of being an educated and responsible person,” said Erudito Licėjus’ founder and director, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nerijus Pačėsa, as he congratulated the future fifth graders at the ceremonial event. He wished them to enjoy the journey they had undertaken, as they would return to school in September as more independent, more responsible individuals with more ideas and opinions.

Primary school teachers Neringa Budrytė and Jolanta Derkač wished the students success in their new stage of life, encouraging them to pursue their goals, get to know themselves, improve, and not be afraid to make mistakes. International class teacher Katarzyna Christop recalled how quiet and calm these nine-year-olds seemed to her on September 1st and how each of them changed over the year, showcasing unique abilities (some attending acrobatics classes, others excelling at “Brawl Stars” or mathematics, winning international math olympiads, or aspiring engineers who enjoy dismantling washing machines and mobile phones in their free time, and so on). The fourth graders’ teacher in Kaunas, Loreta Raižienė, prepared and presented her students with a memorable photo book capturing the most significant moments of their four-year educational journey. This was a big surprise that evoked a lot of emotions among the fourth graders.

Parents of the fourth graders in Vilnius also prepared a photo book as a keepsake for their children. A few weeks before the graduation celebration, the school walls were adorned with congratulatory and supportive posters prepared by parents and relatives – touching and meaningful words complemented by family photos, congratulations, and well-wishes. In both Vilnius and Kaunas, the graduation ceremony became a beautiful and emotional event of memories.

“Today we are at a very important stop; our children are taking their first tentative steps, embarking on an exciting journey full of new challenges into middle school,” said the parents. “You have grown, developed, and acquired knowledge. The next stage will bring many challenges; embrace them. Every step is a step towards the journey of education. A big thank you to the teachers who guided the children through their first years, not only imparting knowledge but also instilling values, curiosity, and a love for learning.”

“Each of you is a unique individual, endowed with talents that we have strived to uncover and nurture. You were surrounded by wonderful teachers who aimed daily to help you grow into good and friendly people, to learn to create, apply acquired knowledge, and think! You are stepping into a new stage, and I wish you success, new experiences, and the fulfillment of dreams,” with these words from the memory books, the director bid farewell to the fourth graders as they transition to the next stage – secondary school.