Richmond HEF journey to Haiti

Yesterday I attended the Graduation for the preschool class of the Petite Sisters of St Therese at the Normale school.  Graduation began with a Mass at 8:00am, which really started at 8:30am, the preschool children filed in and took their seats on the altar and were very well behaved during the 2 hour mass that followed.

I was very surprised that the graduation only lasted 2 hours and so I walked back to my room to relax for the rest of the morning.  A few minutes later there was a knock on my door, it was not finished there was a second part, which lasted until 1:00 pm, 5 hours for a preschool graduation ceremony, with a short break between mass and the second part.  The children did skits, sang songs, and danced then the Maren and Paren did a speech, (the Godparents of the Graduation) a student gave a thank you speech to the Godparents and then the parents of each child came up to receive the childs diploma.

 
I am amazed how well behaved these children were for this long service, and also how well they preformed their parts in the ceremony, the dancing, singing and skits were all very well done.  It was a long hot morning as about 200 parents packed the old chapel of the Emmaus center for this celebration.  The Preschool has 2 classes and there were a total of 68 children from these classes.  I am happy that I could be present for this celebration of the graduation even though it was very long.  Lucky for me I have my key to my house at the Emmaus center and could escape for a break to get some cold water and use the bathroom during the service.

The maintenance man from the Normale School in Papaye was at the graduation because his son was graduating.  Below is a picture of Father and son on the graduation.