On June first Ellie graduated from kinder-

garden. Her school does a great job of with a kindergarden appropriate service that includes the graduates dancing down the church aisle, songs, each graduate reading why they liked kinder-

garden, and a teacher written poem. We are all so proud of our little first-grader-to-be.

The big surprise of the day was learning the her school made the decision to begin this year a new award called "The Good Samaritan" award. This award will be given each year to a graduating fifth grader and graduating kindergardener. Two awards for the whole school. Only two and THE only award given to a kindergartner. The picture you see here is Ellie right after receiving the Good Samaritan award for 2011. She was so happy and even William said he was proud of her (and a bit jealous).

Her award was a silver dove charm which will be attached to a charm bracelet to be purchased this summer.