🎓Graduating Classes

By Giovanna Santsofia and Maryssa Jenzer

5th Grade:

5th grade is graduating from Elementary school and is going on to Middle school! There are 16 graduates. Baylen Flores, Jax Shortridge, Micah Hoag, Lucas Arnold, Alejandro Valdivia, Hunter Booth, Kayson Crawford, Ryker Gaita, Cohen Housch, Lola Johnson, Ariana Munitz, Bailey Ratliff, Alan Rizkalla, Aaron Romanno, Ayva Smith Federico, and Lauren Wagner. Here’s what some of them have to say about moving up to middle school:

Baylen: “I am excited to graduate from Elementary because I get to see my other friends in Middle School.”

Jax: “I am excit ed to see more people and hang out with friends.”

Lola: “I’m excited for new teachers and more periods.”

Ayva: “I’m excited because I can meet people older than me instead of being the youngest.”



8th Grade:

8th grade is graduating from middle school and is going on to highschool!

I, Giovanna Santasofia, am very excited to go to highschool. Middle school has been super fun and it was a great experience. I have made so many friends, and this school has been very nice and welcoming. I have learned so much and can’t wait to learn more next year. I do hope classes will get a bit more challenging for me. But, as much as I am excited, I am also very nervous. Things will get harder, and it will be much different from what they are now. I also don’t want to leave my middle school friends here. However, I will make new friends. I can’t wait for next school year!

Presley Cheek, Grace Rodriguez, Sofia Mougros, Nick Di Tulio Santos, Landon Johnson, and Anthony Lewczak are also in 8th and are soon to be 9th graders. Here’s what they have to say about the upcoming school year:

Presley: “I don’t want to leave middle school. I’m nervous and excited. I’m excited about getting to do new things, having more opportunities, and starting a new chapter in my life.”

Grace: “I’m excited but also nervous because it’s a brand new step in school. I’m excited because I can make new friends.”

Sofia: “I’m excited, sad, and nervous for high school because I don’t want to leave my 7th grade friends. But I'm excited for a new start.”



Nick: “I’m excited because I’m getting closer to leaving school and getting a car. I’m not excited about paying taxes and leaving friends here.”

The graduation ceremony will be May 16, 2025 at 6 p.m.

Congratulations to these scholars! You’ve had an amazing adventure. Wish you luck for next year!

News Update with Ethan Martinez

 FREE VERSE NEWS: AGAIN

WINDING DOWN ALREADY?

School is ending soon, various people are already planning for vacation, and many people are thrilled  about school almost ending! And as school comes to an end, so will the Free Verse News articles. This news series will officially close for the summer on May 23rd, 2025 3:30 ET.  So, start winding down, get your picnic baskets ready, and be prepared for another great summer!

Credit: Spectrum Bay News 9

                

I will refresh the weary & satisfy the faint. Jeremiah 31:25

End of Year Activities Bring Excitement

By Irelynn Arnold

The end of the 2024-25 school year is coming but there are still many fun activities to come. One of these activities is the middle school retreat, where all of the middle schoolers go on the field and do fun activities like water slides and minute to win it games. Maryssa Jenzer says, “I am excited to go to the middle school retreat because I can hang out with all of my friends”. The middle school retreat is on May 9 to celebrate the end of the school year; it's going to be very fun, so don't miss it.

Another fun activity happening is 8th grade Gradventure on May 2nd. Gradventure is a field trip the 8th graders are taking to universal studios to celebrate graduating from middle school and going into high school. At this event the whole park is closed to the public and is only open to 8th graders in Florida. Everybody is very excited for this event. Giovanna Santasofia said, “ I am very excited because I have never been to Universal before and I will get to hang out with my friends.” The 8th graders will stay at Universal until midnight and then drive back home. Presley Cheek says “It’s gonna be a late night; we will be there from 5pm to 12am”.

A final activity happening at the end of this school year is the 5th and 8th grade graduation. There will be a ceremony to celebrate the 5th graders becoming middle schoolers and the 8th graders becoming high schoolers. A Lot of kids are excited for this new adventure; Lucas Arnold says, “ I am so excited to be a middle schooler, I think it will be very different but also fun.” However, others are worried about the challenges the next chapter of their life will bring. Grace Rodriguez Said “I am nervous because it's starting a new point in life”. The good thing is , GCA is opening up a ninth grade next year so the eighth graders won't have to switch schools. The graduation ceremony will be on May 16 at 6pm.