MICMS Celebrates at Moving Up Ceremony

Last Friday evening, the Marco Island Charter Middle School (MICMS) celebrated the successes of educators, parents, and most of all, students during the 2021-2022 school year.

MICMS does not call this celebration a “graduation,” but instead refers to it as a “Moving Up Ceremony” for students getting ready to enter the more structured and serious segment of their education during their high school years.

Middle school students (grades 6-8) face many challenges as they build their educational foundation before moving on to the next level of formal education, high school. 

At the end of the 2018-19 school year, students were thrown into turmoil by the COVID-19 Pandemic, as were their schools, and of course, their parents. It is unclear whether any other generation of students, educators or parents have dealt with such an upheaval in their normal lives since the unfortunate beginning of World War II. 

The uncertainty continued in the following year, along with a movement towards remote learning. The effect that this has had on students is unknown at this time but will certainly be explored and studied in the years to come. 

Fortunately, during the 2021-2022 school year students regained a sense of normalcy when they returned to their classrooms and familiar routines.

Commenting on the challenges and successes leading up to the evening’s event, Principal Michele Wheeler stated, “We really want to celebrate the wonderful efforts that brought us all together. It couldn’t have been done without the collaborative efforts by our staff, teachers, board, parents and the students.” 

Students were eager to move on from middle school and put the last few years behind them, as they prepared for the next portion of their educational journey, high school. Attendees witnessed a wonderful group of youngsters marching into the gymnasium, eager to celebrate their completion of middle school and excited to begin the next four years of their lives. 

MICMS Board President David Lupo welcomed parents and students and praised their journey, as did Principal Michele Wheeler, before staff called each student forward to receive their certificate of completion. Various awards were distributed, and short presentations made by students. Fellow students anxiously awaited the ceremony’s end, so they could “move on” to a dance and party that followed the formal ceremony.