Our Lady of Guadalupe sends off Class of 2010

A lively group of 17 8th graders buttoned long blue gowns, signed yearbooks and posed for pictures at Our Lady of Guadalupe on Thursday.

"There's only three minutes left," yelled Robin Skibiski, the 8th grade homeroom teacher, in an attempt to arrange the students in their processional lineup. The students continued to socialize.

"Time to get in line," she repeated.

A graduation ceremony awaited the 8th graders arrival. The students followed Skibiski's orders and walked toward the Our Lady of Guadalupe church, where "Pomp and Circumstance" began to play. 

As they walked, students still took photos and giggled while reminiscing about the past nine years spent together in grade school. Fourteen-year-old Isabella DiDomenico smiled for a photo with her friend Micah Burog, while 13-year-old Alexandria Ruiloba told them what classmates wrote in her yearbook earlier that day.

"Someone wrote in my yearbook that we'll 'suffer' through high school," she said with a laugh. Micah replied that there would be no suffering since they have each other's friendship and support.

The girls will be attending Bishop Montgomery High School in the fall, and said that they hope to keep in touch with each other, as well as Our Lady of Guadalupe faculty.

"Lots of kids come back to visit and go to graduation or volunteer," Skibiski said. 

By doing so, students maintain the relationships they've developed over the years at Our Lady of Guadalupe, Micah said. For example, many students agreed that Skibiski, who also teaches language arts and literature, was their favorite instructor and they hope to see her again.

"Mrs. Skibiski is like a friend, not a teacher," Micah said.

Some of Skibiski's former students greeted her at Thursday's graduation ceremony, such as Our Lady of Guadalupe alumna Whitney Fraker, who now attends North High School and was at the ceremony to see her younger sister, Morgan, graduate.

"I just love these kids," Skibiski said.

She then looked down at her watch and realized that three minutes had passed. It was time for the 8th graders grand entrance. Skibiski began to lead the anxious line of students through the front doors of the church, where parents waited with cameras and camcorders.

"Cheer for me," Morgan called back to her sister Whitney who was entering the church through another doorway.

During the ceremony, a chosen group of students gave "reflections" speeches to the audience, thanking teachers and classmates for a nurturing grade school experience.

"It hurts to think of all these memories and realize that this time in our lives is coming to an end," DiDomenico said.

But she and other students also felt a sense of accomplishment at completing one phase in their lives and entering another, she added.

"After sitting here listening to you [students], I'm reminded again how impressed I am by you," said Our Lady of Guadalupe's Father Raymond Mallett before he conferred diplomas.