Iris' Culmination at Westlake Elementary

In the US children usually move on from 5th grade to 6th grade by leaving elementary school and moving on to Middle School, it is what we would call the 'middelbare school' in Holland, only here we move one year earlier. This is a big thing and celebrated both formally (speeches, songs, recognition) as well as informally (party).

Later on Iris also received an Award for Academic Excellence signed by President Obama, because of her good grades. Which we think is a big achievement for someone who didn't speak a word of English less than a year ago. We thank her teacher for that too. She couldn't have had a better teacher for her first year. But she herself, as well as Bibi and Tyko, worked hard this year and all did so well.

Iris with some of her best friends.

In the "thank you for your helping hand" Iris thanked many of the people she is thankful for for being in her life. Not everyone fitted of course ...