Our particular elementary school is K-5.  It seems to be an arbitrary process in deciding how many grades constitute school grades since some are K-4, 5-8, 9-12 or other forms of elementary, middle, Jr High and high school departmentalization.  Our elementary just happens to end at 5th grade.  They also happen to have a 5th grade "graduation".

I was always under the impression that graduation was a celebration of achievement and of transition from child to adult.  What have you achieved by 5th grade?  What are you transitioning to?  I think going from a kindergartner to a 1st grader is a bigger transition in many ways.

I guess I see this kind of "graduation" as belittling the significance of high school or college graduation.  You have no choice but to graduate from 5th grade.  You can choose to drop out of high school or college.  I understand feeling like going from elementary to middle school is a big step.  It can't compare to finishing high school or college though.  I am just concerned about giving kids a sense of achievement when they really haven't achieved anything. 

To me it is just another part of how our kids are given too much too soon these days.  Homecoming is as extravagent as my prom was.  Prom is as big of an event as weddings used to be.  Where do you go from there?  You've done the limo, the hugely expensive dress, gotten hair and makeup done, what's left?

So forgive me if I don't congratulate any of the 5th graders.  I don't see anything to congratulate them for.  Hey, you survived kindergarten through 5th grade.  Now you get seven more years of pretty much the same.  Congratulations!  No, I'll reserve my congratulations for when they complete school and are planning what will come next.