Presbyterian Church Students End Year in Center Ring

The lawn of the Presbyterian Church on Mountain Avenue was filled with color Wednesday morning as the students in the church's nursery school and kindergarten celebrated with their annual year-end parade and picnic. With a circus theme this year, the annual event is a celebration of the end of the school year and a thank you for the school's teachers.

The day started with the 250 students parading from Mindowaskin Park up East Broad Street to the church's front lawn. Following the parade, students gathered on the steps of the church for a sing-a-long led by faculty members of the school. School officials said the celebration is themed, usually with a topic that allows for a lot of color. Last year's theme was "Over the Rainbow."

"We choose a theme every year for the children to get excited about," said Tricia Brown, a nursery school committee member.

Following the parade and sing-a-long, parents and students gathered on the lawn for a picnic lunch and a chance to say goodbye to the teachers who guided them through the past year. Several activities were planned during lunch, including a hula-hoop contest, balloon races and apple eating. A special program honoring faculty was held during the picnic lunch as well.

The school’s outgoing PTA president, Kate Herz, who is about to leave the school family with her children ending their educational careers at the church school, coordinated the picnic and parade.

"I am very excited," Herz said of this morning's celebration. "This is my youngest, so it is bittersweet."