A Reflection on the Class of 2026

by Kristin Gimelli Hemme, Middle School Teacher

As I watched the Hope Lutheran Class of 2026 gather for their 8th grade graduation last Thursday, I was reminded of many special moments with this class over the last two years, and I was struck by the words that teacher and student speakers shared about how they grew stronger and closer in a time of change and uncertainty. 

Mairi Seraile, a parent and Hope Preschool Co-Director, had an important message for them: You are created in God’s image. You are wonderfully made, dearly loved, and precious in His sight. These words anchor them to their worth—not because of what they accomplished, but because of who they are.

Teacher Tim Caudle captured the essence of their journey in a sailing metaphor: the Class of 2026 steered their bows into the wind.

The details they shared in student speeches and their favorite memories from their time at Hope paint a vivid picture of who they became:

The East Coast Trip remains etched in their hearts—not because of the monuments and landmarks, though the Statue of Liberty and Times Square were unforgettable. They remember the bus rides, the laughter that wouldn’t stop, the food shared with friends. They remember being together.

I remember how their curiosity and creativity shone in the classroom:

• In Literacy, we journeyed through Call of the Wild and Red Scarf Girl, and then explored the International District, tasting tea at New Century Tea Gallery and discovering new worlds at Uwajimaya.
• In Science, they weren’t just learning—they were discovering. They pulled tendons on chicken feet to make them move. They sent waves rippling through slinkies, watching physics come alive in their hands.
• In the Engineering Design Challenge elective, they built wind turbines, designed cars, and launched film canister rockets. They were insightful and creative problem-solvers.

As the Hope Lutheran Class of 2026 leaves middle school, they carry with them the knowledge that they are wonderfully made. They’ve learned that change doesn’t diminish them—it strengthens them. They’ve discovered that they are curious, creative, playful, and capable. And they’ve experienced the profound gift of belonging to a group of people who faced the winds together and grew stronger because of it.

The world is waiting for a class that knows how to navigate adversity with grace, build friendships through challenge, and find joy in the journey. I will dearly miss each and every one of them and I hope they will come back to visit, but the Class of 2026 is ready.