8th Grade Promotion

Amidst as much pomp and circumstance as CDS could muster, Benji and Marina moved up from 8th grade.  Marina looked spectacular in her dress and Benji delivered an impassioned speech about defining yourself as opposed to allowing other to define you.

A few days earlier was the Awards Ceremony and the Blatt kids had many honors.  Marina took home the drama award, the writing non-fiction award and of course, the award for maintaining great grades.  Benji had several awards, as well, including best Spanish in the native speaker Spanish class, a JMUN award, as if he didn't know that he was the king of JMUN, student council award, in case he forgot he was on student council,  a gpa award, and the Leadership award.  We are very proud of our overachievers.

Last night, the kids partied like whirling dervishes and howled like banshees at the Intercontinental.  Ilana and I also let our hair down, metaphorically.  It was a blast of a party, with good food, friends, dancing, and lots of tequila (for the adults).

Tomorrow, the kids get on a airplane to go to camp in the U.S.  They will be away from the folks and Costa Rica for 5 weeks.  Holy cow!  Then, they will return for 10 days before we all make our final despedida to Costa Rica.