Last Day
Xcel After School '00-'01

The Last Day Ceremonies for Xcel After School evoked many emotions in the 25-plus children that attended. For most, it brought joy, a reminder that school was about to let out for the summer and that the hassle of homework and tests could be put behind them for the next two months. Many were excited about the snacks that were there, cakes and sodas bought by Xcel and some of the parents, including a cake that had Generation Xcel written on it in blue frosting. The Xcel Dancers rallied together to practice one last time before their upcoming performance in front of the whole Xcel family. And of course they anticipated their Last Day Awards, medals given out for sticking it out through most of the school year, being there on the last day and for winning the Group Club competition.

But after the children had their fill of cake and ceremony, it was time to close Xcel After School until September. When I asked the kids how they felt about the Last Day, they jumped on me, all wanting to get their words and jokes in. Many of them were to excited to speak for more then two minutes, causing another excited youngster to interrupt. A sampling of their comments follows.

(Like many other Xcel After School kids, Tabitha and Chris are going away for the summer and won't be able to participate in Xcel's Summer Day Camp. We'll miss them greatly, but look forward to seeing them again in the fall.)

The mood remained light-hearted until the very end. Kids who had pretended to cry a few minutes ago cried as they picked up their bookbags. Best friends hugged, and kids who live in the same building told each other they would miss each other. A girl who had bragged to me earlier in the year about how she had "read" a kid in her school older than her had tears streaming down her face, her mom consoling her. Kids who had bothered me all year came up to hug me goodbye. And some kids just slipped out normally, like it was any other day, shouting good-byes to all the staff members, telling us they would be here during the summer.

The kids all left but the staff stayed behind to set up another chapter of Xcel that would be written, experienced and then missed at the end. Summer activities, trips, games and prizes all wait patiently for the children, and many kids are anxious to start. But unfortunately, Xcel Summer can't begin until Xcel After School first ends.

And so it was with great fanfare and sadness that Xcel After School closed until September. For all the kids that won't grace 11th Street with their presence until then, we will miss you and hope you all have great summers. And for those whom we will see in a few days, you better not still be crying when you walk in! We love you!

P.S. Go Wolverines! Go X-Cellas! [For the uninitiated, this refers to group club.]

-  By Tristan Brooks

Tristan first volunteered at Xcel in 1996 at the age of 13. She has since graduated high school and enrolled as a creative writing student at The New School in August 2001. After excelling as a college freshman, she took a year off to particpate in The Master's Commission based out of Spokanne, Washington. She will return to college in Fall 2003.

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For more original writings by Xcelers, go here.