As a Grade 12 student approaching my final few weeks at Gray Academy, I am filled with a wide array of emotions. Graduating from Gray is more than simply receiving a diploma. It means leaving my childhood friends and the building I grew up in and, more than anything, saying goodbye to the magical moments that occur every day at Gray Academy. While getting ready to embark on the next chapter of my life, I find myself reflecting on all the special times and unique parts of Gray. I know that I’m not the only one feeling this way, so I asked my classmates what they are going to miss most about our school. Here is the Class of 2019’s Top 10 Things They Will Miss Most about Gray Academy:

1. Schmoozer’s Specials (two words: curly fries!)

2. Short Fridays (can’t they happen all year?)

3. Retreat Dance Parties (and, of course, Barry)

4. School-Wide Bingo (we’ve got a bingo!)

5. The Thrill of an Elevator Ride (way too many stairs)

6. Purim and Gym Riot (it’s worth it to win)

7. Singing together at Kabbalat Shabbat

8. Casual Days for a Cause (some days it’s nice not to be in uniform)

9. Everyone Knowing Your Birthday

10. The Grade 12 Lounge (our sanctuary) I hope that this list brought back some familiar smells, sounds, and feelings.

Now, I leave you with a thought: How lucky are we to have experienced something so good that it feels impossible to say goodbye? •

Reprinted from Gray Academy's most recent Legacies newsletter. To read the rest of the newsletter go to 

https://issuu.com/grayacademyofjewisheducation/docs/grayacademy_legacies-issue2-web