LAST DAY at school... "Think It Through, Please!"

So, I've been swallowed up by "life" and haven't posted for a while.
However, a momentous occasion occurred two days ago and I DON'T want that to pass me by completely unnoticed.
Ginger attended her LAST DAY at the institution.  Wow.  This is a H-U-G-E step for our family!!!!!!

However, I tried to be as low key as possible with the drop off and etc.  Ginger doesn't do well with goodbyes and I also just wanted to think of it as a natural progression - as this decision has been so gradual, we're all quite used to it by now...

Anywhoo - I was curious to see how Ginger fared on her last day of school.  It's 2:03pm, I'm sitting in the carpool line, waiting for my sweet little one.  I see hundreds of kids pouring out of school - many of them with bouquets of flowers.  5th grade graduation, I assume.

I had read on the website that there was going to be a "walk" at 1:45pm for the kids who were graduating AND/OR were not returning to Sandburg next year.  I wrongly assumed (isn't that redundant?) that I would be contacted regarding Ginger walking with those kids if they were to include her and I purposefully did NOT request her inclusion for two reasons.
She is 1) returning to the school for Art classes once a week next year anyway and
2) she is the ONLY 1st grader in her class NOT returning - so, how would it feel to be singled out as a SIX YEAR OLD - waving goodbye to your friends, during the graduation theme song???!?!?!?!?!  I think that might introduce drama where there was none necessary.

Anyway, I am in the car, looking for Ginger - I see her little head bob around the corner.  She's holding flowers and bawling her little eyes out.  I exit the car (which is against the rules) and come up to her - scooping her up in my arms.  I didn't have to ask what was wrong.

I have nary a kind word to say about the decision to include Ginger in the 5th grade graduation/1st grader not-continuing walk - "Think It Through Please" - is about the best I can come up with.

My parents were amazed at the shortsightedness of the faculty - especially when they know so much about the kiddos psyche at that point.

The good news:  1)She was over it in about 10 minutes after I reminded her of a birthday party we were going to straight away. 2) She was still excited not to be going back full time.  3) Above all, it royally confirmed that, as a mom, I have the luxury and responsibility and honor of thinking through things, praying for wisdom and discernment about the appropriate processes for my family - especially at this tender age.