School Leavers Playlists, Poems and Quotes

This post follows on from my previous school leavers post. This time you will find inspiration and ideas for school leavers music playlists, poems and quotes.

When George was leaving year six I had to find a few tracks to use for photo montages of the leavers party. I put a playlist together to help decide which tracks to select.

George listened to the playlist in the car on the way to school during his last week, (as if I wasn’t emotional enough).

I have just re-loaded the playlist and updated it ready for when Henry leaves primary school next week. I am just deciding which track to use on his photo montage.

Playlist

Our playlist is a mix of tear jerkers, upbeat and fun tracks for the full emotional rollercoaster:

1. Hall of Fame by The Script feat Will.i.am
2. You’re Gonna Miss This by Trace Adams
3. Don’t Blink by Kenny Chesney
4. The Climb by Miley Cyrus
5. Baggy Trousers by Madness
6. Proud by Heather Small
7. Whenever You Remember by Carrie Underwood
8. Say Goodbye by S Club 7
9. Fight Song by Rachel Platten
10. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Greenday
11. My Wish by Rascal Flatts
12. One Call Away by Charlie Puth
13. Never Forget by Take That
14. See You Again by Wiz Khalifa ft Charlie Puth
15. We Go Together – Grease Soundtrack
16. When I Grow Up – Matilda the Musical
17. Time of Our Lives by Tyrone Wells
18. Wherever I Go by Miley Cyrus
19. Let Them Be Little by Lonestar
20. School’s Out by Alice Cooper

Poems

My favourite leavers poem is Full Stop Day by Mark C. Bird

Full Stop Day Last six hours of primary school Goodbye is getting near The sums and sentences all done The full stop day is here

Last five hours of primary school Where everything’s before The aims and games and crazes no one’s crazy for no more

Last four hours of primary school Surrounded by a class who’ll scatter soon and not return When summer’s days have passed

Last three hours of primary school One final lunchtime play Instead of chasing friends we try to chase and catch the day

Last two hours of primary school The clock hands blur and skid Signing shirts, remembering the coolest things we did

Last one hour of primary school With sir who understood And helped me see I could achieve ‘cos he believed I could

Last half hour of primary school The assembly we all dread We cannot sing – us Year Six kings The crown slips from our heads

Last ever second of primary school The full stop rings in our ears But a thousand chapters left to write We must vacate our childhood site For time moves on and time is right – To leave our wonder years

Another great poem choice is Leavers Song by Allan Ahlberg. Taken from the book Heard it in the Playground.

Both Heard it in the Playground and Please Mrs Butler (also by Allan Ahlberg) are lovely reads in the build up to the last day. They envoke so many memories of primary school days. I still have my own copies from when I was at school.

Quotes

As mentioned in my previous post, I started a leaving tradition with my children. On the last day of school I gift them a copy of Dr Seus, Oh, the Places You’ll Go. The overall message of moving on and doing great things is perfect. There are also many inspirational quotes in this book to write in leavers books, cards and messages.

I ordered a card for Henry from Epiphany Designs with one of my favourite quotes from the book on the front.

“You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so… Get on your way.”

Dr Seuss Oh, The Places You’ll Go