LONG BEACH – From pony rides to pinatas, the children of the Peninsula area ECEAP pre-school program had a lot to be excited about Saturday – and that’s not even factoring in their graduation.

Thirty-two students graduated from the program Saturday afternoon during a ceremony at Ocean Beach Primary School [OBS]. ECEAP is a state-funded program affiliated with the ESD 112, offering services to low-income families on the Peninsula for over 10 years.

Before things got official, the students were treated to a lunch with their parents in the OBS gym. The kids were quick to get outside, where two ponies were waiting to take them for a ride. Playing with kids younger and older, they all took a recess on the playground, and even a horse-drawn carriage arrived for the students to check out.

Once the proceedings got underway, Lorraine Kane, coordinator of south Pacific County ECEAP, noted that 150 people had come out in support of the 32 students. Kane honored those students whose parents spent a lot of time visiting and helping with the program this year by giving them a Parent Power Award. The students earned points for each time their parent was there which they used Saturday to pick out prizes from a table that included games, toys and caramel corn.

“Our program is one of parent participation,” she said. “It doesn’t turn out like this without your involvement.”

The students themselves gave gifts to their teachers, each one being symbolic in some way, having to do with a nickname or personality. For example, one teacher whose nickname is Mouse, received a mouse statuette.

For entertainment, the students did a little dance to the song “Rockin’ Robin,” and a march with cardboard umbrellas they had made to the song, “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head.” Seeing as how the students are mostly around four years of age, there were varying amounts of enthusiasm.

At the end of the program, each graduate received a diploma, a handshake from their teacher and a day-glo colored bag full of activities for over the summer months before the first day of kindergarten rolls around.

While parents were busy trying to get their little grad to hold still long enough for a picture, the students were rushing to where a pinata had been set up. With a whack, suckers and sweets rained down on them – a little better than raindrops.