Graduation is a big event in life, especially for those three feet tall.

Crescent Harbor Elementary School in Oak Harbor graduated 76 kindergartners on Tuesday in two ceremonies, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

“This is just the beginning,” said kindergarten teacher, Kelly Roberts, referring to the years of education the students have before them.

Still, this was a very special day.

“Our goal is to have them remember this day,” Roberts said.

Parents and family members gathered in the school’s gymnasium, which was decorated for the occasion with balloons and a big banner. Parents viewed a slide show, featuring pictures of their children set to music. Then the tiny grads in purple and black construction paper caps with yarn tassels marched in to “Pomp and Circumstance.”

“I’m very, very proud of her,” said Nancy McKinney, of her daughter, Jasmine, 6.

Another mom, Kathy Fry, said that this is her third child to graduate from kindergarten, but still the event brought out my-baby’s-growing-up emotions.

“You never become a pro,” Fry said. “It’s like ‘where’d the time go’?”

Some young graduates seemed to appreciate the importance of this rite of passage and of the long road ahead.

“I know it’s gonna be hard,” said Tabitha Vallee about going into first grade. “It’s gonna be like ‘100 minus 12’ and you can’t use your fingers.”

Others are taking the leap into first grade in stride.

“I’m not nervous a teensy-weentsy bit,” said Bethany Bond.