Pinon Hills kindergartners wed for sake of letters Q and U

More than a dozen parents watched 52 kindergartners tie the knot in the gym of Pinon Hills Elementary School on Friday.

The gents and dames were dressed in their finest " paper top hats, bright ribbons, billowy veils " but the ceremony was symbolic; for each bride was bearing the letter U and each groom the letter Q. The two letters were wedded to symbolize their inseparability in the English language.

"Q and U were married and their relationship confirmed: Q will never be without U," said Pinon Hills Principal Rommy Cronin. "Stuff like this is important to help the kids make the connection in their learning. It's not just fun, but helps them understand."

Wearing a black robe and crown, Cronin officiated over the wedding, reading aloud the vows between the letters.

"Ladies and gentleman, we are gathered here today to celebrate two very important letters of our alphabet," she read. "We watched them spend their lives working together to make words. Mr. Q realized that without Miss U he had no sound of his own. He asked her to join him and become inseparable when spelling words, and she agreed by becoming partners and staying together forever."

Cronin added that Q will have to be understanding when other words need U, such as umbrella or uncle.

"But even so, they must stick together like quicksand to solve any quandaries," she said.

The students exchanged their vows. The Q's promised to stand by the U's as sound partners in words like quiet, quarter and question; and the Us promised to stand by the Qs in words such as square, squid and squish.

"I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. QU (kwa)," Cronin declared.

Parents of the kindergartners provided cake and party favors and watched the students dance after the ceremony.

"It was the cutest thing I've ever seen," said parent Dee Stephens.

Her daughter, 6-year-old Caitlyn Stephens, married classmate Tyler Thomas.

"I liked when we walked down the path," Caitlyn said.

But she said she was a little nervous.

"All these people were right there watching," she said.

It was a special day for 6-year-old Tyler; the wedding fell on his birthday. He wore slacks, a formal vest and bow tie to celebrate the occasion.

"He was more excited about this than his birthday," said mother Sheila Thomas. "His wedding clothes have been laid out for two weeks. He'll never forget that Q and U go together."

n Scott Neuffer covers education for The Record-Courier. Reach him at sneuffer@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 217