Christopher Pendry, 5, waves to his parents as he gets his diploma from Preschool II teacher Jill Putnam of Stepping Stones Child Care Center, 1100 Wakarusa Drive. Students in the pre-kindergarten class celebrated the end of preschool Tuesday with a graduation ceremony.

Pomp and Circumstance played on the tape deck. Parents snapped pictures. There were giggles as a slide show displayed happy times gone by.

Preschoolers at Stepping Stones Child Care Center graduated Tuesday. They are off to kindergarten.

“Into the big world,” said Shelly Platz, director of the non-profit center.

There will be many things these 4- and 5-year-olds will miss. The playtime. The painting. The drawing.

“We had so much fun here,” said 5-year-old Christopher Pendry, a graduate. “I’m going to miss all the people who I’ve seen for a long time.”