Kindergartener misses graduation, gets mid-flight celebration instead as passengers cheer

A young boy got the celebration he deserved after missing his kindergarten graduation. 

Xavier Joel was scheduled to travel to Puerto Rico for a family wedding on May 15 — meaning he would have to miss his kindergarten graduation ceremony at school. 

Mom Janeiry Jay Rivas told Fox News Digital the two were traveling from Orlando, Florida, to the tropical island for the wedding of her cousin.

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“The date was set and based off last year’s kindergarten graduation. I thought we were in the clear since the 2023 graduation was the Saturday after the last day of school,” she said.

Xavier Joel’s mom simply wanted a photo of him with the pilots — but got much more.  (Janeiry Jay Rivas)

However, this year the date of the graduation was scheduled on the same day as the family wedding. 

Knowing her son wouldn’t be able to attend his actual kindergarten ceremony, Rivas said she attended the practice ceremony in hopes that her son would not notice missing the real deal. 

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Just days before the last day of school, however, Rivas said her son was teased at school for missing his ceremony — ultimately making her feel bad about the decision.

“[He] felt sad [that] he couldn’t attend the actual graduation,” she said.

Xavier Joel missed his kindergarten graduation because he was traveling to a family wedding. The family did the next best thing. (Janeiry Jay Rivas)

So, Rivas took matters into her own hands and decided to bring her son’s cap and gown with them to Puerto Rico. 

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Her plan was for him to wear the cap and gown on the flight and try to get a photo with the captains. 

When the pair boarded the plane, Rivas said her son walked right up to the Frontier Airlines flight attendant, a woman named Pamela, and started telling her about how he missed his kindergarten graduation. 

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This sparked an idea from the flight attendants to hold a mock graduation ceremony for the boy on the flight. 

Xavier Joel of Florida walked down the plane aisle to commemorate his kindergarten graduation.  (Janeiry Jay Rivas)

About 30 minutes before the flight was scheduled to land, flight attendants announced that Xavier would be walking the plane aisle to commemorate the occasion. 

“He will always remember that special moment.”

“He was presented with gifts, and Pamela even did the tassel move for him,” Rivas said.

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Rivas said her son was “excited” and “felt so special” to the point where he was telling everyone at the wedding that he had two graduations.

A kindergarten boy missed his graduation ceremony due to family obligations. Flight attendants ensured he got the recognition he deserved.  (Janeiry Jay Rivas)

“He will always remember that special moment,” she added. 

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Frontier Airlines told Fox News Digital that the flight attendants “rallied the crew with the necessary arrangements, and together … made his graduation ceremony a reality.”