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In Wonder, what ceremony event shows a change from the start to the end of the school year?
Quick answer:
The ceremony event that shows a change from the start to the end of the school year in Wonder is when August Pullman receives the Henry Ward Beecher medal. Initially, August is ostracized due to his facial abnormalities, but by the end, he is honored for his bravery, kindness, and hard work, receiving a standing ovation from his peers.
Right towards the end of this great novel by R. J. Palacio, August Pullman becomes the annual recipient of the Henry Ward Beecher medal, which is always awarded to a student who has stood out among his or her classmates for being "notable" or "exemplary". August receives this award as a result of the bravery, kindness, and hard work that he has shown throughout the year. He single-handedly changed the majority of his classmates' views of children who were different to them.
At the beginning of the book, on the other hand, August stands out for all the wrong reasons. His classmates define him based on his facial abnormalities, most of them are hesitant to get to know him, and many are downright mean to him.
The answer to your question can be found in chapter 121 of Wonder. What happens at the award ceremony and graduation is that the student body gives August a standing ovation for winning the Henry Ward Beecher medal: a medal given to a “notable or exemplary” student in the class. This is different from the beginning of the year when no one except for Jack would sit next to August in homeroom.
As August walks up to the stage to receive his award, August feels like he is "floating," which is where the title of the chapter comes from. This is another difference. At the beginning of the school year, August thought no one would want to acknowledge his presence, let alone give him an award and honor him in front of the entire school. Now August realizes his self-worth. August realizes that he is called brave and extraordinary because he faces incredibly difficult challenges.
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