Good evening, everyone we are here tonight to honor the 8th graders from Heninger Elementary k-8 who have finally completed all of middle school. I’m one of the students at Heninger, I’ve attended Heninger since kindergarten, and in my time here, I learned how to set goals and how to accomplish them. My fellow classmates and I am here tonight at our 8th grade promotion from Heninger Elementary we are the graduating class of 2018. During my 9 years here at Heninger, I learned how to stay calm most of the time as we had to present up in the class. This was helpful as I was shy most of the time and it helped me talk more, and not stay quiet. The main thing I remember them teaching me was how to take notes and how to see what is important, to
write down. I remember the time when I met one of my best friends around 3rd or 2nd grade. We are still friends till this day. Do you remember the day when all the kindergarteners went to the aquarium? I was one of those kindergarteners who went, the most memorable moment was when we touched a starfish in a fish tank. As I progressed to 3rd and fourth grade etc, I had new favorite teachers as all of them were amazing. Tonight, I am one of those graduating along with some of those who have also been here since kindergarten like me. It is nice seeing all of them and how they've grown. First, I want to thank all my previous teachers who never gave up teaching me subject multiple times until I got it. Then I also want to thank my friends who stuck with me till this point. I can never forget these friends as I have so many memories with them.
My fellow classmen, as we look back on our years here at school we should remember the meaningful words of a fellow class member of mine when she said, "Dude, where's my iPod?" It's hard for me to think of a better way to describe the many layers of adolescence, because deep down aren?t we all "dudes?" Do we not all have our inner "iPods", and are we not constantly searching for them? Now, we're leaving our childhood behind to study the vast sphere we call planet Earth, into the notorious world of high school, where things will be so much different. Of course we will still have our varied studies, Geometry, Biology, maybe even Forensics or an Accelerated English class here and there. We will still struggle with the daily setbacks formed by peers and strict teachers and principals. But so much of our lives will change. The cars in the parking lot will be driven by, well, students. Our male friends will grow a little fuzzy around the face, and of course, our day will most likely begin with a bell that actually works.
6th grade, and I was saying hello, and now 8th grade has come and it’s gone from introductions to goodbyes as my last days as a middle school student wind down. 8th grade, 8th grade from the opening day to the signing of the yearbooks. This is the year of memories, goodbyes, and regrets. 8th grade and I’m still realizing that there are people in the world that would die to go to a school like this.
When I was in elementary school, I loved to read. I was a total nerd back then ... okay maybe I still am, but one thing has changed. Now I don't so much like reading. My favorite poet was Shel Silverstein, who wrote "Where the Sidewalk Ends." He seemed like he was a total hippie, but that's cool because I like hippies. My grandma is a recovering hippie. I like her too. Anyway, Shel Silverstein wrote about the coolest things. He wrote about magical erasers, eating whales and a boy with long hair flying away from people who were taunting him. He captured all of the things that I loved without knowing that I actually loved them. Now you may ask, how does this hippie relate to our graduation? Well, he wrote a poem entitled "Traffic Light" and this is how it goes:
Good evening. Some of you out there may not realize this but those of you who attended Suntime Middle School have been with this guy for the last seven years. I would like to ask you all, not just Suntime Middle School grads and who all else, to join me in thanking Mr. Weather for his patience and dedication to the success of our education over the years. We are the Class of 2000. The first graduating class of the new millennium. The past four years have been pretty wild. We started out as a bunch of rats in a small cage, but as time went by we learned and matured and became big rats in a new small cage, but in any case, the cage door is now opening; the handlers turning us wild things loose. As we leave "Where the Wild Things Are," home to some of the best cat fights, fist fights and food fights this side of the Cascades, I have a little surprise for all of you sitting in front of me here tonight in your caps and gowns … we ain’t seen nothing yet!
The oldest students in the whole school, the kings and queens, the leaders, the students with the well developed, massive houses. This day will be in our minds until we take our last breaths, so let us make the best of it. It’s crazy, you know? That during this exact moment last year, I could have been delivering my sixth grade promotion speech. All of my fellow seventh graders would have been. Younger versions of ourselves doing almost the exact same action. It is insane that the exact same thoughts will be swimming throughout our eighth-grade heads. Same thoughts for years to come. This is why this day is important. All of these thoughts, feelings, and moods that come to mind when the eighth grade is mentioned might be a tad bit frightening, but it only means we are a stride or two closer to becoming
As I look back upon the past four years, in some ways it seems like my time at Kiper has been a lot like a day at the Magic Kingdom.
It is probably a mistake that I am standing here giving a speech for graduation. In fact it is probably a mistake that I am even graduating from this school at all -- believe me, just as most people in this class I have tested the limits of attendance, of sleeplessness, and of procrastination. At the beginning of my high schooling, I was even testing dropping out ... and if that wasn't a mistake, I don't know what was. After four years of Starr altering our minds, it seemed most fitting for me to spend my four minutes talking about mistakes. Thank goodness for them, by the way -- it is only when we truly screw up big time that we are ever stopped in our tracks -- stopped, briefly, to learn lessons of worth.
First of all, I'd like to welcome all the parents, relatives and friends, on behalf of the senior class. It has been a long, hard road to graduation and I know your presence here is greatly appreciated. My job as salutatorian is to reminisce on our past here at County High, a past that reads like a script of a soap opera.
Class of 2012, as we sit here this evening, I would like you to take a look at the classmates sitting around you. Many students have given countless hours of time, energy, and passion to worthy cuases that they have been a part of throughout high school. However, those aren't the only students deserving of recognition this evening. We have students here tonight, who have taken a stand for what they believe in, not even hesitating to compromise their reputations.
I am extremely proud to be given the opportunity to address you all during this wonderful and momentous celebration. Each and every one of you deserves the greatest congratulations. You have paid a price to be here; put sweat, frustration, anger, effort, tears, blood and now triumph into your years at Napier High School. You all should be incredibly proud of yourselves. You know that you make your life whatever you want. And what you put in, you get out. Like the cross country girls' motto: "Where you find success you find sacrifice," if you give, you shall receive. But don't expect results right away. Some things take time. And don't expect your goals to come easily. Life is filled with adversity; expect obstacles at every corner. Why? Because chances are they're going to be there. But it's not what happens when you are faced with adversity, it's how you react to it. Be classy through triumph and failure and if you get knocked down or stepped on. Get up, brush yourself off and start running again - no wait, that's another story. Nevertheless, you will face obstacles; the key to movi...
Good evening, and thank you for accompanying our 8th grade promotion. Thank you to the Rock Falls District #13 board members, superintendent Mr. Arickx, Mrs. Palmer, Mr. Calkins, Mr. Rude, and Mr. Ackman. We also give a big thanks to our parents and our teachers. Our parents have helped us with everything we have been through and they have been there to support us with through our struggles in life so far. Some of us wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for our teachers. They have put extra time and effort into us so we could be here today, also teachers all throughout our school career have tried to help us succeed so we can make it to the next stage in our life. Sincerely thank you to everyone that has put their time and effort to help us succeed. Next we would like to congratulate the 8th grade class of 2018 for getting this far and helping each other in every way you guys have to proceed to the next
Every student is going to be different, and I will without a doubt have more than a few extroverts in my classes. Which is something that I will have to consider when making lesson plans. Besides that the most influential part of this course was the Faubion observations. Although I do not want to teach elementary school level classes I learned a lot through them. Espessially during my second observation where I learned about IEP’s, and how schools implement them. I realized that I will have to manage a classroom where not every student is going to want to learn, but it is going to be my job to make them want to. I also realized that when a student starts lashing out it is not necessarily because they do not like you, but rather that they are either going through something, or their ability to handle stress, frustration, and emotions could be
For the past 13 years of our education we have been on a journey - a journey full of experiences, challenges and accomplishments. We have made it through elementary, middle and high school. It hasn't always been what we expected and certainly not easy, but as we progressed down the road, we stretched ourselves to reach across barriers and found ourselves in new and expanding roles. We were given the opportunity to explore our interests and discover what really excites us. We have become more independent and complete individuals. Our growth and self-discovery has placed us here tonight.
Let me begin by saying that I am very honored to be addressing the County High School Class of 2012 as students of this institution for the last time. We've spent these last four years creating some serious memories: four years of chieftain power, leaking roofs, questionable Homecoming skits, and musical principals. Four years of good teachers, bad teachers, new teachers, old teachers. Four years of youth, music, growing up and breaking free. Four rubber chickens, four yearbooks, four ASB presidents and four chubby bunnies.
“The future stretches before me, waiting for me to create the work of art that will become my life.” We have entered an age for celebration, an era to memorialize who we were, who we are and who we will eventually become. Celebrate this milestone greater than all the others, for it is the time we have spent here in our high school careers that will always be held close to heart.