For the past 10 years here I have been all about change but not. through self-serving principles or required mandates, I have evoked change

Transcription

1 Graduation Speech 2013 Mrs. DeLaney *It is indeed a fantastic day outside-we sure waited for this! This year has been all about change. I found an appropriate saying about change in a book: titled: Change is Like a Slinky by Hans Finzel ( 2004), which Mr. Mackie gave me last year that I would like to share. Change is about the future. Change is about getting comfortable with the uncomfortable. Change is about how to make great things happen in your life. Change happens over and over again in a never-ending cycling spin! For the past 10 years here I have been all about change but not through self-serving principles or required mandates, I have evoked change because there practices to open up new and improved ways of doing things. To make things better! As we embrace this day, a day of walking over another threshold of change, I encourage you to take the time to reflect on all of the changes that you have gone through and those which you have yet to experience. Today is a day for reflection, and indeed a day for celebration of all you have accomplished and achieved; and to those new paths in life that will be opening up to you. How you deal with these changes will either help or inhibit your new achievements!

2 These precious students whom I have grown to know and love for the past six years: I am so proud of you and the fact that you have persevered through this school year in the wake and emotions from our previous school year. These fine young adults did so with great humility, compassion, and the ability to adapt to the change around them. To celebrate today s event, I would like to introduce the special guests seated here on the dais from your right to left: Mrs. McClure our guest speaker, who the senior class chosen to speak here today, Mr. Bonaker, our Assistant Superintendent for Business, Mr. Sherman, our school Superintendent, and Mrs. Isles, our BOE president. Our other BOE members present in the audience: Mrs. Schultz and Mrs. Liddle. Mrs. Gillis is also here today to see you cross this threshold of success and celebrate with. I know this is special to her as she has seen you since elementary school to evolve to this point. I get to say yet again, I love what I do. I am so very fortunate in my career path, I don t really have to work a day in my life. That is my wish and hope for you class of 2013, to find that path in life where you too will experience the joy and satisfaction such as I do. And not work a day in your life! Whereas it may have taken a village to get you here today, it is my honor as your principal to present you, the Class of 2013, for the 178 th SCS

3 graduation ceremony. What a remarkable history and special occasion yet today for our school district! Later in the program I will have the opportunity to share with you what has now become my treasured tradition, a poem, dedicated to you soon- to- be graduates of the Class of (comment on Michaela s poem) I would like to hallmark some of the accomplishments of our students this year. I hope that these will serve as special memories for these students as I know they will be for me. The scholarship / award recipients!.high Honor Roll Students honored recently at a dinner by the Kiwanis Madison Wellman s winning status in the American Legion s Oratorical Competition Scholar Athletes Kylebear Brown: 100 career varsity wrestling wins! Evan Ottman: WAC MVP for Golf. Those students who played parts in Spamalot. FFA Members Fall trip to Indiana! FFA accomplishments; especially our students who placed 4 th in the nation in the Hoard s Dairyman competition! FBLA club: Bank Tellers Key Club : Blood Drive & Island Jams volunteers Our Smart Scholar students

4 Our New Visions students: Hannah Bowersox, Erik Defruscio, and Levi Ellis. Those seniors who were brave enough to slip n slide the last day of school this year! Most especially the in-house production of this year s Yearbook! Yes, I could go on and on. But I think you understand how special we think these students are, what they have achieved, and the potential they have yet to demonstrate! I would like you to just take a few moments to think about all those special and beloved teachers who have made a difference in your life I would like to thank them for the work they do, and I would also like to especially thank your senior class advisor Mrs. Hausmann / and quazi - senior advisor Mr. Clayton who have done a so much for you this year. These folks, and so many others I could name, have contributed to your growth over the years. I would also like to recognize and thank our wonderful guidance staff: Mrs. Marshall, Mrs. Kenyon, Ms. Rizio, who was here with us for a year, Mrs. Weinlein, and Mrs. Stewart. Our office staff: Mrs. Takacs & Mrs. Ceroalo. Also, I would like to acknowledge the efforts of Mr. Gathan and the Buildings and Grounds staff for all the hard work they do to make our school look so beautiful, thank you.

5 Mr. Pracher, and our band students also deserve recognition for being here and providing us with the special music this morning. Parents, thank you for your support and understanding in the work we do here... to help your children achieve this milestone in their lives. I would like to thank my husband, and our Technology teacher here, Mr. DeLaney, the gift in my life, and for his unwavering love, encouragement, and endearing support of my life s passion. A special word of gratitude and appreciation to Mr. Alger, my new friend and colleague; also I would like to thank our BOCES Communication Specialist, Mrs. Jacobs for the wonderful work she does on our school website. To Mr. Bonaker, and Mr. Sherman, and our BOE, my sincere gratitude for your dedication and diligence, supporting the endeavors of not only the Jr. / Sr. High School but that of our entire district, thank you! Lastly, I thank one of our newest staff members, BUCKLES, the therapeutic classroom dog, for the support and happiness he s brought to many students and staff! At this time, before we move on, I encourage you to take a few moments either now or at other points during the ceremony to be introspective and think about all those in your life that have helped you accomplish this goal. Thank them sometime when you have the chance,

6 embrace them, they will appreciate it! Perhaps think of those special loved ones who may not be physically here with you today, but who may be here with you in spirit! Hold them near and dear to your heart as you graduate today. And now.. I am proud to introduce Michaela Ann Johnson, our 2013 Class Salutatorian.