Graduation 2015
The students had Final Exams from Monday through Thursday, and today was graduation. Our graduation ceremony is held outdoors on an old military parade grounds next to our school, the same one we use for physical ed. It rained in the morning and left the grass soggy, but the sun came out (leaving us at a sweaty 82 F) with a gentle ocean breeze and stormy gray clouds in the distance.
The speeches were poignant-- I like how we don't insist on having the valedictorian and salutarian speak. Instead, we allow any graduating senior to submit a speech for review by a panel of teachers. The students' name is kept confidential until we short-list it to five or so speeches that we feel best exemplify the spirit of what should be conveyed at a graduation ceremony. The five students then speak before the panel, and two students are selected.
A grandparent tried to prevent me from seating in the seats reserved for the faculty. She grabbed my hand, then said repeatedly "Excuse me, these seats are reserved! These seats are RESERVED!" And I had to as nicely as possible, smile and say, "yes, I understand, but these are reserved for the teachers. And I'm a teacher" but she didn't understand/agree/hear me?
A senior had heat stroke and had to leave the stage. Ambulance showed up and all. Stripped his gown off, gave him ice water, had him sit down in the shade, etc.
I took lots of photos with graduating seniors. I wore my sunglasses. The sunshine and all, you know. And also the tears. But really, the sun was in my eyes. I'll miss them.
The speeches were poignant-- I like how we don't insist on having the valedictorian and salutarian speak. Instead, we allow any graduating senior to submit a speech for review by a panel of teachers. The students' name is kept confidential until we short-list it to five or so speeches that we feel best exemplify the spirit of what should be conveyed at a graduation ceremony. The five students then speak before the panel, and two students are selected.
A grandparent tried to prevent me from seating in the seats reserved for the faculty. She grabbed my hand, then said repeatedly "Excuse me, these seats are reserved! These seats are RESERVED!" And I had to as nicely as possible, smile and say, "yes, I understand, but these are reserved for the teachers. And I'm a teacher" but she didn't understand/agree/hear me?
A senior had heat stroke and had to leave the stage. Ambulance showed up and all. Stripped his gown off, gave him ice water, had him sit down in the shade, etc.
I took lots of photos with graduating seniors. I wore my sunglasses. The sunshine and all, you know. And also the tears. But really, the sun was in my eyes. I'll miss them.