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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-07-06, Page 22PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 6, 2017. Seaforth Valedictorians look back on class memories On behalf of the class Seaforth Public School's Grade 8 classes each had a Valedictorian to represent them during the graduation ceremony on June 27. From left: Liam Wilson, Wendy Campbell and Colin Campbell. (Denny Scott photo) By Colin Campbell, Wendy Campbell and Liam Wilson Colin: Tonight we will be telling you about the amazing accomplishments of our peers and friends. But we are getting a little ahead of ourselves. The first thing we did was spend quite a bit of time Googling "how to write a valedictorian speech". Sadly there weren't a lot of results. We may not be the best behaved students as we were reminded by a supply teacher every once and a while. But with a little help, well actually a lot of help from Mr. Hundey, Mr. Dunseith and all the other helpful teachers, they made us better students and, along the way, better people. They helped prepare us for the future that we are truly grateful for and I know everyone can agree with me when I say that we appreciate everything they have done. Wendy: We have made plenty of good memories throughout our time at Seaforth Public School, as well as a few bad ones. But this is a night of celebration, and so we should focus on those happy times. We all remember back in Kindergarten, looking around the school for the gingerbread man, hanging up lost - and -found signs or when a visitor came in to show us how to "properly" brush our teeth. We also would like to thank our teachers. Mme. Zembashi who has helped each and everyone of us through at least one tough time, Mr. Hundey has a great sense of humour and always went all out for costume days. Mrs. Dawe has shown incredible devotion to our music program, and has demonstrated amazing patience. You can ask Mr. Dunseith any question and he will likely know the answer. We may have tried to sneak a few answers for our math tests. Liam: This year we were given an amazing opportunity: to get to know our friends better, to make some new ones, to learn new skills and have fun along the way. At Camp Celtic we got to do all of this and more. I know everyone could agree with me when I say that we had an amazing group of counsellors and we got to see another side of our teachers. I fondly remember time watching fellow students get busted for having their elbows on the table and having to do crazy things like: playing leap frog through the aisles, giving counsellors massages, running while pretending to be a rocket ship, crab - walking through the aisles and more crazy performances. That was our amazing Celtic experience. Colin: Changes will happen and we are a generation that will be confronted with major changes. Seaforth Public School has done an amazing job of preparing us for the future and for that change. In the next part of our lives we will be faced with plenty of challenges, but throughout this year we have grown stronger as individuals and as a group. We have learned not only from our teachers but from our peers as well. They have taught us that not everything is learned in a classroom and we will take that knowledge with us into high school, college and throughout our lives. Fellow graduates, we look forward to conquering these challenges in the future with your help and the skills we learned at this amazing school. Wendy: Before we start a new chapter we need to thank everyone that has been a part of the old one. Our parents have played a huge role in our lives and I think we need to thank them. Look at them smiling and snapping pictures so they can remember this moment forever. The people out there are the people that woke up mornings and stay late after work to pick you up from school just so you could be on the basketball team. Today is an important day for you and them. Today they are very, very proud of you. Today would be a good day to ask for money. It's also a good day to thank them for supporting you, because as much as this is your achievement, this is also the achievement of your friends, teachers, parents and siblings. These people have all helped shape you into the person you are today. You had some great times. Maybe you had some tough ones, but you did it and you succeeded. Promise yourself you will make the next year even better than the past 10. Remember that you don't have to follow the crowd. Do the right thing even when no one's looking. Study hard. Remember that you are teaching yourself with every book you read and, finally, don't be in too big of a hurry to grow up. These are the great times and shouldn't try to push past them. As Dr. Seuss once said "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose." Liam: A wise man once said: "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards." So, you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever — because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well- worn path. And that will make all the difference." That wise man was Steve Jobs. We can all learn a valuable thing from that advice. We can't give up. Whether it's in life, at work or at school, we have to keep pushing forwards. Now let's keep pushing forwards onto high school. Hoonaard fondly recalls last decade with classmates Continued from page 20 group we have all gotten to know each other really well. Our crew is full of different personalities. We all have our special talents and unique aspects. When you first come to our class, Josh Goudy may seem quiet. But once you get to know him, he is very smart! And you sure won't miss him with that bright head of hair! Chelsea, on the other hand, is definitely not quiet! Mrs. Scott said that she can hear Chelsea's voice from the other end of the hallway. Actually, I think she's said that about all of us! Chelsea also has a love for horses and could probably tell you anything about them! You would most likely find Meghan with Chelsea here on the construction site. Meghan also has a love for horses, but I think that her biggest love is hurdles. She may be one of the shorter ones, but that sure doesn't stop her from doing her thing when she gets to the track! Oh yeah, and there was also that time when she licked Chelsea's paper. Emma is amazing on the track as well and she is super encouraging! But when she's not outside cheering someone on or playing a sport, you will probably find her reading her newest book. It seems that she has read almost every book out there! Sam also has an interest in reading, as he has been on the battle of the books team since Grade 4. He is very smart when it comes to planes, trains and anything that has to do with the military! He is also super funny, sometimes not intentionally. Travis is also one who always makes everyone laugh! He comes to school almost every week with a new catch -phrase. Travis is also good with cards! He has fooled us all multiple times with different magic tricks. Josh V. is almost always with Travis and also enjoys magic tricks. Josh V is very helpful and is always good for a laugh. He is also the class celebrity look-alike, because he looks like Aaron from the movie The Little Drummer Boy. Amanda is always willing to help out and very good with kids. She also always has a story to tell and is super talkative. Ally is an amazing dancer! She can do just about any type of flip or dance move that you can imagine! She also has a love for cats! If you need cheering up, just ask her about her cats and she will tell you multiple stories about them! Brooke is the newest member of our construction team, as she just joined this year. Over the last year getting to know her, we can all see that she is super athletic! She is a great runner and is also really into baseball! Makayla is also relatively new to our group, as she joined us two years ago. Makayla fit in great with us, as she is super talkative and wasn't shy at all! Makayla is always laughing with us and has an amazing singing voice! Joshua also has a great voice and loves music! He has been a part of the praise team for a few years now and sang a solo in the musical too. He is amazing on the trumpet and enjoys playing drums once in awhile as well. These past 10 years have been a blast. We have made numerous memories together and experienced many great opportunities. I would like to thank all the teachers, staff and parents for playing a huge role in our lives and for building us up to be strong Christians. In Matthew 7:24-27 it says to always build your house on the rock and when you do build your house on the rock, it will not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. This verse is talking about our lives as Christians: if we build our lives on Jesus Christ, we will not fall, because he is a strong foundation for our lives. Christian education has given each one of us a strong foundation to build our lives on, as we have learned about God through everything here at Huron Christian School. As we are leaving here and preparing for what God may bring us in the future, I wish my fellow builders that God may always be by your side in whatever you may be doing and that you will always remember to build your house on the rock. Campbell, Mitchell receive J.W. Talbot Award Seaforth Public School held its annual graduation and year-end awards gala on Tuesday, June 27 at the Seaforth and District Community Centre. Colin Campbell, Wendy Campbell and Liam Wilson were named the school's valedictorians. Wendy Campbell also won the Nancy Kale Environmental Award, the Music Award, the John Jew Citizenship Award and the OPC Leadership Award. Colin Campbell also won the Gauss Math Award and the History Award, while Liam Wilson won the Geography Award, the Gauss Math Award and the J.W. Talbot Award for academics and contribution to his school. Claire Mitchell was the other winner of the J.W. Talbot Award for academics and contribution to her school, while she also won a Gauss Math Award, the Science Award, the French Award and the Athletics Award. She was also named a Field Day Champ for the school, alongside Owen Oliver. Alaina Campbell won the Georgina Reynolds Spirit Award, while Alivia Brown won the Carolyn Griffin Positive Role Model Award, the Rachael Broome Memorial Art Award and a Gauss Math Award. Owen Taylor and Allysa Greidanus were both winners of the Barb Elston Sportsmanship Award. Greidanus also won a Gauss Math Award, while Taylor won the school's Athletics Award. Aidan Wilson won the school's Friendship Award and the John Jew Citizenship Award. Austin Crawford won the Music Award, while Seth Ashwin won the Edna Bell Waddington Bursary for the most improved English student. Madalin Henderson won the June Boussey Bursary Communication Award, while Reegan Watcher won the Sheila Morton Super Fun Bursary Award. Torrance Pennington-Vock won the School Council Award for having a positive attitude, while Carrson Hawes -Vance and Jenna McClure were both winners of the Most Improved Math Award. Claire Mitchell, Jenna McClure, Allysa Greidanus, Colin Campbell, Wendy Campbell and Liam Wilson were all honoured for their excellence in English with a grade of over 80 per cent, while Colin Campbell, Allysa Greidanus, Seth Ashwin, Sierra Smith, Ben tenHag, Alivia Brown, Wendy Campbell, Owen Taylor, Aidan Wilson, Liam Wilson, Reegan Watcher and Claire Mitchell were all recognized for their excellence in mathematics with a grade of over 80 per cent. Hullett students awarded Hullett Central Public School handed out its Grade 8 graduation awards on Tuesday, June 27. The students gathered for a group picture at the school before heading to Blyth for their graduation ceremony and awards night. Jeylin Riley was named the school's valedictorian — which was a surprise to students until the ceremony began that night. Riley also won the Student Leadership OPC Award, as well as the Male Academic Distinction Award and the Science Award. Ella Sawchuk was the winner of the Female Academic Distinction Award. She also was honoured with the Mathematics Award and was a co -winner of the Art Award alongside Bailey Coles. Coles also won the Geography Award. Kiara Driscoll was named the school's Outstanding Female Athlete, while also collecting the Performing Arts Award and the Student Council Award. Dawson Hoggart was named the school's Outstanding Male Athlete for the year and it was Brianna Graf who won the Heart of Gold Award. Ainsley Croft won the Kim Hunking Memorial English Award, while Travis Wilts won the Howson and Howson Design and Technology Award. Sara Hunking won the History Award, Avery Boven won the Amy Bosman Memorial Music Award and Braedan Fleming won the school's Computer Technology Award. Emma Bernier won the French Award, Rorie Bromley won the Overall Academic Improvement Award, Tyler Johnston won the Student Choice Award and Kennedy Huether and Chloe Elliott were co - winners of the Effort and Co- operation Award.