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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-07-04, Page 21By Regan Middegaal Teachers, family, friends and fellow graduates. This is a very special evening where we celebrate changing times. We look back on our years at public school and see the very best of times sprinkled with enough trying times to build character. These Grade 8 graduates are a blending of Blyth Public School and Hullett Central Public School and we have come together like friends or, to be honest, more like family. We’ve had our nervous moments of meeting each other and worries that it might be different with lots more students in a larger Grade 8 class. After we sorted it all out, we have had a great year. We have laughed, cried, celebrated and complained, fought and made up. I’m sure Mrs. Armstrong would say it was pretty loud, pretty crazy and pretty tedious but not always pretty. But tonight is the victory – that we have made it to our graduation. This has been the perfect experience to teach us how to meet new people, open our minds, accept differences and be a good team player. These skills and attitudes will make a difference for the rest of our lives. We will meet new people almost every day of our lives. You will never know if this is the person that will leave a lasting impact, be the person you marry, give you a job or be your best friend. The best way to make it work is to believe that it will – that this person is in your life to teach you something or maybe they will learn something from you. It is important to not judge the person by the way they look, the way they dress or the way they speak – but take the time to give them a chance and get to know them. Even when a person is different from us, it helps us to think bigger and learn more. Do not be quick to judge others, everyone has their own story. Look for the good in people and don’t expect perfection. Don’t close doors and don’t burn bridges. The world is full of interesting people – get out there and meet them. Ok, so the future we see is full of hope and promise, but I’ll bet that life will throw us some curve balls, so I say get out your bat and lean into it. The best way to get through troubled times is to ask for help from friends and family, have faith that things will get better and again be flexible and open to change. Today is our moment in time. Run out this door with all the joy, passion and energy that you can muster. Know that the decisions and choices you make, your words and your actions will be the impression you leave on the world. Challenge yourself to rise beyond the limits you once thought were impossible and you will soar to great heights. It is exciting to look around and think that one of us could find the cure for cancer, feed the hungry, contribute to world peace, be famous or be fabulous. I want to thank our parents for getting us to tonight. They have been or biggest fans and supporters since we started back in kindergarten. I appreciate the times you helped with homework, made our lunches and came to every single school concert. The teachers at Blyth and Hullett Central gave us their best and really helped us to succeed. They were patient, kind and never gave up on us. We will look back on them with warm memories and grateful hearts. For our Grade 8 year together, Mrs. Armstrong, Madame Maver, Ms Barnett, Mrs. Watt and Mr. Allen have worked hard to prepare us for high school and life in general. I must admit that it will be difficult to say goodbye to our public school teachers – they have been very good to us and have taught us many important life lessons. They have inspired us to be better students with strong virtues. For that, we are grateful. I want to thank each of the students in our class this year, thank you for being a part of my life and creating great memories together. Many of us are heading in different directions to different high schools – but please know that we carry a piece of each other in our hearts. I want to share with you a poem from Kobi Yamada: “Believe – The start to a better world is the belief that it is possible, Believe in your dreams, Believe in today, Believe that you will make a difference, Believe that we can build a better world, Believe when others might not, Believe there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, Believe that the best is yet to be done, Believe in each other, Believe in yourself. I believe in you!” Finally, to my fellow graduates who I have walked the same hallways, sat in the same classrooms and shared fond memories of this school with, I hope we remember that while this ceremony ends a chapter in our lives, it is also, and perhaps more importantly, a beginning. Let us make it a great beginning. Congratulations to the class of 2013 – We Did It! Best Wishes To The Class Of 2013! 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Winners were: OPC Award for Leadership, sponsored by the Ontario Principal’s Council, was won by Colton Rodger; the Valedictorian Award, sponsored by the Blyth Legion, Branch 420, was won by Regan Middegaal; the Heart of Gold Award, sponsored by Hullett Central Public School, was won by Jacob Bjerg; the Overall Academic Improvement Award, sponsored by Nature’s Nest, went to Jenna McDonald; the Academic Distinction Award, sponsored by the Londesborough Lions Club, went to Connor Driscoll; the Best Male Athlete Award, sponsored by the Blyth Lions Club, went to Jeremy Wilts and the Best Female Athlete Award, also sponsored by the Blyth Lions Club, went to Lee Eckert; the Art Award, sponsored by Radford’s Farm Equipment, went to Shelby Hamp; the Performing Arts Award, sponsored by Hullett Central Public School, went to Jenna McDonald; the Computer Technology Award, sponsored by New Orleans Pizza, went to Tristan Rhoads; the Kim Hunking Memorial English Award, sponsored by the Hunking family, went to Shelby Hamp; the French Award, sponsored by the Londesborough Happy Gang Seniors, went to Regan Middegaal; the History Award, also sponsored by the Londesborough Happy Gang Seniors, went to Regan Middegaal; the Geography Award, sponsored by the Londesborough Co-op, went to Morgan Howson; the Mathematics Award, sponsored by the Allen family, went to Tristan Rhoads; the Amy Bosman Memorial Music Award, sponsored by Barb and Al Bosman, went to Naomi Filiatreault; the Science Award, sponsored by the Shillinglaw family, went to Connor Driscoll and the Design and Technology Award, sponsored by Howson and Howson Limited, went to Drew Reinink. Seaforth Public School held its annual graduation celebration at the Seaforth and District Community Centre on Monday, June 24 and handed out a number of awards to students of the graduating class. Winners were: Excellence in Math, Tim Hundley; Excellence in English, Kristy Illman; the Edna Continued on page 22