HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2010-07-08, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2010. Hullett Central Public School2010
By Megan
Hoggart
We have finally
made it! It seems
like only
yesterday that we
walked into our
kindergarten
classroom – excited and a little
afraid. Tonight we stand before you
as teenagers, excited and a little
upset to be saying farewell to
elementary school and looking
forward to high school and beyond.
How quickly the time flew by and
how wonderful it is to be part of the
small rural school community of
Hullett Central Public School.
Graduates, teachers, parents and
friends, it is a great honour and
privileged to speak to you as your
valedictorian tonight.
I wanted to reflect over the past
years of learning, friendships,
mistakes, and successes as we make
the transition to the next chapters of
our lives. Our time at Hullett has
provided us with a solid foundation
to be fully equipped and safely
launched into our high school years
and beyond. We have been well
taken care of by our teachers and
fellow classmates.
I have researched some of the best
life lessons from Regina Brett,
Oprah Winfrey, Maria Shriver and
the teachers at Hullett. I wanted to
share these with you, to advise us
what we need to lead ourselves with
a happy, healthy, successful and
significant life.
Regina Brett offers two pieces of
advice that I think are worth
cherishing, as we live our best lives:
“Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
Things may not always work out as
we desire, but it’s important to take
the learning in good times and bad.
Strive for success and never miss the
learning in a good mistake,” and
“We have had our days when we got
along well and other days when we
were frustrated, mad, and
discouraged with our fellow
students. As we leave tonight, be
sure to let it go. Life is too short to
waste time hating anyone.”
Oprah Winfrey offers several good
ideas to live your best life: “No one
is in charge of your happiness except
for you. This is so important as we
get older and make choices that are
good for us. If we take responsibility
for living a good life, it will be of our
own design … be sure to dream
big!” and “Take time to be grateful
for all the gifts in your life. Give
thanks for small things and your
magnificence will only increase.
When you focus on goodness, you
create more of it.”
The famous people offer a lot, but
our Hullett teachers have also done
their part in guiding us along our
path. As little kids in kindergarten
class, Mrs. Kemp went the extra
mile to show us caterpillars turning
into butterflies, show and tell turning
into a special story and that nature
was to experience in a new way. She
taught us the very important life
lesson, “Get outside every day.
Miracles are waiting everywhere.”
Ms Weiss made her Grade 1
classroom a magical place to be.
With her big cozy reading chair and
funky reading classes, we were
drawn into her storytelling every
day. She would teach us to count
with candies and nurture us with ice
cream on special occasions. Ms
Weiss taught us that, “all that truly
matters in the end, is that you were
loved.”
In terms of reading and writing,
Mrs Vandendool taught us the
important basics of the English
language. She encouraged us to keep
trying and never give up. I think if
we asked her, she might give us
advice that said, “when in doubt,
take the next small step.”
Ms Pickell is very clear about her
expectations for learning, treats
everyone equally and truly cares
about her students. She would share
her personal life experiences to help
us learn. If we were to ask her for
advice – she would offer, “Time
heals almost everything, give time,
some time.”
Mr. Caldwell would share his
sense of humour and teaches an
important lesson that we need to
laugh everyday. Enjoy life to the
fullest, nothing beats a good belly
laugh.
Ms Gilroy would agree with
Regina Brett, “when it comes to
chocolate, resistance is impossible.”
From time to time, it’s important to
enjoy the finer things in life –
shopping for shoes and quality
chocolate. Now there is a life lesson
I have mastered.
Ms Maver is a hardworking
individual who teaches us a valuable
life lesson to work hard to achieve
what you desire, and in the end,
everything should work out just as
you wanted it to.
Mrs Barnett … I think Ms Barnett
would say no matter how you feel,
get up, dress up and show up … and
from time to time it doesn’t hurt to
shut up. Thanks Ms Barnett for
sharing your passion for music and
telling us straight up what we need
to know. It is refreshing, funny and
honest.
Now Mr. Allen is new to Hullett
and we welcome his hysterical jokes
over the announcements every day.
As the leader of the school, I’m
guessing he would say, “when it
comes to going after what you love
in life, don’t take no for an answer.”
But I’m not sure – we will have to
ask him for his words of wisdom.
Mr. Coups has a unique way of
teaching that inspires everyone to
work to best of their ability. He
creates a positive atmosphere for
students to try to do their ultimate
best and sets goals for success.
Throughout the years, he has offered
lots of good advice and I think the
best is using your voice to connect
your dreams into action.
Thanks for making a difference in
our lives and for wishing us well into
the future. The class of 2010 is a
great group of kids – we have
laughed, we have cried, we have
tried and we have been there for
each other. Together we have made it
to tonight. It’s exciting to think we
have the potential to change the
world – in little ways, like caring for
each other or holding the hand of a
friend in need. We can change the
world in big ways like promoting
world peace, finding a cure for
cancer, or challenging poverty.
In closing, I want to leave you
with a First Nations blessing:
“May the rain wash away your
worries,
May the breeze blow new strength
into your being,
May you walk gently through the
world and know its beauty all the
days of your life.”
Hullett’s outgoing Grade 8 class
Hullett Central Public School’s graduating class celebrated its success on June 23. Back row,
from left: Mr. John Coups, Tyler Berry, Damian Riley-Cronk, Kyle Pollard, Lukas McIntosh-
Schilder, Connor Wilts, Tyler Boven and Mr. Shawn Allen. Front row, from left: Patrick
Bergsma, Adam Westerhout, Chloe Middegaal, Claire Fleming, Megan Hoggart, Sydne
Thurlow-White, Tiffani Maloney, Janette Plaetzer and Jason Salverda. Congratulations Hullett
graduates. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
Congratulations
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