The Citizen, 2004-07-01, Page 14On to 9: East Wawanosh's Grade 8 graduating class is, back row, from left: Adam Malhiot, Robbie Marriott, Scott
Pletch, J.D, Shiell, Johnathon McDowell, Mr. LeRoux, Shauna Dugas, Krys Campbell, Natasha Van De Walk,
Shauna Dawson, Kyle Jamieson and Cameron Chaffe. Front: Brad Haines, Ben Procter, Sean Cook, Robert Lessard,
Ryan North, Carter Cloakey and Colton Coburn. Absent: Amber Delisle, Baillie Bell, Sydney Belleau and Jaime
Wolf.
PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 1, 2004.
Valedictorian reviews years at East Wawanosh PS
By J.D. Shiell
I'd like to thank my classmates for
choosing me to be the valedictori-
an. It truly is a privilege to be
given this opportunity. but
I'm not sure if you chose me
because you all have faith
in me or if you were all
mad at me that day. This is
the hardest thing I've ever
had to write. How do I sum-
marize 10 years in just a few
minutes and where do I
begin? I know this speech is
supposed to be a motivational
speech, but .1 feel that we get enough
inspiration at school and at home.
So. instead, I'd like to review our
years at East Wawanosh Public
School.
Most of us started school in 1994.
Our class was the first to start in the
junior kindergarten program.
Kindergarten was an exciting adven-
ture. but for some of us that first day
of school was traumatic. The big
yellow bus stops at the end of lane.
The doors are thrust open and this
scary stranger sits behind the wheel,
waiting to take you away. Now, be
honest, how many of you clutched to
your mother's leg and begged,
"Mommy. please don't make me
go." Be honest, hands up. (OK/See).
Well we made it through Mrs.
Wilson's kindergarten class. The
only major events were head lice.
chicken pox and fighting over the
big foam blocks.
On to Grade one. Amber and
Robert started at EWPS. Miss
Mathers is the most fabulous Grade
I teacher in the whole world. We
learned a lot in Grade I. We
learned how to read and write,
add and subtract and had our
first experience in public
speaking. I'd like to thank
you Miss Mathers for giving
us such a solid foundation to
build on. .
We had Mrs. Walker for
Grade 2. Ryan came to
EWPS. We did our first
research project and we learned
about warm fuzzies and cold prick-
lies. Mrs. Walker 'is a graduate of
EWPS. Thank you Mrs. Walker.
Grade 3 was a different year. We
encountered a split class. Natasha
joined our gang. Some of us stayed
with Mrs. Walker and some of us
went to Mrs. Hessels' class. Our
class was the first to endure the
Grade 3 EQAO testing.
Grade 4. Halleluiah. We're all
back together again in Mrs. Hessels'
class. We did an air band at the end
of the school year and had a blast.
We were so good; we should have
gone on tour.
Bailey came to our school in
Grade 5 and Colton arrived in Grade
6. Mrs. Culbert had the pleasure of
our class for those two whole years.
We learned a lot during those years.
I know some of us gave you a hard
time but you survived and I'm sure
the experience has made you a better
teacher. Thank you Mrs. Culbert.
Grade 7 marked the arrival of
Jamie and Robbie. Mr. Lobb was our
first male teacher. We really enjoyed
our time in his class. Miss Dunnell
came to our school part way through
the year because of the class size and
we had the pleasure of being her first
senior class. Thank you.
Grade 8 - the home stretch - and
two new students came to EWPS,
Sydney and Shawna. We also added
two more teachers to the staff, Mr.
LeRoux and Mrs. Stapleton, who
would share the job of teaching the
Grade 7 and 8s. This was Mrs.
Stapleton's first year teaching.
Actually Mrs. Stapleton also gradu-
ated from EWPS way back in 19--.
We all enjoyed our classes with Mrs.
Stapleton but I'd 'really rather talk
about the stories I heard about her
school days. Just kidding. Thank
you Mrs. Stapleton.
Mr. LeRoux was our primary
teacher this year and the man of the
school. Mr. LeRoux was a great
teacher. We enjoyed hearing his tales
about New Zealand; we could
approach him with new ideas and
even argue with him. Not that it did
any good. I recently heard that Mr.
LeRoux will be taking golf lessons
this summer as he just barely
squeaked by our resident pro golfer.
Thank you, Mr. LeRoux, for a ter-
rific year,
Our trip to Ottawa last year was
indeed one of the highlights of our
years at EWPS. I think the consen-
sus was that the hotel was the most
fun. The museums and the Imax film
were good, so I was told. A few of us
slept through it because someone
kept us awake all night. The chaper-
ones were fun and Mr. Lobb and
Mrs. Blackmore were a lot more fun
when you got them out of the school
environment.
I guess that brings us to the princi-
pals. I think we all had the privilege
Continued on page 18
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