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Huron Expositor, 2000-07-12, Page 1010 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, duty 12, 2000 class of 2000 It seemed like it took forever to get to graduation day By Darren Beaver Seaforth Public Valedictorian Here we are. Graduation day. It seemed like it took forever to get here, but here we are. When I found out that the privilege was granted to mc to stand before all of you today as valedictorian, of course I was honoured but it also opened my eyes. It proved to me that anything and everything is possible if you Quoted 'I can only work towards being the best I can be each and every day and some moments this can be a challenge' have the will, the work ethics, the determination, and are willing to make any sacrifices necessary. Learning to better understand what life is really all about will enable you to better understand yourself as a person and how best to relate to others. In some ways I wish I could tell you there will he a day when you have learned all there is about life, about yourself and about other people. That would be the day the challenges would come to an end and without challenges there are no opportunities for the sweetest rewards. So, if we are to enjoy the rewards that life has to offer then it is a good idea to accept life's challenges with a positive attitude. Easier said then done my friends, as I struggle with this often. I can only work towards being the best I can be each and every day' and some moments this can be a challenge in itself. Dream your dreams...dream the greatest dreams you are capable of...and devote as much of your life as you can towards achieving them...your greatest dreams will most likely happen during childhood and in adolescence. Why you may ask?...because when we are young we possess unlimited potential...the potential to do anything we are capable of dreaming...dreams do not shatter unless we allow them to be shattered...some days the challenges and struggles are much greater but dreams are always alive. This brings me to my favourite quote Award winners J.W. Talbot: Darren Beaver, Kate Powell. John Jew Citizenship: Brent Coleman, Jennifer McClure. 1' Public Speaking: 'Iriltsh, Mandy Mitchell. Edna Bell "Improvement in Language Arts Bursary": Christina Aldrey, Brittany Wood. Barb Elston Memorial Sportsmanship: Darcy McCutcheon, Carrie Leonhardt. Sheila Morton Bursary: Jaclyn Hulley. SAC award: Kora Bennett. French: Robert McBride. Music: Aline Shepherd. OPC Leadership: Shea Austin. Valedictorian: Kate Powell, Darren Beaver. "The dream never dies...just the dreamer." The most important thing is not that you achieve your dream but that you did all you could to work towards it. The journey is much greater than the destination. By Kate Powell Seaforth Public Valedictorian Good evening, fellow graduates, parents, teachers, friends and distinguished guests. I am honoured to be graduating today as a class valedictorian, but I find it hard to believe it's happening so soon. When I first came here in kindergarten, this school seemed so big. and forbidding. The teachers were intimidating. everyone was a stranger. I was in a school with a bunch of hig kids that I didn't know. But with each passing year the Quoted 'We are incredibly lucky to be in a small town environment, where we know everyone and • everyone knows us' school became smaller. the hallways shorter. The faces became increasingly familiar. I became friends with most people and began to feel comfortable. My classroom became a home away from home, and my peers like family. In the blink of an eye I find myself in the graduating class, with memories to last a lifetime. We , are incredibly lucky to be in a small t o w n environment, where we know everyone and everyone knows us. Most people graduating today were in my kindergarten class. We've known each other for years, and have gone through a lot together. We've all shared in the anticipation and excitement of an upcoming event, such as the water days Continued on last page Almost seemed like yesterday getting on the first school bus By David Verberne and Leah Craig St. James Valedictorians L: Well Dave. we finally made it. D: Ya it took all morning but these corsages turned out great! L: No, what I mean is we made it to graduation! The whole nine years! D: Wow I can't believe it. It almost, seems like it was yesterday when we were getting on that big, yellow school bus all frightened and scared and now we are leaving. L: Throughout the years here at St. James we've really grown and matured. D: We sure have but we couldn't have done it without thc help of our teachers and parents. L: First of all, we would like to thank the person who made our last years at St. James interesting, exciting and exhausting. Mr. Landers. D: You've not only helped us in Math, Science and Geography hut you have also taught us to always be ourselves and to strive for our dreams. L: You were always there to lend a helping hand. whether it be painting a tree, helping to organize a spaghetti dinner... D: Or teaching us how to calmly discuss things with the ref when he makes a bad call. We would like to thank you for our exciting final year here at St. James. Best of luck with your new family. L: Secondly a special thanks goes to our principal Mr. Murray. Each day his positive Christian attitude has prepared us to value our leadership skills D: and to appreciate the effort put forth by not only himself but also the rest of the_ wonderful staff here at St. James School. L: We would also like to thank Father Dino. While at St. James he had strengthened our spirituality and he had led us to a deeper understanding towards God. and to our fellow classmates. D: He has also helped us to become adult members of the church through the Sacrament of Confirmation. L: Please continue to pray Teachers taught us to care and show consideration By Brittany Stacey, St. Columban Mrs. Barsanti-Innes, Mrs. Smith. Fr. Charbonneau, Teachers, Parents, Guests and the Graduating Class of 2000, Well, we've made it. I guess you could say that we are now Y2K compatible. I would like to thank my classmates for giving me the opportunity to speak on their behalf. It is my honour and my privilege to speak. When you think hack to our early days at St. Columban School, we entered the school with such feelings of anxiety, fear and yes, even some tears and now. these are the same emotions we experience as we graduate from St. Columban School. We will have different memories of our days at St. Columban school. the many teachers, the many tests, thc school trips, the many tests, the track and field events, the many tests, the list goes on and on. For me. I will always remember in Kindergarten. sitting in Mrs. O'Reilly's big yellow tub, full of pillows and reading my favourite books, some students even fell asleep, right Sarah`' Do you remember in grade 4. when Mrs. Devereaux taught us number facts, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice and then practice some more? I know that some day, I will thank her for that. Remember when Miss Kelly introduced her famous 'point system'. We will never forget the special celebrations we took part in, especially Sincere Congratulations 2000 Graduates Boxafllld SMITH Funeral Chapel Christopher M. Smith Funeral Director when a certain Greg lit the Advent Wreath and it accidently caught on fire. There are many people who must be recognized as very important teachers in our lives. The most important teachers are our parents, who have nourished, supported and sometimes, even gave us that little push we needed. We thank you, Moms and Dads, we couldn't have made it this far without you. I would like to give thanks to our school staff; especially Mrs. Barsanti- Innes and Mrs. Smith, we thank you for always having the students best interests in mind. Your professional leadership qualities will have an everlasting impact on our lives. We thank all our teachers that were with us from kindergarten through grade 8, you have taught us with such care and consideration. Your devoted leadership has shown that you are truly concerned for all of us. You recognized us for our own individuality and helped us realize our strengths and worked with us on our weaknesses. Mrs. Wacchter, Mr. Haid and Mrs. Schramek, our grade 8 teachers, you have been very instrumental in encouraging us in developing into mature young adults. You have prepared us well to take that giant step into high school. ' Although, I have never had the pleasure of having Mrs. Waechter as a teacher, I have had the opportunity to work with her at extra curricular activities. Mrs. Waechter has been very Congratulations to the class of 2000 on a job well done! K. JAMES ETUE INSURANCE 32 MAIN ST., SEAFORTH 527-0720 effective in leading the Grade 8 Girls Choir. We have sang on numerous occasions, and I'm sure we will be cutting a CD in the near future. Mrs. Waechter has been a very dedicated baseball coach for the senior girls baseball team. She can spot talent a mile away, I guess that explains why I got cut. Not to worry, Mrs. Waechter, I don't hold any grudges. Mr. Haid, my grade 8 teacher, well, what can I say. This was Mr. Haid's first year at St. Columban school, so hopefully we have groomed him well for next year's grade 8's. It was a tough job and we acted up on several occasions, of course we did this for his benefit, so that we could give him the opportunity to try some of his disciplinary measures. Isn't that right Danny? Don't worry Danny, Mr. Haid will eventuality thank you, giving him all that experience. Mr. Haid, couldn't get through a day without a good old Dr. Pepper. actually that worked to our advantage because we were able to drink pop in class — that might explain why so many of us were a little hyper at times, and all this time, Mr. Haid, you thought it was a 'growing thing'. Mrs. Schramek, our french teacher, who actually had the talent to make french a fun class, for this we are very • grateful. Mrs. Schramek often said 'if you arc not quiet, we will not play a game at the end of class' it took us a Continued on next page you -, make us all Proud. Sea(orthPublic, School 2000 GRADS - YOU'RE THE _= PRIDE OF THE COMMUNITY TUCKER'S == MEAT -= SHOP == for us as we begin a new chapter of our lives. D: Last of all we would like to thank the people who have been there the most for us through these difficult hut wonderful years of our lives. Our parents. L: They have been there for us since the day,we were. born, to our first day of school. till tonight as we graduate Grade 8. D: They have watched us grow and mature and will continue to do so as we turn the page to start our grade 9 year. L: As an appreciation of our thanks, we present you with this, which symbolizes our love for you. (handing out of roses) D: Well now that we've got the "Thanks Yous"• covered we can continue on with our memories of St. James. L: Hey Dave have you ever noticed that most of us have been together for the full nine years. D: It's weird, it doesn't really seem like we've been together that long, but it has been. We have made many friends here, and we have had numerous experiences, both good.... L: And bad. The things I think we'll remember most about St. James arc... D: How we always had 100 day with Mrs. Holmes... L: Or Ms. Van Esbrocck's odd way of getting our attention. D: Oh, and do you remember Mrs. Hugill's warm fuzzies and cold Continued on next page Award winners Father Caruana: Leah Craig. Knights of Columbus: Leah Craig. Proficiency: David Verberne. Lions Club: Jody Boyd. Father Henry Cassano: Kevin Whyte. French: Katie Nigh. Principal's: Megan Carnochan. History: Marissa MacKenzie. Writing: Danielle Peckiu. Mathematics: Lori Van Bakel. Literature: Leah Craig. Athletic: Leah Craig, Brad Henderson, Calahan O'Reilly. Special Recognition Awards: Anita Kreutzwiser, Danielle Peckiu, Jillian Wright. Valedictorians: Leah Craig, David Verbeme. 1 1 1 1 txeaeoeooe9 Congratulations r c e 0 °a e MARK PENNER RR2 SEAFORTH (519) 522-2222 Progressive TURF EQUIPMENT 527-1080 137 West Wiliam St., Seaforth GREAT WORK CLASS OF 2000 BEST OF LUCK Seajotte Piasel t We 527-0505 15 Goderich St. E., GOOD LUCK IN YOUR FUTURE! "FROM ALL OF US AT" SPARKY'S PLACE FAMILDINING 527-1964 90 Main St.