Friday 23 June 2017

Graduation

Graduation


Well, the grade 8's graduated last night.  They looked awesome, and I will miss them.  It was a special group this year who inspired a poem.  For all those who didn't get to hear it, it is a spoken word piece, so the printed word doesn't quite do it justice, but if you are interested here it is.  

Ode to the Graduates

This started as a song full of 12 bars in the blues
You see I’m sad to see you go, so the blues seemed the right mood
But then I thought oh my, then I'd have to sing..  
No no not good, that has a disastrous ring
So a poem it is, ode to the graduates of 2017

Where you will go and what you will be
It is yet to be seen
But hopefully you drop us a note periodically
To tell us how it is really all going, we are interested you see

Some will be teachers, or lawyers or doctors.
Some might just get their way paid through university or college.
Some will be chefs, CEO’s or artists in residence.
You will all definitely though be going places

It has been a most interesting year
We’ve moved classrooms and changed teachers
Walked through rain storms and had picnics
Climbed into toys which were really tight spaces
There have been some who have moved on to other places
But also a number of smiling new faces

There have been ups and there have been downs,
We have had some tears, some laughing and groans
The classes got juggled and mixed all around
But we persisted and kept going and came out the other side
Better and stronger and all together with pride

There have been sports, and a Math night, and an Arts night too
A few medals and records (Man did you see them, what a crew!)
The teachers in basketball, well, what can I say, oh yeah, we won
And no boys, that wasn’t cheating, that was me with no run
Challenges and breakouts made Math a lot more fun
We even explained them to others at the Digital Symposium


We had cake as a cell, and cars for our mice
Weren’t those projects really quite nice
You Ruled the three, and circled the lit
Ranted in English and Danced in Math class
You learned some history along the way.
Along with some French, Parlez vous Francais?
You made artistic renditions from wire and clay.
And banged on a bucket in a musical key.
And both you and I discovered the spinner, yippee.

You are a wonderful bunch with many skills, talents
and a few really funny jokes
I am still laughing at nobel prize - I might giggle forever it’s no surprise
You make me smile and think fondly of the year that we had.  
I really will miss you. Seriously, even with the bad.
And I hope for only good things in your futures to be
Just come back one day and tell us your stories

I now think of all that has been posted as I learned Instagramming
Did I just make up a word, it seems to be something I do, quite alarming
So here is the sum of the quotes I have posted, which I hope you can see were for your growth and advancement
As you move on from these Husky halls into the great world beyond

Be bold, be fierce, be kind and be fearless
Let no little voices say things can’t be accomplished
Don’t burn the bridges that you might one day need to be crossing
Your reputation should precede you with good and caring thoughts
not caution

To thine own self be true, and be the best self you can be  
The only person to be better than is the one you were yesterday.
Think before you speak, we can’t kill a word
You might be forgiven but forget is really hard

Things don’t get easier over time no they don’t
You just get stronger, and that is the truth be told
Life is not easy, but fight for what you want
If it is worth having it is worth the sweat, time and effort you put out

Time is a thing that is not the same for all
Be patient, be gentle and help others along

Take the time to find what might be your passion
Try new things, Be different. Be unique.  Wear socks with your sandals though it’s not my fashion
Don’t work too hard, cause play makes us better persons
Be the protector, and defender not the bully. Not the fraud.

And whenever you might have that small moment of doubt
Remember this my young friends, think back to this spot
Hear my voice, put it here
You can do it, you can. Let no one tell you not.
Remember, remember, for always and forever,
I doubt you not.  

We believe in you.  Your skills, your talent, your ability to do
What you set out to do
I believe in you