School's Out!

Wow, it doesn't seem possible, but we have reached the end of a very successful school year. I am sure that you are all breathing a sigh of relief that exams are over and summer has finally started.

I will still be working through next Wednesday trying to readjust all of the schedules based upon failures and working to arrange for students to make up credits in summer school. After next week I will still check e-mails routinely, but will not be in the school or checking voicemail messages. If you need to reach me e-mail is definitely the best option. As for the blog - I will still update it during the summer, but not as often. I am currently thinking one or two updates a week, but we will see... I don't want you to get out of the habit of reading the blog, but I also don't want to bore you with mindless chatter.

I hope you have a wonderful, safe and relaxing summer!

The End is in Sight

You have just 2 days remaining in the school year! Granted, you still have several exams to wrap up, but the end is definitely within reach. :-)

I wanted to remind you that if you would like to see a tentative copy of your schedule for next year, you are welcome to stop by my office and I can show you where it currently stands. I cannot provide you with a copy, nor can I guarantee that it will be exactly the same next year because changes in classes are still taking place, but it will give you a general idea about what you can expect. And no, I'm sorry, I cannot accept teacher requests.

Also, I still have a lot of candy left in my candy jar and I'd really like for you to eat it all before the year ends - so when you stop by to check your schedule, don't forget to grab a piece of candy!

A Letter to "My" Seniors

To “My” Seniors~

Congratulations!  It is graduation day – a day you have been working toward for the last 4 years (and really since you started kindergarten).  I want to take a moment and tell you how proud I am of each of you and that I am excited for you. You have such bright futures ahead!

The Class of 2012 has been so special to me.  When I stood on stage at Friday’s graduation practice I couldn’t help but allow my mind to wander back over the last 4 years and all that you have achieved. It has been an honor to watch as you succeeded on the athletic fields, in the concert halls and in the classrooms.  Perhaps even more meaningful to me though are the memories I have of the moments we spent together in my office when you shared with me about your life.  There have been times when you made me laugh and others when I couldn’t help but cry.  I have been impressed by your integrity, strength, talent, courage, compassion, intelligence and potential.  And yet, no matter if you look back on your four years of high school as being a wonderful experience or a roller-coaster ride that you survived, I hope you know how much it meant to me to be able to walk with you on this part of your journey.

Today celebrates the end of high school, but more importantly it celebrates the beginning of your futures.  For some of you I know that this is a terrifying concept and for others you cannot wait for the college experience.  I have no doubt that you will all find your place in the world where you can make a difference.  There are so many new adventures ahead of you– new classes, new friends and the chance to chase the dreams before you.

Thank you for sharing your lives with me!  Always remember that I am here for you and that I believe in you! Congratulations again.  Enjoy the day – you deserve it!

Love, Miss Abbott

PS – I hope you will keep in touch and let me know about your new adventures in life.

(I’ll post pictures from graduation later tonight or tomorrow!) :-)

Scholar Athlete Recognition

Congratulations to Hunter Atha who was featured in Thursday's Columbus Dispatch as a Scholar-Athlete scholarship winner.  Hunter was selected in recognition of his athletic successes, his academic dedication, and his community service outreach.  Check out Hunter's Q & A here.  Way to go Hunter!  We are proud of you.

Baccalaureate

Graduation weekend kicks off each year with the Baccalaureate service. Held annually at a local church, this activity is sponsored by the Activity Club and celebrates the accomplishments of the WKHS seniors, honors the impact they have left on the school and community, and wishes the seniors luck as they move on in life toward the exciting activities and adventures ahead. 

Throughout the service I am confident in saying that I was not alone in thinking of special moments and memories with the seniors and offering up prayers of gratitude for the people you are today and the impact you will make on this world in the future! I wish all of you the best and hope that this was just the start of a wonderful and memorable weekend.

Tonight’s program featured many talented individuals.  Hunter Atha and Josh Cook were on the planning committee.  Hunter served as an emcee for the event and introduced the parent speaker, Jim Callahan, father of Keeler and Kilbourne Swim Coach.  Josh sang a solo and, along with Arthur Ding, was a part of Acafellas.  Josh also wrapped up the evening with the closing prayer.

Each year I love Baccalaureate and tonight was no exception.  Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to put together such a special night!

Graduation Rehearsal Reminder

This morning is graduation rehearsal. Don't forget, this is a mandatory requirement for all seniors who plan on attending the commencement ceremony.  I'll be honest, it is a long and rather boring time - not at all like the excitement you will have during the actual ceremony on Sunday! The rehearsal is very important though and it will be worth it when everything goes well during the actual commencement ceremony. One of the most important details that seniors need to remember to pass along to their parents after the rehearsal is which side of the stage you will be on at the commencement ceremony. As a general rule, assuming you are one of my students, you will be on "Stage Left" which means that if you are standing on the stage you are on the left side or, put another way, looking at the stage you will be on the right side. This is the side where you be seated as well as the side where you will go up the stairs to receive your diplomas. Trust me, your parents will not be happy if they end up being on the "wrong" side and don't have a good view of your special day.

Also, please remember that if you have not taken your cap and gown out of the plastic bag, you should definitely do this. You will need to iron it and make sure that it looks nice before the graduation ceremony.

Rehearsal starts at 8:30am and you should be done at 11:30 followed by pizza to celebrate. Don't forget, if you still have textbooks, you need to get them turned in or else you have to pay for them to be able to walk in the commencement ceremony.

Seniors - Words of Wisdom

Congratulations Seniors!  You made it!  Today was your last day of high school and the celebrations of the upcoming weekend will pay tribute to the hard work and dedication you have displayed over the last four years.  I was fortunate enough to see many of my seniors today and I think a lot of you shared similar thoughts and feelings.  I heard often that it was hard to believe how fast the last 4 years had gone.  You are ready to move on to the next stages of your lives and there is excitement about finishing high school, but for many of you there was also a bitter-sweet feeling about leaving your friends and the familiarity of high school behind.

As you spend time over the next few weeks reflecting back on your high school career, please consider passing along some of your words of wisdom.  You have created a positive impression and many of the younger students look up to and admire you.  I'm sure you can remember some of the older students who made an impression on your life and this is your opportunity to pass along the gift of your wisdom to those who will continue in high school.  Let the younger students know what you are glad you did, what you wish you would have done differently, and other suggestions and tips for being successful and making the most of their high school years.  As you share your insights, you may never fully realize the difference that you have made, but you can be sure that your legacy will continue to make a positive impact in the years ahead.

On a separate note, I want to congratulate the Kilbourne Girls Lacrosse team who won the Regional Championship tonight!  The girls have secured a spot in the Final Four of the State Championship weekend.  Their game will be June 1st in Cincinnati.  Congratulations girls!  I am so proud and excited for you!