Commencement exercises in May of 2008 marked the last graduating class from Eastern Heights in Agra, KS. Our youngest son was among the 15 classmates who participated in that momentous celebration. Our oldest son started kindergarten at Eastern Heights in 1989. Within a few years, concerns were being expressed about how much longer we could keep our school doors open. Naturally, the reaction was to rebel against the idea of consolidating with another school. Discussions were held with school and community members upon several different occasions. A vote was even held amongst the students who decided to keep the doors open till the end. As each school year passed, parents and kids wondered if the next year would be the last for the Eastern Heights Mustangs. In 2007, after years of fearing the inevitable, the announcement was made that the graduation class of 2008 would be the last for our school. We breathed a big sigh of relief to know that even our youngest son would graduate as a Mustang.
As with any school consolidation, various opinions were expressed. Many people were please that we had another smaller neighboring town five miles away that we could join with. Others were not fond of it due to past school rivalry and fear of how that would affect crossing county lines to consolidate. And the other little handful of people didn’t care one way or the other – mostly due to the fact they had no kids in school any more. And maybe the fear is just because of change. Change is one thing we all have to deal with in our lives even if we don’t necessarily want to. I’ve even become accustomed to dealing with change in working my online business.
Once the books were closed with “The End” for the Eastern Heights Mustangs and the Kensington Goldbugs, a new book opened starting with “In the beginning” for the Thunder Ridge Longhorns, both communities were accepting the whole consolidation idea. Work had been going on all summer to get the new school colors of silver and blue and the longhorn mascot on display so that the students and faculty could start the new school year with a sense of pride and joy in their newly consolidated school.
Of course, there are some of the kids from the former Eastern Heights district that they and/or their parents opted to attend school at the neighboring town in the opposite direction. This is totally their personal choice. However, I am proud of the ones who have chosen to attend our new school district. They are showing that even if our two towns are small, we are mighty – just as in the saying ‘United We Stand!’
Yes, there were a few tear-jerking moments during the last graduation ceremony in saying goodbye to our school. But as the guest speaker recapped the years of Eastern Heights with memories, it is as he said, “Once a Mustang, Always a Mustang!” A part of my heart will always be a Mustang because it was the system that put all four of our kids through school. But at the same time, I am finding a place in my heart for the Longhorns because they now represent our community school. Even though we don’t have any kids attending school there, maybe we will some day have grandkids that will. So in the meantime…..Go Longhorns!!!
Author: Linda Dougherty
Specializes in working with people to show them how to market effectively to earn money online.
http://www.InternetToWealth.com
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Prom and Post-Prom
Not all schools have continued the tradition of prom towards the close of the school year. It is a last chance for the juniors and seniors to have a formal event together before the seniors graduate. In our school, a few sophomores are included because they are there as servers for the banquet meal. The classmates, and dates if they have one, are adorned in gorgeous prom dresses and elegant tuxes. The girls wear accessories that compliment their outfit such as shoes, jewelry, a purse, and a beautiful hairdo. Both boys and girls sport corsages and boutonnieres to complete the look.
Our four sons went to both their junior and senior proms, but they did not take a date. They were content to go by themselves, as did some others, just to have a good time together. Several of our boys were even a little contrary to the typical prom clothing. A tux coat was only rented for one of the eight proms attended. That was by the oldest boy who realized that in his opinion it was a waste of $50. He voiced that opinion to his brothers and none of them bothered with that attire when they attended. (That particular son did get married five years later in a full tux though!) So the rest of the boys just dressed in a nice pair of slacks and dress shirt and tie. But two of our sons prefer the western look, so they went in new jeans, a western shirt, and cowboy boots and hat both of their years. A few of the adults at the prom did not think their attire was appropriate, but they looked very sharp, and it was more dressy than the one who showed up in the camouflage look!
Our prom festivities include the meal, the dance or socializing (by playing cards or games and visiting, which is what our boys did instead of dancing) and then the post prom. The kids are given one hour from the time the dance is over to show up for post-prom for lock-in until 4 or 5 o’clock in the morning. Alcohol is absolutely not tolerated in any way, and they will not be admitted to post-prom if there is any evidence of consumption between the two events. For about four hours the kids are divided into teams and compete in fun games. They try to have a different theme each year – a few being bowling, Wild West, casino, and boot camp. Kids realize they can have a lot of fun without the influence of alcohol. At the end of post-prom, the juniors and seniors each receive a gift bag full of stuff and a sizable gift card ($100 for seniors and $50 for juniors) that are donated by area businesses, which can be spent at the place of their choice.
The kids usually have a lot of fun just being together and getting to stay up late without parents complaining. And the parents are either at the post prom helping with the festivities or home in bed knowing the kids are safe because they are locked in to an alcohol-free environment with adult supervision. The kicker comes the next day though in trying to get caught up on sleepJ Our school had it’s last prom and post-prom this year, as we are consolidating with another neighboring school starting the next school year. Hopefully the kids will always have fond memories of our prom celebrations.
Prom and post-prom remind me of my Internet business in several ways.
It takes a lot of work to get them kicked off and keep them running smoothly.
This means teamwork – having people willing to do what it takes.
Even though it takes a lot of work, time is made for fun at the end as a reward.
You develop friendships that can last a lifetime.
You may have lost some sleep in getting in accomplished, but it is worth it in the end!
Author: Linda Dougherty
Specializes in working with people to show them how to market effectively to earn money online.
http://www.internettowealth.com/
Our four sons went to both their junior and senior proms, but they did not take a date. They were content to go by themselves, as did some others, just to have a good time together. Several of our boys were even a little contrary to the typical prom clothing. A tux coat was only rented for one of the eight proms attended. That was by the oldest boy who realized that in his opinion it was a waste of $50. He voiced that opinion to his brothers and none of them bothered with that attire when they attended. (That particular son did get married five years later in a full tux though!) So the rest of the boys just dressed in a nice pair of slacks and dress shirt and tie. But two of our sons prefer the western look, so they went in new jeans, a western shirt, and cowboy boots and hat both of their years. A few of the adults at the prom did not think their attire was appropriate, but they looked very sharp, and it was more dressy than the one who showed up in the camouflage look!
Our prom festivities include the meal, the dance or socializing (by playing cards or games and visiting, which is what our boys did instead of dancing) and then the post prom. The kids are given one hour from the time the dance is over to show up for post-prom for lock-in until 4 or 5 o’clock in the morning. Alcohol is absolutely not tolerated in any way, and they will not be admitted to post-prom if there is any evidence of consumption between the two events. For about four hours the kids are divided into teams and compete in fun games. They try to have a different theme each year – a few being bowling, Wild West, casino, and boot camp. Kids realize they can have a lot of fun without the influence of alcohol. At the end of post-prom, the juniors and seniors each receive a gift bag full of stuff and a sizable gift card ($100 for seniors and $50 for juniors) that are donated by area businesses, which can be spent at the place of their choice.
The kids usually have a lot of fun just being together and getting to stay up late without parents complaining. And the parents are either at the post prom helping with the festivities or home in bed knowing the kids are safe because they are locked in to an alcohol-free environment with adult supervision. The kicker comes the next day though in trying to get caught up on sleepJ Our school had it’s last prom and post-prom this year, as we are consolidating with another neighboring school starting the next school year. Hopefully the kids will always have fond memories of our prom celebrations.
Prom and post-prom remind me of my Internet business in several ways.
It takes a lot of work to get them kicked off and keep them running smoothly.
This means teamwork – having people willing to do what it takes.
Even though it takes a lot of work, time is made for fun at the end as a reward.
You develop friendships that can last a lifetime.
You may have lost some sleep in getting in accomplished, but it is worth it in the end!
Author: Linda Dougherty
Specializes in working with people to show them how to market effectively to earn money online.
http://www.internettowealth.com/
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