Schools
JWY Eighth Graders Move On Up
Eighth graders receive certificates, commended by teachers as they graduate to high school.
students said “farewell” to the school where they have spent the past three years on Thursday night at the annual Eighth grade Moving Up Ceremony in the high school auditorium.
Nearly 200 eighth graders accepted certificates showcasing their completion of middle school and received praise from their teachers and administrators.
Principal Susan Haske said she knows this group will thrive in the high school and she is proud to send them off.
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“I know this group is going to do a wonderful job,” she said. “I know this because of Frost Valley. We had horrible weather, but no one complained.”
Asst. Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Glen Eschbach also congratulated the eighth graders, citing that he remembered some of the kids as kindergarteners during his first year as principal of . He encouraged the departing students to “look forward and smile.”
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He said, “I’m sure you will tackle the future with the same boldness and courage that you do now.”
In the name of tradition, three students gave short speeches describing their past, present and future at James Wilson Young Middle School. Tara White, Channa Perlmutter and Ellie Rudner spoke of the changes one goes through during the middle school years. Each girl thanked the teachers for being so supportive and making the past three years so memorable.
Perlmutter talked about the present. She recounted her times at Frost Valley and all the events leading up to the ceremony. She gave an optimistic outlook to their future in high school. “We have so much to look forward to,” she said.
Eighth grade advisor Colleen Johnson gave the words of farewell speech. Johnson reminisced about the year and all of the things she learned from these students.
“You are offered a rare opportunity to teach middle school,” Johnson said. “This group has taught me many things: It’s OK to ask for help and it’s OK to make mistakes. I hope I’ve taught them as much as they have taught me.”
Johnson left students with a familiar quote from Dr. Seuss, hoping to give them the courage to do wonderful things in high school and beyond:
“You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own and you know what you know. You’re the one who will decide where to go.”
Congratulations eighth graders!
