8th Grade Awards Night and Graduation

One thing to come from losing our local high school is more focus on the younger grades. And part of that is recognizing our 8th graders at the end of the school year. Kendall was a part of the first-ever Albion Community School 8th grade graduation ceremony. Not only a part of it but, he was co-valedictorian and got to give a speech at the ceremony along with the other valedictorian. 

A couple of days before the graduation, they also did an 8th grade awards night where Kendall received several awards for his academics and achievements, including a social studies award that was presented by a local politician who was a past social studies educator. No surprise that Kendall and Akaiia, his co-valedictorian were the winners of that as well.

Accepting his Social Studies Award

Band Award

Kendall and Mrs. Waito--one of his favorite Junior High teachers

Kendall and Mr. Parks, another favorite Junior High teacher

The night of the graduation ceremony was really nice. Before the students marched in, we were treated to a slide show of photos of the students from baby pictures up to now that was really sweet and a bit emotional. Then the kids marched in and up to the stage. A couple of their teachers spoke as well as the Albion and Marshall superintendents. Kendall and Akaiia both gave the speech they had written together and did a great job. I think both of them will go on to make a positive impact at Marshall High School in the fall.

Graduation day!

The Marshall High School superintendent came and recognized our students with a stole that had both the Albion Wildcat and Marshall Redhawk logos.

By the end of this year, Kendall's class had shrunk considerably with kids either moving away or choosing to go to different schools. We are just really happy that Kendall was among those students who decided to stick it out even through some difficult transitions. His high school graduation picture will look A LOT different with a couple hundred extra kids in his class.!

Kendall has developed a sort of unlikely friendship with a 2nd grader Alex and his twin sister Amelia this past year. He has been such a great role model for them but more than that, he genuinely enjoys spending time with them and considers them some of his best friends. We were happy that they came to see Kendall.

These two ladies are some of the finest educators in the country! Mrs. Rousch on the left was the principal at Harrington Elementary when we first moved here and was Kendall's principal for his very first year at school. And Mrs. Turner, on the right, was Kendall's kindergarten teacher. We were so fortunate that she waited to retire until after that year, because she laid the perfect groundwork for Kendall to truly love education. She is seriously the best teacher I have ever known--and I have known lots of amazing teacher. We had some extra tickets to the graduation and Kendall was inspired to have me call Mrs. Turner just to make sure she knew about it. She actually hadn't even  heard, so we offered her our extra tickets and she and Mrs. Rousch were both able to come. 

We are sure proud of Kendall and all he has accomplished so far. I know that high school will be a lot different than he is used to, but I know whether there are 30 kids in his class or 200, Kendall is a person who will leave his mark. I'm excited to see what he will do with the next four years of high school.