Teacher's remarks: Ron Scutt

The new school was built in 1988. Chelsea Courtney graduated in 1998 along with Chris Karapostoles, Mugs Scherer and Aaron Williams. Chelsea was the only girl in a class of far too many boys. Tonight Jessica Ellis, Kate Pontbriand and Clancy Courtney are graduating. I am in awe of our good fortune.

The Class, the graduates, and I welcome all those in attendance tonight. Your presence, active support, and kind thoughts throughout the year provide the practical, loving warmth that sustains our efforts.

This is an important evening in the lives of the graduates, their families and this community. It is a challenge to develop a graduation ceremony that gives the proper respect to the gravity of the event while at the same time retaining the lighter touch of levity necessary for a joyful celebration. We will do our best to achieve this balance.
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The character of one-room classrooms require several developmental stages exist within the same space. At one end of the spectrum are our graduates. We will hear more from them later. At the other end of the spectrum is our first grader Beth Wilsey. All in all, this is a magnificent class of young people who worked hard and accomplished much.

How does one gauge the quality of a year?

Arriving at school has been a pleasure each and every day. The good will of the 8th graders has encouraged relative peace and tranquility within the ranks of the younger students. Believe me when I say, this is no small feat.

Superlatives can be used to describe the accomplishments of this class.
No class has hauled more wood or shoveled more snow. No class has met more challenging circumstances. Few classes have had to return from Spring Break to find a playfield full of snow. Time and again the class has been challenged. Due to the leadership and positive personality exhibited by the 8th graders, the year has been magnificent. Thank you.

We sing a little song that begins with the words, "Star light, star bright, the very first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, have this wish, I wish tonight. Each of our 8th graders came to school this year and have had a wish fulfilled. Where love exists, wishes can become real.

Leaving Stehekin at the beginning of third grade, Kate's dream was to return to the Stehekin School and graduate.

Getting to know the valley while visiting her grandparents, Jessica began to dream of going to school and living in the valley for a year.

Clancy had a dream that Jessica and Kate would be able to share her 8th grade year.
These dreams converge this evening. That fact alone makes the evening remarkable. Loving parents supported these dreams and the result is the magnificent confluence of incredible character that has imbued the personality of class throughout the entire year.

Student Poetry Recitations
Tonight we are going to try Stehekin's first mass poetry recital. Each student has memorized a poem, however, since the graduation program is so lengthy, we have decided to save time and deliver our poems en masse. (Children stand) We recommend that parents and grandparents make eye contact with your children and listen carefully. For those with more than one child in school, split the duties. Here we go. - All in one poem: Students all begin reciting poems. Start individually after a minute.

First Four Poems - Beth, Farrukh, Mary. Gordy

A Confluence Of Incredible Character
This year's school experience has been formed by a confluence of three attributes: Abundance, Balance and Knowledge.

Picture an equilateral triangle: This year's class has been blessed with equal proportions of abundance, balance and knowledge.

The interior space defined by these qualities is where the heart of this year's class resides. Bounded by the blessings of abundance, balance and knowledge this class has accomplished much.

Second group of four poems - Matthew, Aaron, Warren, Kate

Abundance - A class of sixteen students may not sound enormous, it shouldn't, but these numbers represent abundance for the Stehekin School. The advantages of abundance affects every aspect of our school life. There is plenty of play potential throughout the developmental stages. The presence of new personalities to the class: Beth, Brenden, Garrett, Farrukh, Kate and Jessica bring bountiful gifts of personality and capability. One side of the equilateral triangle represents abundance. Our cup runneth over.

Third Group of Four Poems - Eli, Brenden, Garrett, Jessica

Song Papaya

Balance -We have an almost equal balance between boys and girls. Remember Chelsea's 7th and 8th grade years. One girl, far too many boys.

Early in the spring, I walked outside to find a big wrestling match going on outside. Jess and Clancy were wrestling the boys. Jessica and Clancy had been doing some volleyball drills on one of the few patches of earth not covered with snow, but the boys did not seem as though they could not stand this the lack of attention and so the teasing started. When all was sorted out, I told the boys, "You guys just can't stand it when the girls are doing something and not responding to your teasing. Let them alone." In the hush that followed, I felt assured I had judged as wisely as Solomon. The silence was short lived. Simon, one of the combatants, raised his hand. I recognized him. Simon put the boys case simply. "Yes, but they were trying to kiss us."

The spring, just before ESD superintendent, Rich McBride, visited the school to do my evaluation, the boys began their Jousting Season.
The Dogwoods bloomed a brilliant white providing a backdrop to the swings set on the overlooking the playfield. The graduates were on the swings keeping a cadence as they pulled with their arms and reached with their legs to achieve the greatest height they could achieve. Their rhythm sent the sounds of metallic creaking and jangling chains across the clearing.

As they swings rose and fell like a pendulum, the girls talked quietly. Every so often a staccato burst of laughter erupted sending gleeful reverberations towards the beaming, white peaked mountains. Below, down on the grass field, the hands of the young girls wove dandelion wreaths. When completed, they wore these wreathes in their hair. Further out on the field, bike riding warriors charged one another with lances and shields. Beneath the picnic table, shade dwellers bent their backs watching the action. Others climbed trees surrounding the clearing and perched themselves on limbs to watch the combat below. The remarkable element of the afternoon was that there were no harsh words. Peace Reigned. The graduates on swings quietly sang Loch Loman as maidens wove wreaths, knights battled and perched spectators watched the action. We had a wonderfully balanced class this year.

Fourth set of poems - Simon, Ana, Ursula, Clancy

Loch Loman - when I asked if they wanted to do any singing at graduation they immediately knew the song they wanted to sing and they already knew the song. Clancy, Kate and Jessica singing Loch Loman

Strength of character built on knowledge of the program - This year we have a core of students who know the ways and means of the system, who set a good example and work their hardest to do their best. This fact enable them to set a good example for those who are new to school

Marimba

Thanks to Liz Courtney without whom we would have no music like you have experienced this evening. Liz brings so much vitality to our program both playing musical instruments and singing.

Introduction of Graduates
These graduates arrived to school early yesterday morning. 4:40 a.m. to be exact. When I arrived around 5:30, I had no idea about the surprise that waiting. These young ladies could not have provided me a better final Friday. The story is far more detailed than this brief description, but it will have to be written at a later date. Thank you for one of the most wonderful gifts I have ever received. Your enthusiasm for life is a harbinger of good tidings in the future.

Jessica Ellis
Jessica is a confident, caring and determined young lady. She will leap the fence rather than go around. I had only seen Jessica once or twice before last summer when she was walking up the road with her cousin. They were headed to the school. As soon as Jessica saw me in front of the house she offered a bright and cheery "Hi Mr. Scutt!"
Jessica loves to converse, loves to lead, loves to run and be active.

Jessica is feisty. During one of her first recesses, I looked out the window to see Jess sitting on a younger boy's chest pinning him into the snow. I watched with interest. …. All in all, things seemed to pass without a more serious explosion. The combat ended and everyone kept on sledding. I made no comment when students came in from recess but the next day I asked Jessica about the incident. She explained her position; it squared with my observations; we moved on after a bit of discussion about the value of expanding her repertoire of conflict resolution skills

Jessica was able to teach volleyball in the motion room. The class spent several days playing volleyball with everyone taking part. She was an excellent coach and the children enjoyed the leadership she showed.

During her time in Stehekin, Jessica has discovered her mind is a more powerful and capable tool than she might have previously known. She found she could read and comprehend her mathematics more completely than she ever expected. She feels a sense of pride becoming a more self-sufficient student. Jessica discovered artistic skills she had not imagined and began to enjoy creating the drawings that accompanied her study. Jessica also discovered she can act and perform with a flair.

All in all, Jessica has discovered talents and capability she was not entirely aware she possessed. If for no other reason, I hope this has made her sojourn in Stehekin worthwhile. I know she has loved being in school and being a part the great group of young people we have in the valley. This is a wonderful place for young people and Jessica experienced the best of what this place has to offer. She brought her own gifts of personality and capability to this place.

Do I wish Jessica was a 7th grader and returning to school next year. Yes, I do. I will miss you. She has become a good friend.

Kate Pontbriand
Kate attended school in Stehekin as a readiness student and her full first and second grade years. Kate left for Main in October of third grade. Kate and Clancy were best friends during that time. Their parting was a sorrowful one. I have many memories of the two of them from their early years.

Five years ago Kelly Pontbriand, Kate's mom, visited school just before their family departed for Main. During our conversation Kelly said, "I hope you don't mind, but I'd like to ask you a question. Do you know if you will be teaching here in five years?" Even then Kelly was thinking that Kate might be able to come back to Stehekin and graduate. I find it remarkably fortunate we have had to opportunity to reacquaint ourselves. This is just one of the reasons this graduation is a remarkable confluence of incredible character.

Kate found herself coming into contact with her earlier years wherever she explored in school. We were preparing to paint one day when Kate found one of her old paint cups with her name still on it from the third grade. She was able to see pictures of herself, read writing she produced when she was much younger. She remembered morning verses. She discovered that even though she left the valley, very real artifacts of her presence remained. I believe this was both a joy and a comfort to her. She has been able to reconnect with the ways and means of her younger years in the valley.

Kate's parents, Ed and Kelly both took part in school life when they were here. Ed made maple syrup with us. Kelly invited us to see the salmon behind the Pontbriand's and served salmon shaped cookies and punch at the end of our excursion. Kelly, who trains search and rescue dogs, worked with us when we studied a unit on the sense of smell.

It had always been a dream of Kate's to return to Stehekin and school, however, when the time came to leave her school in Main and travel this way, Kate had some doubts in her mind wondering if she really wanted to do this. It might have been much more comfortable for her to stay with her classmates in Main, but she summoned the courage to travel this way. We are thankful for that decision.

On Thursday morning Kate realized just how fast her time has passed. It was as if a light went on … her dream of returning to graduate was quickly approaching. She was wide eyed with disbelief at the how fast the time passed.

Kate, it has been a pleasure having you with us this past semester. You have honored the school and the community by your presence here this semester. Thank you so much for being with us.

Clancy Courtney
Neither Jessica or Kate may have chosen to be here this year if Clancy were not the type of young lady she is. Both Kate and Jessica came to Stehekin wanting to go to school, but both of them also knew the positive quality of Clancy's character that awaited them when they arrived.

There are some years that must be appreciated as sublimely satisfying. Clancy's leadership throughout the entire year has been a thing of wonder to behold. She treats all well. She is quick with a compliment that brings light and levity to the fore.

Because she is capable and confident, she encourages one and all bequeathing blessings of good will. "Hey, nice shirt," she might say to a younger one who certainly argued with his mother about wearing a "new" shirt to school that morning. The boy shyly beams a tight smile back now thinking his mother has wisdom he never expected.

"Good job," she spouts happily while witnessing the courageous effort of another classmate. Invariably, the child with whom she shares ebullient cheer looks back with happy eyes. Sometimes a student will look absolutely surprised that they have been recognized and complimented. The boys adore her. The girls knew she was one of their own; a good and honest young lady who leads by the marvelous example she sets.

Day by day, gift by gift, bequeathing good will like honey, Clancy set an example that constructed a year of relative peace and calm. Take heed those who follow, a high standard has been set.

The sum total of Clancy's personality is, however, not completely composed of bequeathing compliments. She contemplates. When she perceives injustice, she is capable of confronting, listening to opposing combatants, witness testimony, counsels for the plaintiff and the accused and, with wisdom born of experience and internal sense of justice … she solves the problem. Few have exerted more influence on the good will of the younger students than Clancy.

Clancy has strong willpower. Earlier this year, bicycling down the Schoolhouse Hill, she crashed to the roadway breaking her right arm and left wrist. Returning to school in a day, she stood at the black board, held chalk in her left hand and drew a drawing of the bones that had broken on the board. From her first day back, she did not complain and did her best to do what everyone else was doing. I am in awe of her willpower.

Clancy is an outstanding student. She writes like an accomplished author. She studied geometry this year with Paula Fitzpatrick. She is organized and thorough on every project she completes.

Clancy have spent the better part of the last eight years together. To say I will miss her presence is a vast understatement. Clancy, thank you for all that you have provided the class and to me as your teacher.

Speeches and diplomas: Wiley Scutt gave Stehekin's first graduation speech during my tenure in 1993. Since that time, students have had the opportunity to stand and address the community. It is a choice they make and I do not help them with their speeches. Each graduate will be addressing us this evening.
Kate
Jessica
Clancy

Community Comments

Gifts:

Renee: Community Gifts

Liz: School Gifts

Rene: Clancy's - gift - presentation of the quilt

The graduates will lead the class to the dessert table and will, as their last act of their graduate status, serve dessert. They will be assisted by Gordy and Ursula who will be serving punch. Thank you all for your attendance here this evening.