FHC- The Class of 2010-every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.

“Closing time -time for you to go out, go out into the world.
Closing time - turn the lights up over every boy and every girl.
Closing time - time for you to go back to the places you will be from.
Closing time - this room won't be open 'til your brothers or you sisters
come.

So gather up your jackets, and move it to the exits - I hope you have found a friend.

Closing time - every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.”

by Semisonic

This song seems to sum up the bitter sweet endings and new beginnings for the seniors at graduation. I love being a teacher and I have to say that every group of students teaches me as much and I think more than I teach them. I consider everyone of these amazing young people to have been a gift to my life and I am honored to have had the opportunity to share the journey with them.

Go forth and be well.

  

       

A couple of returning faces that came back to watch siblings graduate.  

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.”

Forensics State Finals- Fire Up Chips!

This post is a bit late in coming. Most of the kids bugged out before awards to make it back in time for prom so I collected their hardware. I have been trying to get a picture of them with their plaques and trophy but we just can’t seem to get them all together. For the sake of continuity I will post what I have and tell you about the rest.

Forensics State Finals was held at Central Michigan University this year which also happens to be my Alma Modder.  I did debate and forensics as well as preformed in theater and dance productions in my time at CMU. One of my former theater professors recognized some of my students from following our season on facebook and delighted in showing them pictures of me performing that are currently posted on the walls there. The kids also got to meet Dr. Ed Hink my debate and forensics coach from my time at CMU. As a team we had our best state finals to date. I had four that qualified but one, Rachel, couldn’t go because of a conflict with the SAT. That left Andy our witty extemper, Jen our intelligent impromptu, and Talya our inspiring orator.  Caden who did informative and Erin who did extemp but is switching categories to storytellying next year came along to cheer on the qualifiers and get ideas for next year.

Our final finish had everybody- yes EVERYBODY breaking to semi-final round placing them in the top twelve in the state. They all actually placed in the the top ten and Talya broke to final round finishing sixth. Caden seemed to really enjoy CMU so we turned it into a bit of a college visit for him but I get to keep him for one more year because he is a junior. The weather was beautiful and it was really wonderful to bring my kids to the school I attended. I was proud of them and my school. Come stroll with us around the campus and remember to cheer for the forensics kids and for CMU- Fire Up Chips!

Unloading suits and tubs at Moore Hall.     The Groves HS rented bus sporting some sprit.

Andy and his fellow extempers enjoy some pizza outside The Dow Science Building.

  

The commons at the University Center (UC)

Andy brought his friend and fellow competitor Catherine in class BCD from City High (we are in class A) A rose on the final day of competition.

 

This is where much of the competition was but it is also where I took many of my classes when I attended school here as both an undergraduate and graduate student.

Moore Hall

The weather was amazing and so were the flowering trees.

     Erin, Caden, and Jen outside Moore on the 2nd day of competition.

And the posts…

Semis-

Jen- IM13 Tiche

   

Talya- OR26 Slaw

Andy-  EX26 Wirth

Talya hangs out with some fellow orators.

  

We await finals posting

        

The kids still waiting and the kids view of the postings.

 

Dr. Ed Hink my college debate and forensics coach and me. 

 

The university seal outside of Warner Hall

 

Caden took my picture in my alumni shirt next to the seal as we waited for awards.

 

The awards

 

My friend and colleague John Lawson received a coaches award.

     One of the teams – team shirts.

I didn’t get pictures of the plaques and trophies or Talya’s posting to finals but they did win them and she did break. It was a great finish and a nice trip for me down memory lane as well as a nice opportunity to show off my kids.

Hang it up.

One of the sure signs that spring is here are clothes on the line. I love clothes- especially sheets dried on the line. Don’t get me wrong I am not looking to turn in my gas powered double load capacity dryer. I would not want clothes on the line to be my only option – especially living in Michigan but when the sun is high and the warm breezes blow it sure is nice to get those sheets out to sun bleach. My little person LOVES to run back and forth in the tunnels of clean sheets. Having my camera gave me an excuse to join him. Come run through the sheets with us and enjoy the spring sunshine.