I hope your dreams take you to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities, and to the most special places your heart has ever known. ~Author Unknown
Where does the time go? It seems that is was just a few months ago that we were watching the Class of 2010...It is a blessing and at the same time a hard thing to live in a small town and watch these students grow up. In our community we know most kids before they even begin school. We have the privilege of watching them grow up. We get to be involved in their lives, support their activities, serve as an extra set of parents and be a part of their successes and failures.
I am proud to say I live in a community that has this closeness. I often joke that graduation time has a budget as big as Christmas because we know some many graduates. We have a lot to be proud of in this community. We have great students. We have kids that go on to do great things. The foundation they receive in our community is an important stepping stone in that process.
Growing up in a small town, sometimes kids wish they were in a bigger environment. I know from talking to a lot of these students, they grow to appreciate what they have in a small town. The joke is often that kids have many sets of parents watching out for them. There are so many people that care.
Opportunity is a big part of our student’s successes. We may not offer all of the things a large school does, but what is offered to our students is the chance to participate in many things. We produce well-rounded students. We don’t have one sport athletes; we have two or three sport athletes. We have student’s participating in band, musical theatre, FFA, 4-H, Peer Mentoring, MESA, student government and more. In addition, we are teaching our kids to give back. Our students can be found volunteering at local fundraisers throughout the year.
Our students learn how to communicate and relate to adults through continuous community interaction. Our students receive support from a large part of the community, as school events are a big part of the area’s social calendar. Our students receive encouragement from people outside of their family. Our students also learn what it means to come from a place where caring is essential.
We have seen students leave our community and do great things. We see many of our students come back and become a part of our community again. This is where they choose to raise their families. I can attest to these things. I am a graduate of Big Valley High School, my husband of Fall River High School. I thought I wanted to leave and never come back. I appreciated my small school education and opportunities, but was ready to move on. I was wrong. It didn't take long to realize how great it was at home. There is no other place I would have wanted to raise our children.
Class of 2011...we are proud of you! You will do great things...follow your heart, chase your dreams and build on the great foundation you have!
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