We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
On Graduation Day, Charlie Calvert and Dakota Krass model the white stoles with THS 2023 emroidered in green by Dakota's grandmother.
After graduation practice on May 17, Charlie Calvert and Dakota Krass stopped by the English classroom not only to say their farewells but also as a reminder that we are all made of star stuff, as the bulletin board reads
These Eighth Grade Graduates from Turner Junior High School received their diplomas on May 20. BACK ROW: Jake Brown, Avery Fox, Natalie Richman. FRONT ROW: Ali Doyle, Brady Zellmer, Holly Grabofsky, Abby Grabofsky, and Ty Beck.
Both of the senior graduates wore highly decorated mortarboards with their navy gowns.
Commencement Exercises on the Big Flat took place in the Turner Public School (TPS) Gymnasium on Saturday, May 20 when two seniors and eight eighth graders graduated. Mrs. Diana Maloney, the First and Second Grade Teacher for TPS, served as the Commencement Speaker for the Class of 2023.
Family members and other guests gathered in the gym, which had been decorated on Thursday and Friday with red, white, and blue lights, stars, and metallic streamers. The Class of 2023's motto, a line from a song written by Ben Stennis and Matt Rogers and sung by Cody Johnson, served as a backdrop to the star-studded and red geranium flanked stage: "If you got a dream, chase it, 'cause a dream won't chase you back."
On stage left, the Class of 2027's motto read: "Once in a while someone amazing comes along, and here we are," which was spoken by Tigger, a character from A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh series.
As the two classes processed into the gym, Kathy Zellmer played "Pomp and Circumstance" on the piano. The Class of 2023 had selected red, white, and blue as their class colors and "'Til You Can't" by Cody Johnson as their class song. Their class flowers were red roses and pink carnations.
Similarly, the Class of 2027 not only flew their colors in the form of a white and light blue balloon bouquet but wore these colors featured in their apparel. Their class flowers were blue carnations and baby's breath, while their class song was "Living on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi.
After Senior Class President, Dakota Krass welcomed everyone, she described how the class had come to select their commencement speaker. "We wanted someone who had inspired us, and Charlie and I both decided that Mrs. Maloney's piggy back rides when we were learning our vowels back in first grade was a memorable and defining moment. She made learning fun and has continued to inspire us."
Upon taking her place at the podium, Maloney briefly touched on her near-tears acceptance of the seniors' invitation and stated she was "beyond honored" to serve as Commencement Speaker for a class with whom she shares common roots. Besides being Krass' aunt, the three share their knowledge and love of the land, as well as a work ethic. "Our roots provide a precious gift because they connect us to the land," Maloney stated.
Maloney described her family farm as a backdrop for "clear thinking." From this location, she looked out across the vast prairies. Seeing wide-open spaces, wild flowers, geese honking, and calves frolicking among the cattle herd, she drew inspiration for her speech.
Maloney went on to develop an analogy between a twenty-dollar bill and a person's sense of worth. With this extended metaphor, she described how the bill might have been sullied by its potential association with such negative transactions as a drug deal or being used in human trafficking. Despite this history, the bill retains its value, which has been pre-determined and will still spend the same regardless of its past reputation or any abrasions or abuse it has taken. She told the graduates: "It is up to you to be part of the solution, not part of the problem."
Maloney went on to say, "Remember your worth. You are worthy of whatever you set your mind on. . . . Worth is built in you." She concluded by inviting the graduates to take what they have learned and to find a way to increase its value.
This commencement address was followed by a flower ceremony. Krass and Calvert honored their parents and other influential people in their lives by presenting them with a red rose or a pink carnation.
After the distribution of flowers, a slideshow ensued, commemorating the lives of the two seniors. That ritual was trailed by the presentation of scholarships by School Counselor James Hodgson and the conferring of diplomas. Board Chairman Chris Maloney had the honor of presenting the diplomas while Superintendent Tony Warren introduced each graduate.
Both of the senior graduates wore highly decorated mortarboards with their navy gowns. Krass had glued red, white, and blue rhinestones and other gems to her cap to form a glittering American flag. On the underside, her cap also bore her name and her graduation date.
Beaded by his mother, Karensa, Calvert's cap highlighted his first name, the year 2023, and a likeness of Donald Trump sporting eye glasses. One lens of Trump's shades featured stars on a blue background and the other featured red and white stripes.
Wearing his graduation cap atop his cowboy hat and a pair of pliers attached to his belt, Calvert closed the ceremony with his Farewell Address. He not only thanked everyone for coming but spoke to the future of the two graduates. Then he recapitulated several memorable moments of the past year and spoke with humor about his various idiosyncrasies.
Following the Recessional, the graduates formed a receiving line so that the audience could congratulate them on their achievements and send them forth into their futures.
