Celebrating a year of transitions

SWAN VALLEY – "We made it," said Swan Valley School Principal Ralph King June 8 at the Swan Valley School Kindergarten promotion and eighth grade graduation. This set the stage for an evening of celebrating successes, overcoming adversity and looking towards the future.

Prior to presenting the completion certificates, Kindergarten, First and Second Grade Teacher Chris Mauldin applauded the kindergarteners for rising to the added challenges this year with masks trying to understand what Mauldin and their classmates were saying and feeling, as well as social distancing and not being able to freely interact.

"They learned how to do their basic academics and how to make it through the day," Mauldin said. "With a great sense of humor, grit and determination and they have exceeded all the expectations for this year."

Mauldin was also the guest speaker for the eighth-grade graduation.

"I believe eight grade graduation is one of the first and one of the pivotal moments that sets the stage for what life looks like – that ongoing series of transformations and transitions," Mauldin began.

Mauldin shared at his eighth-grade graduation in 1992 that his aspirations were to go to med school, be rich and popular, be an impacting member of the community and own a canary yellow Lamborghini.

"Life has different plans for us, different transitions and different transformations for us," Maudlin said smiling at the reflection. He became a teacher instead of a doctor, lives in Montana and while his vehicle is canary yellow, it is an SUV.

Secondly, Mauldin pointed out the paradox of how some things never change and other things always change. Things that never change are politics and hot topics in that arena including economics and education. However, technology is forever changing and has been revolutionized since the early 1990s.

"As we can attest to in the last year and a half, the craziness and the speed of change is probably not slowing down anytime soon," Mauldin said.

Mauldin said even though he has only known the class for two years, he has noticed their connection to their neighbors, to their families and to their community. They are genuinely invested in their families, their friends and their classmates as well as their teachers, the staff, the bus drivers and the younger students.

He offered a few lessons to the graduates. He highlighted that popular opinion is fickle and to be popular is by definition common.

"Originals don't follow the trends, they define them," Mauldin said.

Secondly, he told the eighth graders to remember they are never stuck.

"Don't react and don't allow opinions to be limited falsely," Mauldin said. "Lean into who you are as an individual and who you have, whether it is family or friends that are invested in you."

He challenged the five graduates to stay inventive, stay committed to their strengths, stay connected through old and new relationships and to stay joyful by continuing to smile and not take life too seriously.

"And go conquer your dreams," Mauldin said in closing.

Some of the eighth graders spoke. They thanked their family, friends, community and the staff at Swan Valley School.

"School was not the fun part of grade school," Aubrey Matthew said. "It was messing around, it was hiding from our teacher a lot in junior high. The memories like that are what made grade school count."

Matthew also told the underclassmen to not wish away the year.

"When you get today, you are going wish you could do it again," she said. "Enjoy every day you have and make those memories count."

Junior High Teacher Colleen Harrington said it has been a fabulous three years. She shared stories and thoughts about each student.

Sam Hughes joined Swan Valley in the sixth grade. She said he has come along way and has put himself among many "brainiacs" after submitting his final eighth grade paper on Bitcoin.

Harrington said Matthew is a rare individual. Not only is she very talented academically, artistically, musically and athletically, she is also a wonderful, kind, thoughtful, helpful and respectful young lady.

Harrington described Tate McNutt as the "shy and quiet kid" in sixth grade and most of seventh. Not only is he a mathematical genius, when school shifted to remote learning in the spring of 2020 due to COVID-19, McNutt's sense of humor blossomed.

"If he doesn't become a mathematical engineer, he has a future in 'Late Night with Tate the Great,'" Harrington said.

Angela Ream was a distant learner for the year until the last two weeks. Harrington said this was very challenging since no one really knew what that should look like, Ream still excelled and contributed to the school literary magazine on a short deadline.

"She is an amazing writer, poet and artist. I hope you keep that up," Harrington said.

Harrington said Rilyn Richardson is very athletic and an amazing artist. She is also, "the kindest, most authentic, gentle soul that I have ever met," Harrington said. "There is not a mean bone in that girl's body."

"There is no turning these guys back," Harrington said. "Carry on you crazy diamonds and stay gold."

**Editor's Note June 20 - The ending quote was corrected from the original version in print.