Last week students enjoyed Field Day with Coach Matt McCaleb and Mrs. Bowlin. Second grade was on Monday, third grade on Tuesday, fourth grade on Wednesday, kindergarten on Thursday, and first grade on Friday.

The third grade visited a recycling plant on Wednesday, May 8. Students enjoyed the educational field trip.

Third and fourth grade Career Day was on Thursday, May 16. On Friday, May 17, at 8:10 a.m. the Citizen of the Month Program was held. Also on Friday, the third grade went to the City Park for a cookout. This event was to celebrate efforts students made on this year's TCAP tests.

Last week's announcer was Connor Scruton in Mrs. Howell's room. Good job Connor!

Until next time . . .
Compiled by Max Batchelor

Winners of the VFW sponsored Youth Essay Contest have been announced. The eighth grade students submitting the top three winning essays, in order of achievement, were Kari Sydnor (first place), Bud Rogers (second place) and John Kermit Laughrey (third place). Miss Sydnor, who also placed third in the regional competition, received a three hundred dollar savings bond in the local contest and a two hundred dollar savings bond in the regional contest. Bud earned a two hundred dollar savings bond for his entry and John Kermit received a one hundred dollar saving bond. Each eighth grade language arts student participated in the national contest by writing an essay entitled, "Is Freedom Really Free?" Other students who received special recognition for their work were Whitney Hopper, Elaine Haw, Drew Hayes, Callan Hayes, Courtney Creasy, Marshall Smith and Daniel Thomas.

We are taking final exams this week. They conclude on Wednesday morning. Students will be dismissed at 11:05 Wednesday to begin summer vacation. Report cards can be picked up on Friday afternoon, May 24, from 12:00 until 2:30 p.m.

Have a safe and happy summer.

To the Class of 2002 -- Congratulations on this Commencement Day at McKenzie High School, a school that you will soon join the ranks of alumni. You have before you the world with all of its opportunities, all of its challenges.

I was thinking of words of advice that I could share with you tonight -- this night the end of your high school days and the beginning of the next phase of your life and for some reason my mind kept returning to quotations by Mark Twain -- one of my favorite American writers.

Twain said this about common sense and judgement -- "It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt."

He said this about opportunity and practicality -- "When everybody is looking for gold, it's a good time to be in the pick and shovel business."

About gossip and rumors Twain was right on the money when he said, "There is no character, however good and fair, but it can be destroyed by ridicule, however poor and witless."

In developing an open mind through travel, Twain said, " Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and small mindedness."

While all of these are thought provoking, I wanted something appropriate to you as graduates from high school. And I thought that ideally graduation and life itself are about risk-taking. Twain had this to say about risk-taking -- "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the things that you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

For 13 years you have sailed in the safe harbor of your home and in school but tonight you set sail. I hope that in these years you have listened well to those teaching you new skills, new ideas. I hope that you have learned the lessons of cooperation, give and take, hard work, team effort, sacrifice, and satisfaction in knowing that you have done your best. I trust that you are ready to take the risks that Twain alluded to. Your life is best spent in experiencing the world, possibly failing at first, but then continuing because your growth comes from the challenges and risks and then your responses. Your class sang "Forever Young" by Bob Dylan. He applauds those who keep a youthful vision much as Twain does in taking risks. To Explore, To Dream, To Discover -- the vibrancy of youth pitted against a stern and harsh world. As you take the risks that you must take to grow, do not become jaded, do not become embittered. Life is a journey for you -- a journey to explore, to dream, and to discover -- three simple verbs -- all action -- all designed to stretch the limits of who you are. It has been my privilege and honor to have you in the harbor here at McKenzie High School. Now set sail to experience an exciting and brave new world.

Phone (731) 352-3323 or Fax (731) 352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com