11 June 2023

Helen graduated from seminary on Sunday night. We didn't take any photos ourselves and are sharing a photo from the stake. Helen is in the middle row on the right.

 

Monday night was the graduation parade. Gib Gailey drove Helen in the parade in his truck, Bertha. Helen, Gib and Gibson decorated the truck on Monday afternoon.

We watched the parade with our friends and neighbors. Gibson rode along with Helen and Gib. A lot of the balloons blew away before the parade even started.

Becky has an empty table in class now since the seniors haven't been in class. She brought a chess set to school and set it up on the empty table. Chess is having a moment right now with teenagers. Most of them have a chess app on their phone. The chess set has been getting a lot of playtime at school. Students who don't know how to play are eager to learn how from their friends.

As a first year teacher and late hire, Becky got the last room available, and actually she likes it quite a lot. It's in a great location and has big windows and lots of natural light. It does not have very much storage. Becky has been asking for an additional shelf for her built in bookshelf from the beginning of the year. Jim, the head custodian, has been very busy with school construction and it took many months for Becky to get to the top of his to-do list. Finally we worked out a plan together. Becky supplied a shelf (thanks to Brandan cutting some wood leftover in our garage to size) and Jim looked through his supply room for the paint that matched Becky's room. Becky painted the shelf this weekend and will start next year with a little more space for the math games, tools and supplies she loves to use in class.

Wednesday was Graduation Day! We gave Helen her jean quilt, made from the jeans she has worn and Becky saved throughout her life.

This friend group met at the temple to do baptisms at 7 am. From the left are Chase, Cason, Grace, Helen, Gib, Gibson, Crew, Ed and Emma.

Helen all dressed up for graduation.

Ready to graduate!

Here's a photo of Helen and Emma.

Graduation was held in the school stadium. The school set the score board clock to 20:23 in honor of the graduates.

Graduation started at 8. We got there before 7 to get good seats. Gibson and Sofi played thumb wars while we waited.

The graduates entered to Pomp and Circumstance. Helen walked with Caleb Crouch. The cords around Helen's neck represent her school activities: blue for her small school (BIS), purple for AP classes, light blue for clubs, blue and white for DECA, red and black for Southern Oregon University credits and gold for top 5%. She also had a gold tassel for being a member of National Honor Society.

Graduation began promptly at 8 pm and paused about 5 minutes later when lightning crashed overhead. Lightning storms were in the forecast all week so the organizers had a plan in place. The graduates left the field and waited in the gym for the lightning to pass by. The audience was under cover so we waited in the stands until graduation resumed. At least Sofi waited in the stands. Becky took the opportunity to take Helen's car, which was parked far away from the school, home so we wouldn't have to get it in the traffic jam after graduation. Brandan went home to get some dinner. He had stake meetings in between work and graduation and hadn't had time to eat. Gibson left with friends and went to DQ. 

We made it back in time to see the graduates come back on the field shortly after 9 pm. It was raining lightly, but the lightning was more than 5 miles away, the requirement to hold an outdoor event. Not knowing Gib had left during the break, we felt bad for ditching Sofi. The graduates returned to Pomp and Circumstance playing again, but they just walked quickly to their seats from the gym.

It's hard to see her, but Helen is sitting on the left side about 3 rows back.

After a lovely ceremony with an enthusiastic audience, the students officially graduated.

Here we are with Helen after graduation. Sofi flew down from Seattle for the event.

From the left are Chase, Emma, Gib, Ed, Gibson, Jason and Helen.

Gib is moving to Utah after school gets out. We will miss him!

Helen with Chase and Emma.

It was great to spend time with Sofi! She and Helen spent Thursday in Ashland before Sofi had to go home.

Sofi gave Helen a beautiful bouquet.

Becky attended her last class for her master's program on Thursday. In honor of the end of the two year program, our program director hosted a potluck at his home. Only about half of the students in the MAT cohort came, representing the most committed of the group. From the left are Amanda, music; Ana, Spanish; Taite, social studies; Marcus, social studies; Darian, health and PE; Becky, math; and Katrin, English.

Here's a photo of the group with our program director and the instructor of about half our classes, Nigel Waterton, the man in the apron. He has the perfect name for a stuffy English professor, but he's actually an outdoorsman from Montana. And an English professor.

Katrin brought this cake with a common experience with Nigel. Even though he knew it's poor style as a teacher to ask questions where students need to guess what the teacher is thinking, he asked some form of this question nearly every class.

On Saturday Brandan had the privilege of baptizing one of his medical assistants. Becky Savage. Brandan didn't realize Becky was taking the discussions and Becky didn't realize Brandan was a member of the church until they saw each other at a ward Brandan was speaking in.

Here they are with Becky's husband, Dan, and the trio of sisters who taught Becky. Dan is a member of the church, although not currently interested in attending. Becky wanted to find a religious home and started looking at our church because of Dan's past experiences. Dan happily supported Becky at her baptism.

Helen played in her last violin recital on Saturday. She played Concertino in A Minor by Ortmans.

Here's a throwback to Helen as a beginning violinist. She started taking lessons in the fall of 2010.

Helen began lessons with Kimberly Fitch, then moved to Faina Podolnaya a few years later when Kimberly moved. Faina is a demanding teacher with a huge heart.

Here's a photo of Helen with her violin friends. They all play in Siskiyou Violins together. After covid disrupted everything, Faina had to rebuild her violin ensemble. This is the core group that played pre-covid and reunited when groups could gather again. From the left are Amara, Cecilia, Helen and Daniel. Not pictured is Adele. We hope Helen keeps finding ways to play her violin, even though she is finished with formal training.