As the end of the year is here for so many of us and
graduation festivities are within the next few weeks, I
would ask you to think of us.
Our Seniors finished classes last Thursday. Graduation is
on the 24th, Thursday. The seniors have Senior Breakfast
on Wednesday morning and Baccalaureate Services are
Wednesday evening.
This past Friday, many of our Seniors planned to attend a
traditional canoe trip that the kids organize on their
own. I was called to the office during my 6th period on
Friday to a meeting where it was announced that there had
been a car accident with two fatalities involving our
Seniors on the way to the trip. One of our students was
killed, as the car he was a passenger in tried to pass
another vehicle. The driver appeared to be going at a
fast rate of speed. He lost control of the car and hit
another car head on. The student that died was ejected
from the vehicle. The driver and the other passenger were
pushed back into the back seat. One is in serious
condition, the other is in critical condition. The driver
of the other vehicle was also killed. His wife is in
critical condition. Their toddler grandchild was treated
and released (a miracle after seeing what the two cars
looked like on the news - cut in half and demolished....)
This is the nightmare that parents' of high school
students dread living. This is the nightmare that
teachers fear when festivities begin. The accident is
under investigation and not all the facts are in, but
alcohol containers were on the road after the accident -
which occurred at 9:15AM. If you can use this to get it
through to your own students, even just one of them,
that they are not immortal and that a moment of
exhilaration and recklessness may be their last - then we
may be able to find a reason as to why this happens...
This is the third death our senior class has experienced
this year. Another student was killed after being ejected
from a car that struck a telephone pole after a soccer
game. Alcohol played a part. The other student flipped
his car as he cut in and out of traffic and was killed.
There will be three empty seats at graduation and many
aching hearts. Think of us as this will not be the
graduation filled with the usual celebrations, but with
sadness and memories and loss.
We still have 3 days of exams for underclassmen.
Counselors have been called in to help tomorrow when the
students return. We all need to be in your thoughts.
Thank you.
Vivian
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Increase the Peace ~^~ {^}Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope. Robert F. Kennedy
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