Closing program at San Rafael Junior High

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

San Rafael Junior High held their annual closing program on May 17. The ninth grade class was honored as they prepare to move onto Emery High School in the fall.
Principal Doug Mecham welcomed parents, students and faculty to the program.
The ninth grade students were introduced at the beginning of the program and they performed a dance in small groups to the theme song, “Hall of Fame.”
Derek Anderson, ninth grade class president welcomed the audience.
Cheyanne Winn presented Stacey Jewkes with a gift for her time she has put in as the San Rafael drill/cheer advisor over the years. This will be her last year at the school. She has also helped as a substitute teacher and taught the dance for the closing program.
Honor student Jason Roberts thanked his parents for the influence they have been on him and his education. He has even spent time practicing during the summer. His parents thought he might blossom into his sister, Rachel, but trying to live up to her was a very high standard. He has stayed up late at night working on projects and it hasn’t been easy, but friends and parents have made it easier. Education should teach students not only how to make a living, but to make a life.
Jessica Olsen, honor student, said having a positive attitude is very important. A good attitude affects your grades and improves any project. If you maintain a good attitude in class your grades will improve, a negative attitude will get you negative results. Be happy, sing in the shower, no one can have a bad attitude while singing in the shower. Don’t complain. Say thank you. Eat your food. Try new things. Friends and family can help you to have a positive attitude. “My friends have made these three years at San Rafael fun. Thanks to everyone who has made these three years great,” said Olsen.
Landon Barnett sang a solo called, “The time of my life,” composed by David Cook.
Devin Willson, honor student, said they are on a path with many open doors. The door to Emery High is now open and the ninth grade class will enter there next fall. In the book Alice in Wonderland, she wonders which path to take; “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.” “I don’t much care where” “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.”
You need to set goals so you know which path to take. All of the great painters, painted a lot. Practice makes perfect. Set goals to get straight As. It may be hard, but set your goals high. Willson told how he joined the swim team, his goal was to do better each time he swam the back stroke. He said eight time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps said if you want something bad enough you have to do what it takes to get there. Shoot for the stars.
Camrey Johnson, honor student, said people told her that speaking at the closing program wasn’t meant to be a punishment, she said, “It’s torture.”
Her topic was how sports have helped her academic performance. “Athletics are a huge part of my life. Sports are time consuming. I knew if I was going to be gone for an athletic competition I would get my work ahead of time. I missed school a lot. It was a huge motivator. I couldn’t have done it alone. The teachers let me make up the work. The coaches were always thinking about school. My parents helped me with my homework. Sports have helped me a lot. It taught me determination and teamwork. It’s all helped me to better myself. My friends have been fun and interesting. Thanks to all those who have helped me get through my junior high years,” said Johnson.
The ninth grade chorus students sang, “Send down the rain,” accompanied by Derek Anderson.
Kannon Toomer, honor student, said, “Be the best you can be. Michael Jordan said that he failed a lot and that failing helped him to succeed. Take small steps. Take risks. Don’t be afraid to try new things. If you want to be happy, do things that make you happy. Learn from others, your parents, teachers and coaches. Some people want it to happen, some people wish it to happen, and some people make it happen. I want to be the best me I can be.”
Braydon Roberts, honor student, said he is basically a nerd, one of the teachers’ kids and he has an obsession with Bailey. He said education is very powerful. He spent three long years at San Rafael with his mother there. He has been micro-managed daily. He is looking forward to the challenges that await at Emery High. Taking his education seriously has enabled him to keep a 4.0 which he hopes to continue into high school. One quote he likes is, learn from yesterday, hope for tomorrow and live for today. Even the smallest person can change the course of their future. Roberts has learned from the many experiences he’s had at San Rafael. Being in Honor Society, math club, going to BYU and the playhouse, quiz bowl, battle of the brains and more. A child without an education is like a bird without wings. I believe I can fly. Our open door is now Emery High. Education is training the mind to think. Thanks to the staff of San Rafael for training us for our future.
Principal Mecham thanked the students and the faculty. “This faculty is a great group of people that take their job seriously.”
Principal Mecham said a quote he found interesting is by Robert Straus who said, “It’s a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don’t quit when you’re tired, you quit when the gorilla’s tired.”
“Sometimes it’s hard to spark a student. How many programs, late nights, games, etc. have we been to. Don’t quit when you’re tired. Learning is a life long eternal progression. Always learn and grow. Students always learn. Winston Churchill said as his country struggled during World War II, never, never, never give up. Parents and teachers never give up on the students and students never give up on yourself. You have huge potential. We are proud of you,” said Mecham.
After the program the school held a dance.