Grafton High School - Re Echo Yearbook (Grafton, WV)

Page 15 text:

CLASS PRAYER Hear us, 0 Lord, These prayers we say. Make our lives safe By night and by day. Help us, 0 Lord As we enter the gate Show us the love and cast out the hate. Our Class we hope Will meet again. This is the beginning And not the end. Each one will go out to pursue a career, Some will make it Some will come near. So remember. 0 Lord The Class of ’69 Keep us great And keep us fine. li

Page 14 text:

RETIRING TEACHERS This year, 1969, ends Mrs. Sinsel’s successful teaching career. She has taught twenty-six years at Grafton High School. On Awards Day, Mrs. Sinsel was presented with a Pen Desk Set. She also received farewell gifts from faculty and classes. In her retirement she wishes to watch T-V, do some reading, and have an interest in their farm at Oak Grove. Miss Geneva Hilkey has taught at Grafton High School for four years, one of which was taught during World War II. Miss Hilkey was presented with a Pen Desk Set on Awards Day, and was given many gifts from faculty and friends. During her retirement she plans to go to Maryland and teach in a private girls’ school. tt 10

Page 16 text:

CAROL ROWE After the battle is won every conqueror has a right to his famous last words. As seniors we are conquerors, too, of a battle that took four years to win. Now we are ready for our famous last words. Mine may not be famous, but they will be my last as I say farewell for the great class of ’69. In our four years at Grafton High School we have shared a lot of fun, a little sorrow, and even some hard work. We have grown and matured together until we don’t even look like those scared freshmen who entered Grafton High School four years ago. Already many of our experiences are only dim memories, so let’s stop and reminisce together. Our freshman year: The first thing I remember is freshman initiation — Mike Carr in his two-piece bathing suit, and Judy Reese being chosen “Miss Freshman with the biggest ears.” Could we ever forget the class tournaments our freshman year? That jolly green giant was the sorriest thing I’ve ever seen! Our sophomore year: Remember the bug collection you made for Mr. Donham, or the way Miss Cole would fold her arms when she had something important to say. Our junior year: Remember Mrs. Sinsel’s American History tests, our first prom, and the junior Olympics decorations for the class tournaments? Our senior year: (This has been the best year.) Mrs. Packman looking at us over her glasses; the time Mr. McKinney’s commanding officer told him, “Don’t you •Very Well’ me, you big farmer’’; the musical “Bye, Bye, Birdie” and swinging Bill Parsons; Nancy Kines scrubbing the floors on Senior Slave Day. VALEDICTORIAN These are just a few of the experiences we’ve shared. Today we can almost laugh at what seemed like serious difficulties during high school. Our ordeals have become adventures we wouldn’t have missed. But why do we always wait to find our pleasure in the sad afterglow of remembering? If only we could relish life each day as we live it! If only we could learn to overlook the petty annoyances, the needless fears that obstruct our enjoyment of the moment, and recognize the true value of now before it is gone forever. Do you remember Thornton Wilder’s play “Our Town” which we read during our junior year? And how in the third act Emily Webb is permitted after her death to go back to Grover’s Corners for one day? As she relives that day she sees all the things she neglected to do and all the unnoticed little kindnesses of others. This becomes so painful that she can stand it no longer. Begging to be allowed to join the dead she cries, “I can’t. I can’t go on. Oh! Oh. It goes so fast. We don’t have time to look at one another. I didn’t realize. So much that was going on, and we never noticed. Take me back — up the hill — to my grave. But first — wait! One more look. Good bye, good-bye world. Good-bye, Grover’s Corners . . . Mamma and Papa. Good-bye to clocks ticking . . . and Mamma's sunflowers. And food and coffee. And new-ironed dresses and hot baths . . . and sleeping and waking up. Oh, earth, you’re too wonderful for anybody to realize you. Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it — every, every minute?” I’ve missed so much in high school. Those who will be here next year still have the chance to enjoy high school now. It’s only a bore if you make it that way. Sure you have to study, but that aoesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Years from now you’ll think, “I wish I had paid more attention in math class. I could use that knowledge now.” Teachers want students to enjoy learning, and most teachers are glad to see students take part in school activities. So start today, freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, to make the most of your remaining high school years. But what about us, the seniors? In just a few days we will be graduating. High school is over for us. Ahead is a job, the service, marriage, or maybe college. But realizing the things we missed in high school can teach us a lesson. We can begin right now to find joy in every minute of life as we live it. As we say farewell I have a wish for each senior here today: May you have memories that are a pleasure to recall and may you have the wisdom to know the value of now, before it is gone forever. 12