CROSSVILLE —
“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” I think that old saying would aptly describe most people’s high school experience. It certainly would for me. Analyzing my four years of high school from several decades out, I am concluding that probably 98 percent of mine was very good. The other two percent not so much.
I loved high school. I loved the people, the teachers, the activities, the opportunities and the fact that after years of being an elementary student, I was finally either a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior. I made lasting friends, immensely enjoyed my four years of band, went to Europe on a band trip, and was taught a lot of lifelong lessons both in and out of the classroom.
But, the one thing I didn’t like about high school: the drama. I don’t mean the drama club either. I always liked the drama club. It was the pure, unadulterated boy-girl, girl-girl and occasionally boy-boy drama that stressed me out. You remember how it goes, don’t you? This girl doesn’t like this girl or that girl is dating a boy she likes and on and on and on until things get really ugly. Fortunately, I wasn’t embroiled in too much of that, and as a result, high school was primarily loads of fun.
I was at Homesteads Elementary earlier this week with my eighth grade students there and I asked them what they are most looking forward to about entering high school in the fall.
Here is what they had to say:
1. Cara Beth Swafford: “A change of scenery.”
2. Brandon Tollett: “Soccer.”
3. Danny Bilyeu: “It means four more years until I am out of school.”
4. Tara Davis: “I can get my driver's license!”
5. Nicole Tewell: “Volleyball and art class.”
6. Lyndsey Finley: “The sports and the classes.”
7. Adam Morton: “Meeting new people.”
8. Tristan Foster: “Meeting new people and the MMA Club.”
9. Sam Reed: “Football.”
10. Zak Carson: “The sports.”
11. Megan Finley: “I am most excited about getting a fresh start and meeting new people.”
12. Allysa Wilburn: “Meeting new people.”
13. Emma Bailey: “Cheerleading!”
14. Laura Napier: “Meeting new people.”
15. Kayla Spieles: “Making new friends and cheerleading.”
16. Kaitlyn Davis: “Meeting new people.”
17. Lindsey Kerley: “Meeting new people and having more freedom.”
18. Tyler Myers: “Expanding my social life and having more freedom.”
19. Alivia Lunsford: “Meeting new people.”
20. Keith Sadula: “Football, freedom and meeting new people.”
21. Alli Crain: “The people and the freedom we get.”
22. Xane Hazelwood: “Being able to skeet shoot!”
Lots of things happened in the schools this week. Cumberland County High School student Coco Bennett won the car in the annual drawing sponsored by Dave Kirk Chevrolet. This year’s event was held at Stone Memorial High School with an elaborate set designed by the uber talented Damon Koehl of the SMHS faculty. Kudos to Dave and Connie Kirk for the unrelenting support of Cumberland County and its students.
And in other school events, the Titans Caravan was here earlier this week and each school was scheduled to receive a visit from a Tennessee Titans player. South Cumberland Elementary eighth graders are in Washington D.C. this week on the annual eighth grade trip. The Phoenix High School is expecting a visit from WBIR Channel 10 on Friday. The Live at Five at Four crew, which is really Live at Five at Four at Three for those of us here on central time, is doing a feature on the school and its staff.
Stone Memorial High School’s Panther Tales will feature Jumpin Jupiter this Saturday, May 12 at 3 and 7 p.m. Cost is $5 per person. All three of Cumberland County’s high schools are gearing up for commencement exercises next week. Phoenix seniors will graduate on Wednesday night at Stone Memorial High School. Stone Memorial students will turn their tassels Thursday night and Cumberland County High School Students will walk the line on Friday night at CCHS Stadium, weather permitting.
Beautiful job done by all of those involved in 2012 Relay for Life. The opening ceremonies, hosted by Gordon Stack of Peg Broadcasting, were very emotional with a performance by the county’s All-Star Cheerleaders to songs such as “ I am A Survivor and “Beat It,” a chill-bump raising Martina McBride song by vocalist Marley Wyatt, the Survivor’s Walk and several comments by organizers and survivors. I am not sure of the total amount raised at this year’s event but kudos to Ms. Cam’s Dance Studio. Her annual recital raised $2,000 for the Relay for Life.
Lifestyles
Around the Town: The best of times, the worst of times
- Lifestyles
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Lots of choices promised for Roan Mtn. hike
The Plateau Chapter of the Tennessee Trails Association holds a leaderless hike every Wednesday morning. These are typically five to seven miles in length. For additional information, contact Bill Harris at 484-9152 or visit the Plateau Chapter Blog at http://ttaplateauchapter.blogspot.com.
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AROUND THE TOWN: Welcome summer with a few good books
The unofficial start to summer begins this weekend with the Memorial Day Holiday. Although summer does not officially begin until June, for most of us, this first warm weather holiday is the preview of about three months of boating, fishing, camping, vacationing, picnics, family reunions and cook outs.
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Schatz named May artist of the month at PCAC
Jessica Schatz, the artist of the month at the Plateau Creative Arts Center, has been an artist for as long as she can remember. She also remains busy as an interior designer, specializing in staging and new construction, and is also a pet portrait photographer. In addition, she donates her photography services, photographing homeless pets in order to help them find homes.
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Folksinger to perform May 31 in Pleasant Hill
The award-winning folk singer Tom Neilson will be bringing his message of “Music for Social Change” to Pleasant Hill, on Friday, May 31, at 7 p.m. in the Pleasant Hill Community Church, UCC. The Shalom Center for Continuing Education, a non-profit educational center is sponsoring this appearance of the nationally well-known artist.
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127 Seniors plan for annual picnic
On May 17, the members of the 127 South Senior Center had an enjoyable time socializing and playing bingo, dominos and billiards. Numbers were called by John Bohrman, with the prizes furnished by Dr. M. Stewart Galloway, M.D.
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Pleasant Hill Ramblings: Pleasant Hill Elementary honors volunteers
Mary Ann Kotus-Huff, principal of Pleasant Hill Elementary School (PHS), recently welcomed volunteers to the annual Volunteer Tea. It was held in the gaily decorated new all-purpose room of the new annex. Volunteers were treated to sandwiches, fruit, cheese and crackers and cupcakes.
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Plateau Gardening: Transplanting tips
My landscape is perennial–based. There are vines, trees, shrubs as well as herbaceous (soft-stemmed) vegetation in assorted categories-ornamentals, herbs and food crops like rhubarb. Annuals in containers are used to add splashes of color. At this time of year, I usually have a few recently purchased plants waiting to be transplanted (see the accompanying photo).
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Fair Park offering help for senior dog owners
A dog is a senior's best friend. Family and friends are not around much, and everyone is so busy. After retirement the free time seems to be longer. Many seniors would be very lonely if it was not for their four-legged friends. Dogs are a big part of the family, so they need to learn to be obedient to make it easier on the relationship.
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The beginnings of Cumberland County Discovery Gardens
It was a great day in 2004 when Walt Hitch looked out his window and studied the three unused acres that accompanied his hundreds of acres of AgResearch lands.
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CCHS Class of 1963 congratulates Class of 2013
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