Caps off to our graduates
Goldendale is a town that cherishes and values its young people. If there is any question as to that exact value, it was answered in more specific terms Friday night: $203,103.
That is how much the Goldendale High School’s Graduating Class of 2008 earned in scholarships and citizen’s awards – nearly a quarter million dollars.
The figure is a pretty substantial chunk of change for a district that holds less than o.oo1 percent of the state’s student population. In Klickitat County, that’s enough to buy a house, a car, and about ten year’s worth of morning lattes.
This is something the community ought to be proud of. Looking at the numbers, it may be no surprise. The district has a long and growing record of accomplishment.
Between 2000 and 2006, for example, WASL reading scores increased 14 percent for 10th graders. The math scores leapt a whopping 18.6 percent those same years, from 27.6 to 46.2 percent, and students were not the only achievers.
Where the average Washington teacher has 12.7 years of experience, Goldendale teachers specifically boast 17.2 years. Likewise, the rate of Goldendale instructors with Master’s Degrees is more than 13 percent higher than the state average.
There is no doubt a combination of dedicated teaching, a solid curriculum, and exemplary administration has played a huge role in their success. Moreover, Goldendale can thank supportive parents and a loving community for their kid’s achievements.
The final hat, however, goes off the kids themselves.
The rigors associated with high school stretch beyond academics. Kids must negotiate social networks, stand up to peer pressures, and overcome the general awkwardness of adolescence. There are athletic demands, extracurricular activities, and familial obligations.
Crossing that tassel means more than a passing grade point average, but that the young person has learned how to solve problems and deal with real life.
From scanning the awards, it is evident each Goldendale kid is headed in a different direction. There will be doctors, lawyers, fashion consultants, farmers, engineers, dancers, scientists, and world travelers. Others might just take a year to sit down and catch their breath.
Yet with each varied destination, the student has something to be proud of. A high-school diploma is hard-won.
This week, let’s congratulate the graduates and wish them our best: You did it.
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