SPRING STREET INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

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Commencement 2000

LIST OF GRADUATION CEREMONY STORIES

Spring Street School graduation 2000

Story and photos by Matt Pranger

Spring Street School Class of 2000 poses for photos after graduating Sunday, June 11, 2000.

Drama teacher Fred Yockers told a dozen Spring Street School graduates sitting in a full San Juan Community Theatre that life may resemble a hallway with doors with different labels. Although today some of the graduates may be sure they want to continue straight down the corridor to a goal, Yockers urged: "Don’t ignore those other doors if they beckon you."

"Become an erudite – know a lot about a great many things," Yockers told Class of 2000 graduates Samuel William Bailey, Joseph Earl Behnke, Justin Thomas Blevins, Eli Makai Derzay, Nomi Alder Elliott, Emily Anne Jay, Natalia Swan Nash Lawrence, Tyler Saxton Pope, Bonnie Eaton Sanborn, Kelly Lauryn Sharpe, Mikah John Smith and Nicholas Seber Soracco.

Yockers also noted some keys to learning are: study; observation; inquiry – "be a probing mind;" experiencing wholeheartedly -- "live every experience fully" and intuitiveness.

Don’t look for answers in only the obvious places where the light is shining, Yockers commented. "If you only stay where that light is you may never find the key," he said. "Follow your own light and illuminate that darkness."

Yockers also reminded the graduates that parents, friends and teachers had served as the costume designers, set designers, line editors, stage managers, of their life’s production. Yockers, who directed several of the students, also repeated one of his favorite lines heard before productions: "I can’t help you any more."

The islands’ small community fosters accountability for actions. Yockers encouraged the graduates to take their ethics, morals, values learned here with them in their future lives. "Witness your own actions and deeds," he said.

Valedictorian Eli Derzay witnessed "a wonderful transformation" within himself and his classmates during his two years in the private school. "Spring Street School has been a major blessing our lives," he said. "I remember during the admissions process I told Peg (Hope) ‘I was willing to suffer through my last two years of high school.’ She was mortified that I would be willing to suffer through any part of my education, and from that moment on she was determined to make me a part of the Spring Street School family."

"Going to the Spring Street School has opened up a world of opportunities," Derzay said. The Class of 2000’s extended educational trips in Asia "without a doubt will heighten our sense of a global community and make us each planetary citizens who are invested in humanity as a whole."

Respect between Spring Street School’s teachers and students, and real life experiences provided the graduates with "an education of substance. An education that stimulates self-awareness and esteem, an education that gives a person perspective and tolerance. It is the combination of these skills that will prepare us to make a smooth transition from the world of children into the world of independence and responsibility."

Derzay also thanked his classmates for their accepting nature that united the class and "created a positive learning experience. "

"We are not living on the earth to simply work and survive," Derzay advised his classmates. "And we must remember that what is important is becoming more aware of ourselves and becoming more comfortable being who we are."

School Director Peg Hope introduced the graduates and community members who announced scholarships and other awards, and instructor Ted Hope gave out diplomas.

Ecstatic graduate Justin Blevins hugs fellow Spring Street School students Julia White, left, and Kelan Ross.

Valedictorian Eli Derzay reminded his classmates: "We are not living on the earth to simply work and survive."

Ted Hope congratulates Saxton Pope after giving Pope his diploma.

Emily Jay receives a hug from Sharon Shockey.

Emily Jay wipes tears before posing for a photo with her grandmother Jean Frost.

Washington State Honors Award

Eli Derzay, Nomi Elliott, Kelly Sharpe, Mikah Smith, Justin Blevins, Joe Behnke and Natalia Lawrence were also awarded scholarships from the colleges they will be attending.

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