2023

List of 6 news stories.

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  Josh Cobb, Head of School

  This spring at the Parents Tea I looked over the Class of 2023’s class photos from each grade, Pre-K on. All of the photos had pictures of smiling students aside from one, their sixth grade year. That slot just had a computer-generated drawing of a blue surgical mask.

  
  

  For parents, that picture probably did sum up that school year, a year when parents weren’t allowed on campus and kids wore masks for all 165 in-person school days. I can also understand the graduates wanting to forget their sixth grade year, maybe even their sixth grade selves. In fact, when I spoke to the eighth graders this spring about their Graland highlights, rarely did anyone mention sixth grade. It was understandably masked in their memories. Still, for me, that year was about much more than masks. 
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  Marti Champion, Head of Middle School

  As I was preparing my final remarks for you, the Class of 2023, I thought about each one of you individually, and then I thought about the collective. Your middle school journey has been punctuated by self-discovery, personal growth and the relationships that were built along the way. And it’s the relationships you’ve built with your classmates and teachers that brought to mind one of my favorite proverbs. It’s a Mexican proverb that says, “Tell me who you walk with, and I’ll tell you who you are.” 

  
  

  Tell me who you walk with, and I’ll tell you who you are. Take a moment to think about that. Tell me who you walk with, and I’ll tell you who you are. Who are the people you spend the most time with? Who are your closest friends? What has walking with them looked like? With your permission, I’d like to tell you what I saw.
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  Raea G., Co-President Student Council

  Hello everyone, my name is Raea and I would like to welcome you to our graduation. Thank you to the school administration, board members and faculty for all of your hard work to make this event so special for us all.  This day, I imagine for many of you, will be your last celebration in this gym, at least for a while.

  
  We all have shared so many wonderful memories together in this room. Sports games, holiday concerts, Sock hops and dances, Gates Innovation Lab expositions, Grandparents day. Isn't it amazing, that no matter the event, no matter the crowd, this room just .. smells… the same? It’s that indescribable mix of odors of wood floors, bleacher seating…. hormones.  
  
  

  Adults when you are in this room, I bet the smell brings you right back to your own school days. I think it's amazing how our senses, especially our sense of smell, can so intensely transport you back to your past while you are still so present today.  It's just a feeling that overcomes you.  
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  Clarke G., Co-President Student Council

  Howdy everyone, my name is Clarke G. And I’ve been given the honor and privilege to speak today. First off, you all are the most attractive crowd I’ve ever seen. You all are looking fabulous. 

  
  

  Look around. At the ceremony. At the school. At the people. All these things are just for you. What could you have possibly done to deserve all this?
  
  

  Well, I’ll tell you. You’ve taken 10 years of ERBs. You’ve survived every math class. You’ve sharpened your pencil despite Ms. Cooper’s sharpener clearly being broken. Please buy a new one. And you’ve made experiences you’ll never forget.
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• Josh W., Graduation Dinner Student Speaker

  Everybody, we have been at Graland for a hot minute. Over the past 10 years we've learned a lot. We have had ups and downs, A lot of crazy experiences, and a whole lot of grammar homework. Throughout middle school, we all experienced a new level of difficulty in education, and by that I mean mostly 8th grade. But we all somehow powered through it all and made it to today. Middle school has been long, and we have all changed so much during this time. We’re  all much bigger than we were (most of us) and our characters have changed so much. I think if most of us talked to our 5th grade selves, we would probably be incredibly embarrassed. Though my absolute favorite part of middle school and Graland as a whole were the big trips.
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  Jack Bell, Flex Teacher and Student Nominated Speaker

  Good evening to all the 8th-grade students, parents, guardians, and families. My name is Mr. Bell for those I have not had the pleasure of meeting. 

  
  

  A couple of weeks ago Mr. Burrell asked me to come and talk with him. He said he had good news and bad news. I said let’s go with the good news first. He said the 8th-grade students have asked you (me) to talk at their graduation dinner. My next question was what’s the bad news and he said the kids asked you to speak at the graduation dinner.
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