Swan Valley kindergarten and eighth-grade graduates at their ceremony June 8. Pictured (L-R): Kris Anderson, Levi Boyd, Noah Urban, Jayla Kauffman, Bryar Taylor, Nikylie Vance and Supervising Teacher Susan Bracha.
Jayla Kauffman gives retired teacher and keynote speaker Colleen Kesterson a hug.
Bryar Taylor and Nikylie Vance singing and doing the hand motions during the kindergarten song.
Retired teacher Robert Green was recognized at the graduation. He had a yearbook dedicated to him.
SWAN VALLEY - Eighth-grader Jayla Kauffman graduated from Swan Valley School along with five kindergarteners June 8.
Superintendent Chris Stout told the Swan Valley students they aren't missing out on anything growing up in the Swan Valley. He called them, "the last great generation." In all of his travels, the Swan Valley School is the last place that students still play on a playground merry-go-round.
Kauffman moved to Condon from Pennsylvania when she was in second grade. She said she has always felt welcome.
"I'm very glad to have gone to this school. Being surrounded by my friends and teachers has made it so much easier," said Kauffman. "The memories I have made here will help me along the way and for the rest of my life."
Kauffman asked her second and fourth grade teacher Colleen Kesterson to give the graduate address. Kesterson retired in 2013. Kauffman felt she was an amazing teacher and liked that she taught them poetry.
Kesterson said that Kauffman has always been a "fountain of information," sharing information that she knew from visiting or from reading about black holes in space to the liberty bell. The reason Kesterson didn't have Kauffman in third grade was Kesterson felt that she had mastered third grade at the completion of second grade. Her parents agreed and she entered fourth grade.
Kesterson has been impressed with how Kauffman has pursued her talents and excelled in her singing and playing the trombone.
Kesterson posed the idea, "Maybe there is no destination, just beginnings and endings. Life is all about the journey," said Kesterson.
Her last bit of advice for Kauffman came in the words of Ellen Degeneres, "Follow your passions and be true to yourself. Never follow someone's path unless you get lost in the woods and you find a path, then by all means you should follow that."
"[Seeley-Swan High School] is lucky to have you, Jayla," said Swan Valley School Board Chair John Mercer. "You'll do well."
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