From the Desk of Tammy Hayes, Middle School Principal (on the day of 8th grade promotion):

Parents, Grandparents, and friends, we are thrilled to have you with us today to witness the promotion of the young ladies and men you see before you on this front row. I will be speaking to them this morning on behalf of all these teachers seated behind me.

We are so proud of you. Each of you has made quite a journey over the last few years.

Yesterday, we heard a few stories from our senior class; of their trek up a mountain in Taos, New Mexico; of how difficult it was to climb; of how much they needed each other; of how accomplished they felt once they reached the tip-top; of how they looked out to see how far they had come. They went on to talk of making new and unexpected friendships, realizing some things they wish they had seen on the front end of high school – things they were sure they would have held differently, done better, and tried harder. They shared all their wise words with you and gave appreciation to some who had made a difference along the way in their journey.

It represented to me the perfect picture of what we wanted to tell you today. Only, the good news for you all is that you are on the front end of high school. You are looking forward, not backwards. You have it all in front of you, not behind.

Sometimes, when others are speaking of their past, it can give us a glimpse into our future.

In the forward for The Hiding Place, John and Elizabeth Sherrill write this of their time spent with the famous Corrie ten Boom after sharing several visits with her:

“And all the while we had the extraordinary feeling that we were not looking into the past but into the future.  As though these people and places were speaking to us not about things that had already happened but about the world that lay ahead of us in the 1970’s.

• Handling separation
• Getting along with less
• Security in the midst of insecurity
• Forgiveness
• How God can use weakness
• Dealing with difficult people
• Facing death
• How to love your enemies
• What to do when evil wins

We commented to her about the practicalness of everything she recalled how her memories seemed to throw a spotlight on problems and decisions we faced here and now. “But,” she said, “this is what the past is for! Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see.”

Without a doubt, some of these have been our lessons as well here in the middle:

What did they say they had learned from Corrie’s memories?

• How to have security in the midst of insecurity
• How God can use weakness
• How to deal with difficult people
• How to love your enemies
• How to face death
• What to do when evil wins
• (Just to name a few)

Middle school is not for sissies – and you guys have proven that these past three years.

You have a big trek ahead of you, just like our seniors did.

You can make decisions on the front end that can make all the difference in your experience.

• Decide to make friends with all kinds of people, not just the ones who are just like you
• Give your all from the very start of something! Believe that it will matter in the end.
• Admit that you need the help of others when the journey gets too hard. Life is difficult & we need each other in it.
• Be willing to admit when you make mistakes, learn from them, and keep on going!
• Laugh at yourselves! Don’t take yourself too seriously.
• Remember that just because no one is watching, it doesn’t mean no one sees. God sees your faithful heart to His word and His ways… You must decide ahead of time to do the right thing because it is the right thing to do.
• Be grateful to those who invest in your success and express it often.

In closing, as you move ahead to take your place as High School students, always remember from whence you’ve come…Middle School has prepared you to go forward and do well…YOU ARE READY!

Our faculty and this school have prepared you to: Live PURE. Speak TRUE. Right WRONG. Serve OTHERS. Follow the KING.

The scriptures say it this way in Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”

We love you & are for your success!!!