Falcon Heights Academy Graduates 29, Largest Class Yet
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Students from Falcon Heights Academy and the Great Basin Homeschool Center line up for ceremonies. June 9, 2018 (Samantha Tipler)
30 Students earn GED's
Falcon Heights Academy set a record for the number students graduating in 2018. In all, 29 Falcon students earned a high school diploma, the largest class yet. In addition, 30 students earned GEDs.
“Many of these students came to Falcon Heights Academy under many difficult academic circumstances,” said Principal Joe Tacchini. “These students found success and a will to finish.”
Falcon Heights Academy is the Klamath County School District’s alternative school, a place where students who are far behind on credits, or who have faced many challenge in life, find a different way to finish high school.
(Samantha Tipler)
Often students arrive in their junior or senior year with only a handful of credits. Finishing high school, whether with a diploma or a GED, is a big accomplishment.
Falcon held two ceremonies on Friday, June 8. One for the GED completers and one for the graduates. Great Basin Homeschool Center, which shares a ceremony with Falcon, had five graduates earning diplomas.
(Samantha Tipler)
Friday’s events included a Falcon tradition: the rose ceremony. Graduates and completers handed roses to friends, family and teachers who helped them on their journey toward finishing high school.
GED teacher Alex Stork told a story to the completers that applies to many of the Falcon Heights Academy students.
The story was about a farmer and his donkey. One day, the donkey fell into an old well. To get the donkey out, the farmer decided to fill the well. Shovel full by shovel full, the farmer dropped dirt down onto the well.
“With each shovel full of dirt that hits the donkey’s back, he shakes it off and then he takes a step up,” Stork said. “Another shovel full of dirt, he shakes it off, and he takes a step up.”
Students might find themselves identifying with that donkey, stuck in a well with dirt falling on them from above.
(Samantha Tipler)
“Many of you have had shovel fulls of dirt poured on top of you already, but your grit and your perseverance have put you here today,” Stork said. “You stayed the course.”
At the end of the story, the dirt fills the well, the donkey takes one last step up into the sunlight, and trots off on his way. Though graduating or completing high school is a big accomplishment, Stork warned there will be more challenges in life. But the students should remember the donkey and keep persevering.
“There’s still going to be shovel fulls of dirt that are going to hit you in your life,” Stork said, “but as long as you can shake it off and take a step and learn from it, you will be successful.”
Press release provided from Samantha Tipler, Public Relations, Klamath County School District.