On the final night of this year’s 9th grade trip to Olympic National Park earlier this semester, we closed the week with a ceremony that evokes plenty of laughter and a few truly moving moments. Students performed skits re-enacting humorous moments from the previous week’s hikes and activities, and then we all received a sprig of cedar.
In a typical year and in accordance with a Native American ritual that we attempt to reprise, students make a wish as they toss the cedar into a campfire with the hope that their wishes will rise to the air with the smoke and possibly come true. Because of weather conditions this year, we placed the ciders into a bowl, for them to be ceremonially burned later.
Also during the ceremony, each of us took a moment to express gratitude. The other chaperones and I were amazed by the comments from the students as they shared appreciation for their classmates, their teachers, their families, and the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Some of the profound ways that these young people expressed themselves even moved some adults to tears. The other chaperones and I also discussed how grateful we were for the 9th grade students; they are an exceptional group of young people, and we felt fortunate to spend time with them on this trip.
In this spirit and as we head into the Thanksgiving Holiday, we want to thank everyone in the Keystone community for making the school the exceptional place it is.
To our Cobras, thank you for inspiring us with your commitment to learning and growing as academicians, artists, athletes, and advocates for others less fortunate. We are profoundly grateful to work with you.
To Keystone parents, thank you for sharing your most prized asset with us. They are excellent children and young adults, and you should be proud of them. We enjoy spending our days, and nights on OE trips, with them, and we appreciate them and you.
To the Keystone faculty/staff, we express our gratitude for your hard work, dedication, and desire to hope your students grow as learners and as young people. They are truly blessed to have you in their lives.
To the Board of Trustees, we appreciate the time, treasure, and energy you give to make our school so wonderful. We acknowledge that there are many things you could be doing with your spare time, and we are grateful that you dedicate yourselves to Keystone.
To Keystone alumni, thank you for providing such inspiring examples of the amazing things Cobras can do after they graduate. You help our students envision how they can change the world for the better.
To all of you in the Cobra community, we say thank you and wish you a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving.
