136 promoted at Centralia Junior High 8th grade Graduation

There were 136 eighth grade students promoted during graduation activities Tuesday night at Centralia Junior High School.

Superintendant Craig Clark commended the teachers and staff for all of their work in getting students to this point and also recognized a number of retirees for their years of service.

The student speech was presented by Harmony Barnes who was also recognized as Student of the Year/Presidential Excellence Award. She told classmates she hopes they all leave with significant memories and couldn’t have accomplished what they did without each other. Barnes noted their sixth grade year was cut short, they were robbed of 7th grade, and fortunately were able to ease back into a social setting for 8th grade where the importance of relationships and contacts were reinforced.

“Can you imagine your best friend becoming our future president?  How about the girl in the front of the class becoming a doctor or watching a movie starring the person sitting next to you?  It is true you as well as I can be whatever we want to be.  So reach for the stars and never give up.  Life is what you make it and this is just the beginning.”

Barnes and four other students were recognized for having straight A’s. They are Sadie Blair, Audra Davis, Krimsen Thompson and Josie Venturini.