Woodland Public Schools celebrate class of 2016

WOODLAND — Woodland High School celebrated the graduating class of 2016 with a series of events culminating in the Commencement Ceremony on Friday, June 17. 

Graduates took part in a Senior Breakfast, paraded through district schools in Woodland’s first-ever Parade of Graduates, and concluded by walking in the 108th Annual Commencement to receive their diplomas.

Senior Breakfast 

On the morning of June 17, Woodland graduates gathered at the Woodland Presbyterian Church for a special breakfast. The church has graciously provided a free breakfast to graduating seniors to celebrate their success as a Woodland tradition for nearly 70 years. 

Graduates enjoyed a breakfast of pancakes, ham, juice and coffee cooked up by volunteers, including Woodland Public Schools Superintendent Michael Green. Breakfast was served by community volunteers. 

Following breakfast, Woodland High School Principal John Shoup spoke with the graduates, congratulating them on their accomplishment of graduating high school.

Parade of Graduates 

Following breakfast, the graduates donned their graduation gowns for the first-ever Woodland Parade of Graduates. The graduates walked in parades at the Woodland Primary School, the Woodland Intermediate School and the Woodland Middle School. Students in the younger schools prepared banners and posters celebrating their older counterparts’ graduation, and lined the parade’s route to cheer and give high-fives to the graduates as they passed. Graduates also visited with teachers who had them as students when they were younger. 

The Parade of Graduates was developed and organized as a joint project by the district’s entire administrative team. 

“The parade serves to inspire students in younger grades to see the end goal of their years of learning,” said Dan Uhlenkott, assistant principal at Woodland High School. “Both the graduates and the younger students were so excited to take part in the celebration.” 

Bryce Johnson, a graduate who has attended Woodland schools since preschool, greatly enjoyed participating in the parade. 

“It’s so cool to see all the kids yelling and cheering,” he said. 

Following graduation, Johnson intends to follow his father’s footsteps in the field of construction by attending Clark College to major in business while also working at the same time. 

Katie Kern, a graduate who has been a Woodland student since third grade, felt the parades provide great motivation. 

“Many students might not have familial support to attend school and succeed,” she said. “The Parade of Graduates is a great way to motivate them to keep at it.” 

Kern will start attending Concordia University’s nursing program this fall.

Commencement Ceremony 

A total of 130 students graduated from Woodland High School in the class of 2016, with 125 who walked in Woodland High School’s 108th Commencement Ceremony on the evening of Friday, June 17. 

The Woodland High School band played “Pomp and Circumstance” as the graduates entered followed by the high school Jazz Choir singing the National Anthem. Kenya Byrnes, class president, served as master of ceremonies, introducing speakers and reading the names of her fellow graduates as they received their diplomas. 

Senior speakers included Grace Adams and Dillon Franke with Shari Conditt, Woodland High School history teacher, selected as faculty speaker by the graduating class. The high school band played “Music for a Darkened Theatre” by Danny Elfman followed by the jazz choir singing “In My Life” by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. 

Principal Shoup gave a short speech comparing the graduates’ experience at high school to taking a commercial airline flight where teachers and staff serve as flight attendants, ensuring the students had a good flight and got to their destination with only a few bumps along the way. Following Shoup’s comments, Green presented the class of 2016 for graduation, certifying their accomplishment to the audience with Board President Janice Watts presenting each graduate with a diploma.