In an intimate graduation ceremony Wednesday evening on the grass and under trees, 14 of the 20 Philomath Academy students that earned diplomas turned their tassels, stood proud with family and friends and captured the moment by smiling for photos.
Clemens Primary plans online kindergarten orientation on April 15
Clemens Primary School plans to offer an online kindergarten orientation on Wednesday, April 15, as part of the process leading up to enrollment this fall, school officials announced. The orientation and registration information event for parents will run from 7-8 p.m. over Google Meet, which can be accessed at this link on April 15. To…
The students receiving diplomas each have their own reasons for earning high school credits through the local alternative school. Skylar Witmer, for example, found the school to be more to his liking because of its online learning environment. Another graduate, Kamilla Grimmer, was able to finish her senior year with needed credits after a family situation kept her off campus and out of the classroom.
Beth Edgemon, school counselor, described the Class of 2024 group as resilient — the types of students who adapted to whatever challenges they faced and worked hard to reach diploma day.
“Trying to do your schoolwork through an online platform — while you have teachers that are available to you, you’re doing a lot of it on your own and it takes another level of commitment from a student,” Edgemon said. “They have to make that commitment to come in and ask their teachers for help when they need it. They have to make that commitment to get up and do their schoolwork.”
Witmer’s educational background included Muddy Creek Charter School and Philomath Middle School after his family moved to Oregon from New Mexico.
“For the first half of my sophomore year, I didn’t really go to school,” Witmer said. “I found Philomath Academy, which is more online and I liked it way more because I could do it from home.”
Grimmer, a star player on last fall’s PHS soccer team, had a family situation that took her to Texas and forced her to drop out of her regular classes at Philomath High.
“We didn’t know what I was going to do and then they reached out to me,” Grimmer said about Philomath Academy. “I wasn’t on track to graduate from high school with how much I was leaving. They helped me so much … I’m so grateful to them for letting me graduate.”
Allessandra Bakker earned a 4.0 grade point average and was named class valedictorian. She delivered a valedictorian address that included appreciation for key people in her life that helped her along the educational journey, most notably her mother.
“By choosing the path less traveled, we have proven to ourselves that we can do hard things,” Bakker said. “We can go against the norm and we can make choices based on what is best for our own selves.”
The program also included a welcome message by graduate Kalani Abadilla Weir, valedictorian recognition by Edgemon, staff address by Phillip Ayer and the presentation of the class by superintendent and principal Susan Halliday.
Justin Barron called up the graduates to receive their diplomas, which were handed out by Philomath School Board members.
For Witmer, he walked out of the graduation ceremony with an eye on a future that includes a high-paying trade job.
“I’m going to be an apprentice for an electrician or plumbing and try to learn different trades,” Witmer said.
Grimmer will take some time off before figuring out her next move.
“I’m going to enjoy my summer and then probably go to college after that,” she said. “I’m just going to take a little bit of a breather and be with my family because they need me right now.”
Graduates earning diplomas included the following:
- Kalani Allen Abadilla-Weir
- Caden Taylor Anderton
- Allessandra Patricia Bakker
- Mercy Agnesse Cornwell
- Keegen Andrew Evans
- Alejandra Fregoso
- Wyatt John Garwood
- Kamilla Ann Grimmer
- Chloe Renee Hendrickson
- Tristan Anthony Hubbard
- Borden Conner Jobe
- Rowan Dolores Lee
- Quin Robert Loyd
- Addison Michelle Mussatti
- Haylee Raquel Nordyke
- Trayson Hugo Parmelee
- Evy Kate Remington
- Ivie Coletta Tussing
- Skylar Tye Witmer
- Marissa Christine Zeller
