Local students join in ceremony

Black Butte School students celebrated graduation.

Family and friends of Black Butte School students held their graduation and honors ceremony on Thursday evening, May 23, at the Camp Sherman Community Hall.

After dinner on the outside lawn, the overflow crowd moved into the hall and was treated to a wonderful series of musical numbers by the elementary students.

Paula Lovegren directs music at BBS and Lynn Watson accompanied the children on piano.

Teacher Toni Turner introduced each of her K-3 students before their performance. The eight students wowed the friendly audience with their rendition of "Down By The Old Mill Stream," "There's A Hole In The Bucket" and other favorites.

Individual introductions by each of Toni Foster's 15 students, grades 4-6, preceded the group's presentation of a polished look back at years 1958-1971.

This was accomplished by brief student highlight comments from each year and lively songs of the era.

Each student had also prepared a series of PowerPoint computer slides representing highlight personalities and memorabilia for a particular year.

This included early pictures of parents Kathy and Dave Blann and a younger Roger White.

Sixth grade graduates were Kelcy Blann, Chad Kernutt, Rebecca Lovegren, Charlie Phillips, Even Sims, Jake Sonnier, Katie Taylor, Nolan Tichener and Kelsey White.

Citizenship awards (as voted by classmates) went to Danielle Lovegren (K-3) and Charlie Phillips (4-6).

Emily Sims, former BBS student now attending George Fox University, read the winning essay from this year's scholarship winner, Paul Head, a tuitioned student at Sisters High school. In the essay, Head discusses his love for filmmaking and what it has meant in his life.

He is going to Chapman University.

Toni Turner (K-3) announced parent Doug Curtis as volunteer of the year. Toni Foster (grades 4-6) selected Chan and Martha Cathcart along with Mark Foster as volunteers of the year.

Tonye Phillips and Judy Sims were honored as "Graduating Moms" during the ceremonies.