Black Butte School celebrates

The barbecue shift at the Black Butte School celebration kept busy preparing dinner for the event, which marked the end of another school year at the one-room school house. The cooks (from left): Les Schull, Jarrett Miller, Gregory McLarren, Gary Lovegren. Photo by Conrad Weiler

Parents, grandparents, friends and former students gathered at the Camp Sherman Community Hall Thursday evening, May 29, for an end-of-school celebration for Black Butte School (BBS).

Barbecues were warmed up outside the hall and a long table of potluck specialties awaited the large turnout to start the evening's festivities. Filled picnic tables overflowed as people spread out onto the grassy floor to enjoy the festive meal.

After dinner, teacher Toni Foster gathered the crowd inside the packed hall. She introduced several former students who now attend school in Sisters and explained how well these students are doing in their schoolwork.

The next hour offered a song and dance review by BBS students that was cheered by an adoring crowd. Led by music director Paula Lovegren the students put on a dazzling show of fancy dance steps as well as lovely vocals. Linn Watson ably accompanied the students on piano.

Foster thanked all the tutors who had worked with students during the year in math, reading and foreign languages. Kathy and Roger White, parents with two children at BBS, were chosen as volunteer parents of the year. Roger White is also on the BBS Board. Susan and Bruce Shaull, Camp Sherman residents, were also honored for their volunteer work over the school year.

Sixth grader Paige Stevens was awarded a graduation certificate and she will probably continue next year in seventh grade at BBS.

Paul Head, a former BBS student, read the winning submission by Bethany Benhower before introducing this year's Frank Dale Jr. scholarship winner.

She was greeted with a large ovation from an appreciative crowd.

Toni Foster thanked the large crowd for attending and invited all to have cake and coffee at evening's end.

Thus ends the 2002-2003 school year at BBS. The election last month saw incumbents Jon Sheldahl and Marti Dale returned to the BBS Board for another four years.

Toni Foster officially retired in March although she remains on contract through June 2005.

A temporary teacher will be hired for fall classes at BBS and trained as Foster's replacement.