Greeley Tribune, Thursday, June 10, 1897

Highlandlake School

_____

Graduating ________ of the Grammar
School of Highlandlake.

Friday evening the Highlandlake grammar school graduated five pupils, Fern Reeves, Meta Waite,, Dennie
Teele, Inez Hollenbook and Isabella Markham. The class motto is:

"Each Morning rises some task begin,
Each evening _____ it close;
Something attempted, something done
Has earned a night's repose."

Following was the program.

Invocation....................................Rev Miss Bumstead
Song - "Happy Days gone By.............................Class
Essay - "What A Woman Can Do" ...... Fern Reeves
History of the Class.......................... Inez Hollenbeck
Recitation - "The Witches Daughter...........................
.......................................................... Isabella Markham
Class Prophecy ......................................... Meta Waite
Essay - "The American Boy's Hero" ...........................
.................................................................. Dennie Teele
Music ................................................................................
Address................... County Superintendent Howard
Song - "Vacation" ...................................... The School
Music ................................................................................

The above was the program, all of which was carried out to the letter. The little gem of a church, standing near the brink of the lake, was filled with expectant school children and the friends and patrons of the school. This church which was prettily decorated has but recently been built, largely through the untiring efforts of the pastor, Miss Bumstead. At the front of the church were the five graduates arrayed in the usual chaste style, and looking happy and anxious by turns, the roses on some cheeks rivaling those that had been bestowed, for the occasion, by kind friends.

This was the first public graduation from these schools. There was disappointment that Miss Florence Halt of the Pleasant Hill School was not present to publicly receive her diploma, as had been expected. On the platform were County Superintendent Howard and the members of the school board. Miss Woodwaith the grammar school teacher made the announcements while Miss Ronell of the primary school presided at the organ.

Everybody said that everything went off beautifully. The young graduates conducted themselves finely, the applause was genuine, and the elegant little page, reminding one of a pretty cupid in the white gloves and knickerbockers presented flowers and books very gracefully.

In his talk to the audience Superintendent Howard said that twenty years ago, while he was superintendent of Weld county, the HIghlandlake school district was numbered and recorded by him with C.S. Pound, L.C. Mead and F.P. Waite as directors. The first school was taught in a private house where the Holmes now reside, with Miss Emma Hubbell teacher. Then the school house was built, and he was at the dedication. Then the building took on a wing and there were two schools and lastly this church was built.

In presenting the diploma Mr. Howard spoke of the growing interest in the eighth grades. Some fifteen different districts have eighth grade graduates this year. Four county superintendents have each prepared questions for the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grades for all the country schools in the four counties, and the effect has been very helpful and stimulating. In Weld county alone the superintendent's office has been overloaded with work, as nearly one hundred sets of eighth grade papers have been sent in.

He congratulated the class on its excellent standing, and reminded the pupils that "Character is the foundation of true success, 'Tis only noble to be good.' We would all be sad indeed, if we thought that the intellect had been cultivated while the heart and conscience had been neglected." He closed by making reference to the faithfulness of the teachers, in school work and in character building.

Mrs. Waite, the president, made a brief and pertinent talk in which she reminded the graduates that this was only the beginning of their scholastic career. She said later, that the schools would be greatly benefited if every district made much of these school occasions.

There were many adieus spoken, for the teachers were to return in the morning to their homes in Colorado Springs. They have schools in other parts of the state for next year.

Mr. Arthur Ridgeway of the Boulder preparatory has been employed to teach the upper school and Miss Grace Mansfield the lower.

The officers of this district are, Mrs. M.W. Waite, president; Mrs. Mildred M. Johnson, treasurer; Mrs. C.C. Woodly, secretary.

Scan of original article here.

 

This page was updated on October 21, 2009