L’Observateur / May 27, 2000

The graduating class of 2000 offers a bumper crop of talented, academically-gifted and committed young people, eager to improve their community, state and nation. Parents and educators have much to be proudof in these students’ achievements and look with anticipation to their future academic and life-careers.

As evidenced by the recent LEAP tests, the coming classes will aim to match this year’s graduates, for as more is expected of them, more rise to the achievement.

The River Parishes are blessed with a group of high schools who uniformly offer a quality education from gifted teachers. There are programs atevery school which challenge their intellects and urge their m inds toward improvement in every way. There are athletic programs which train themphysically and mentally and provide important lessons in teamwork, the value of hard work and commitment and fair play. There are extra-curricular programs, clubs and organizations through these schools which inspire and educate them toward a greater feeling of citizenship and community-mindedness.

We congratulate the graduates, their families and their educators. Theyhave been graced with an excellent education, sound personal values and firm work-ethics. We couldn’t be more proud.It is also appropriate to remind people at this time of celebration that there are many children on the streets with the end of school, and drivers are again reminded to be watchful of youngsters in the parks and playgrounds and in the neighborhoods.

It takes only a little patience to drive a tad slower and be a little mindful of vehicle-cluttered residential streets, from which a small child can appear suddenly.

There are more teen-age drivers than ever before, inexperienced as compared to most adults, and we need to likewise exercise caution and patience, with more vehicles on the road in the hands of these drivers.

Every child is important, and we all have a hand in making sure every child grows up safe, well-educated and open to every opportunity for advancement and happiness.

Our children are our future, and it is in our best interest to insure a moral, ethical and intellectual education for all our children. We invitethem to stay and help in the process of educating the coming generations, but wherever they go, our prayers go with them. They will represent usand be a testament to what we offer young people toward a quality education.

L’Observateur

Copyright © #Thisyear# Wick Communications, Inc.Best viewed with 4.0 or higher