AHS
Commencement
When that train whistle blows on Crown Ridge Boulevard, it signifies exceptional accomplishment. It represents a touchdown scored, a goal kicked, an accomplishment celebrated. On June 10, 2008, once again the sounding of the whistle represented an exceptional accomplishment, the turning of the tassel for 310 Arlington High School seniors young men and women moving into the reality of being high school graduates.
It couldnt have happened without you the students of the class of 2008, who studied, tested, volunteered, contributed, read, wrote, did the math and believed; the community of Arlington, who studied, did the math, wrote, volunteered, contributed and believed; the faculty and staff of ASD, who studied, taught, volunteered, contributed, were patient and believed. Thank you to each and every one of you for your contribution to the success of the celebration of the Class of 2008.
Special thanks to our business partners, including Flowers By George for your donations of flowers, balloons and artistic talent; Smokey Point Plant Farm for flowers and planters; Arlington Police Department; and Tom Cooper and the Arlington Fire Department, for your extra watchfulness of our community safety; and our dedicated staff and volunteers, for your contributions of time and energy whenever and wherever efforts were needed. It is a pleasure and a privilege to be a part of this community of Arlington and its future generations.
Hats off to you, graduates and supporters of the Class of 2008.
Kurt Criscione, Principal
Arlington High School


M-PHS
Commencement
I read with interest your June 11 story about the Marysville-Pilchuck High School 2008 Commencement ceremony. There were a couple of errors in the story: Elizabeth Hasselers name was misspelled and there is indeed a 2008 Salutatorian. She was not given the opportunity to address the guests, but Julie Zehnder is the M-PHS Class of 2008 Salutatorian. Its no wonder that you misspelled Ms. Hasselers last name. The Commencement program had the same error in two of the three places her name was listed. Ms. Zehnders name was listed as the Salutatorian, but it was spelled incorrectly as Sender.
What a sad statement on our educational system when it cant even get the spelling of two of the top four academic performers correct. I think it says something about the value placed on academic achievement.
As far as your coverage went, I would have liked to know more about these four as people, what else they achieved in High School and where they are headed. Its time academics were recognized and celebrated, not relegated as a sidenote in Commencement coverage. These four were truly Students of the Year as proven by their records, but all we know about them is their names, errors of spelling and omission notwithstanding. At the very least, these young women deserved to be properly recognized and to have their names spelled correctly in the school program and your paper.
Jodi Welliver
Marysville