New Quarter

Well, the Summer Quarter has been over a month now and it is time to get the Fall Quarter off to a good start. I am excited to be working with so many Seniors this year. It will be a year of amazing growth and transition.

We will be covering the Sciences this year. The basic schedule will be:
8:45-10:00 Math-- Most are in Alg II and Calculus
10:00-11:30 Physical Science or Anatomy and Physiology
11:30-12:30 Lunch Break
12:30-1:30 Literature (mostly Science Fiction or history of science)
1:30-3:00 Biology or Chemistry
3:00-4:00 open study and tutoring in personal study areas

There will still be plenty of time in the schedule for students to spend time on their passions, like Photography, Film, Music, Creative Writing, and Art.

Graduation

As most people know, I’m not at my very best in giving speeches, but my graduation means a great deal to me. The Ross Griffin Resource Center has been such an important part of my life, and this graduation is something that’s both exciting and sad. Exciting because of the future that lies beyond, and sad because this program and everyone in it has meant so much to me. It’s like I’m leaving a family that I have grown to care for and cherish.

When I look back at my life I wonder what it would be like if I had never found The Ross Griffin Resource Center. If I had not started going to school at the center, I would have never met half the people I know. I would have never come to this church or even to All Saints.

I have learned so many things from the center. I have learned not only how to be a better student, but also a better person. I learned how to control my anger better. Ms Barb made me learn that even though I did not want to. I was so stubborn, I still am, just not as much. Ms Barb was patient but determined, and taught me so much but I will always remember the battles we had over math. I realize now that even when I thought that I was not learning anything or it was too hard, I was learning more then I could ever know. I would not be as much of a writer as I am now if not for Mr. Dirk and everyone else.

I know I still have much to learn, and maybe that’s the most important thing we can ever really learn: that there is always more to know. The fact I’m giving this speech now is proof of how far I’ve come. Not just because I’m graduating, but because six years ago when I started, I would never have imagined myself being able to talk like this in front of everyone.

The school and my friends have not just helped guide my education, but my self confidence and desire to learn more. I can’t think of any better thing that someone can teach you other than that. I am not as afraid of getting up in front of people and reading my work anymore. Ms Sandie has helped me out so much with every so many things, not just as an instructor, but also as a friend and mentor. She helped me with my school assignments, to communicate and understand my mother’s perspective and views outside of my own.

Everyone here takes such pride in so many odd things, like all of the cooking and recipes and the team building it nurtured. But the one thing they haven’t realized is that we were never really just cooking or making something for lunch. We were the real ingredients in the school’s recipe, and what we were preparing wasn’t something to eat, but our own futures. I hope I live up to everyone’s faith and confidence in me, and I’ll always cherish my friends and instructors.

Literature today

Asia is working on a final essay for the play Our Town.


Cody, Gabe and Austin are working on an original play written in the style of Our Town.




Sue and her group (Kelsea, Charles and Emily) are reading about the Titanic in a Dear America Novel.

Travis and Brandon (minus Nathan) are listening to My Suffering in Africa on CD, with Mr. Dirk.

A few Huck Finn final essays

The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

By: Mark Twain

Essay By: Nathan O.

While listening to this book “The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn”, the theme that caught my attention the most was the theme of greed never being a good thing. In other words, greed definitely changes you as a person. There were many different people in this book that changed negatively when money was involved.

The two main characters that showed a change in behavior, when money was involved was the Duke and the Dauphin. These two men let fiend for money run their lives. I have personally experienced just how greedy people can become with money.

One example, of this theme in the book is when the Duke and Dauphin try stealing $6000, but were not able to walk away with a penny because they got too greedy. However Huck hid the money in a coffin so that the Duke and Dauphin got caught and ended up with less than what they started off with.

An example in my life, when I was greedy with money was when I started to neglect my homework because I was so concerned with making money, the quickest way i knew how. Money was controlling my life in a very negative way. I was going downhill just as quick as I was making that “fast cash”.

This book taught me to never let money control me or my actions. I have made a positive change in my life over the past 6 months and I would never go back to the lifestyle I had, before, just to make a quick buck. Money is good; but freedom from it is better.

Huckleberry Finn

Essay By: Asia

While reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn I recognized Jim more as a father figure than Huck's own father or any other man in the book. Yes, Jim was a black slave that Huck at first, did not understand or even recognize as a person; grew to have deep sympathy and respect for.

Although other men were present in Huck's life during the whole book none of them were “father figures”, in my opinion, except Jim. Look at it this way the Duke and the Dauphin were both liars, thieves, and cons; Mr. Williams was a racist who thought that it was a just thing to kill a runaway slave or any slave for that matter; and not to mention Huck's real father who was a good for nothing drunk! So, in my opinion, Jim was the best candidate even though he happened to be a black slave.

There are many reasons in the book I could use to defend the statement of Jim being Huck's “true father”. But I think the main reason is because Jim taught Huck things about himself and life that no other male in this book could. For example: one night Jim woke up crying because he could not stop thinking about his daughter. Years before this night, Jim had beaten his daughter because she would not do something he had asked, come to find out she was deaf. He explained to Huck what he was feeling and how much he regretted doing that to his little girl; especially since he might not ever see her again. From this Jim taught Huck the most important thing I think anyone can know; all people feel emotion; all people, no matter what race, age, or sex can all love.

I was glad to see that Huck grew as a person in more ways than one. He grew physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. I truly believe that Jim helped Huck mature in these areas. I mean isn't that what a “true father” does? They help you through your ups and downs and give you lots of love and care. Well, thats exactly what Jim did. He taught and cared for Huck the best way he knew how and it looks like it made Huck a better person in the end.

Asia still working in PS

Asia learning PS

Projects with Southern Roots

Thomas did a model of a Civil War battle.

Austin did an Alligator (with a jet pack?).
Gabe wrote a Blues song, and Dirk helped out.

Travis did a model of Pres. Lincoln.
Cody did a Lincoln inspired model and presentation.
Brandon drew a cannon.
Matt made a working gallows.
Asia gathered old family reciepes into a cookbook, since her grandmother is not only from the Deep South, but also a caterer.