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Onelastlesson
Tuesday,Jun.12,2012byLauraPetersandAliciaConstant,TimesMirrorStaffWriters|0comments|Emailthisstory

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TimesMirrorStaff Photo/BeverlyDenny BoluwatifeAdetunjihugs afellowTuscarora graduatebeforethe ceremonyJune12. Adetunjiwasfirstinline andreceivedthefirst diplomahandedtoa Tuscarorastudent.

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Officiallysignalingthefinalchapterofhighschool,WoodgroveandTuscarorahighschoolssaid farewellJune12totheirfirstgraduationclassof2012. ThebeginningsoftraditionatWoodgrove ForWoodgrove,theireventmayhavebeenrainedout,buttherewasnostoppingtheclassof 2012sparade.Walkinginwithsmilesandjoytheirgraduationwasanythingbuttraditional muchliketheirentireschoolexperience.Thegraduatingclassof330students,filteredintothe highschoolsgymtotakethenextstepintotheirfuturelives.

DarrenBakersitsinthe frontrowafterreceiving hisdiploma.TimesMirror StaffPhoto/LauraPeters

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Traditionisaninterestingconcept.Becausethoughitisoftenregardedasanimmovable,
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unchangeableaspectoflife,itsreallyalwayschanging.Ifyouthinkaboutourhighschool experiences,anoutsidermightcallituntraditional,Woodgrovegraduateandseniorspeaker JocelynWestrayaddressedherclassmates.But,whatdefinetradition?Doesitmeanfouryears inarealhighschool,fouryearsinthesamehighschool?Ifthatsso,thenIwantnothingtodo withthissocalledtradition.Wemayhavenothadatraditionalhighschoolexperiencebut ourliveswillbeanythingbuttraditional. SeniorClassPresident,AndrewBoardsaidtheclassof2012hadseenmorechangethan Obamas2008campaign. Traditionisnotthewordtodescribethegroupthatsaboutthewalkacrossthestagetoday, Boardsaid.Infouryearswevewalkedthroughthedoorsofthreeseparatebuildings[and] workedwithfourdifferentprincipals.
MarshallAlexander,left, andWesleyAlvis,right, scanthecrowdin WoodgroveHighSchools gym,asAdrianeAlvord whisperswithAlison Andersonwaitingforthe commencement ceremonytobeginJune 12.TimesMirrorStaff Photo/LauraPeters

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JosephSpicer,WoodgrovesChemistryteacherandStateChampionsoftballcoachwasselected astheircommencementspeaker,urgingthemtoreconsidergraduation,jokingly. Now,personallyIthinkyoureallabitcrazyforwantingtograduateinthefirstplace,hesaid pointingouttheycaneatpizzafivedaysaweek.Lookatthisschoolthecommunityhasbuilt foryouitsperfect.Youvehaditgreatsincedayone.

EmilyAverystandsasshe isrecognizedforher honorsachievements duringWoodgroveHigh Schoolsgraduation ceremonyJune12. TimesMirrorStaff Photo/LauraPeters

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Someofyouhavebeenreadytograduatesincetheeighthgrade.Andnowthatthatdayhas arrived,yourealittleafraid.Havefaith,notfear,Spiceradded. QuotingWinstonChurchill,Spicersaid,thisisnottheend,itsnoteventhebeginningofthe end.But,perhaps,itstheendofthebeginning.

Woodgrovesgraduating classtossingtheirhatsa bittooearly,causing themtofindthemand crosstheirtasseloverto signaltheirgraduation. TimesMirrorStaff Photo/LauraPeters

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Tuscarorasfirstgraduatestakeflight AsthemixedchorusesofTuscaroraHighSchoolliftedtheirvoicestosingBobChilcottsInthe HeartoftheWorld,schoolfacultyandstaffbrushedafewtearsfromtheireyes.Thegraduation oftheclassof2012wastheendofalltheyhadinvestedinthese235students,butitalsomarked theschoolsnewbeginning,asthefirstclassevertograduatefromTuscaroratookflight. Eventhoughyourfootprintsmaynotleavelastingmarksonthemoon,music,orart,inyour twoyearsatTuscorora,youvesparkedanentireculture,saidJamesCassar,whodeliveredthe senioraddress.But,hesaid,theclassshighschoolaccomplishmentswerejustafootnoteina largerstory.

TimesMirrorStaff Photo/BeverlyDenny AmandaWelchsmilesas sheacceptsthefaculty scholarshipfrom Tuscaroraprincipal PamelaPaulJacobs duringthegraduation ceremonyforthefirst graduatingclassJune12.

RickDocWalker,formertightendfortheWashingtonRedskins,encouragedstudents throughhiscommencementaddresstodisplaypersonalresponsibilityastheyenteredthereal world,wherewhenyouwanttoputgasinthecar,youhavetopayforit. Youjustfinishedyourfirstquarter,andyourewinning,hesaid,butcautioned,Tosucceedin lifeisnoteasy. Walkersadvicewaspractical:Saypleaseandthankyouanddontbeafraidtoaskforhelp. Giveyourbestinsteadofjustdoingenoughtogetby.Dontexpectlifetobehandedtoyouona silverplatter.Havethecouragetosaynotothepartylife,becausethepeoplewholoveyouhave sentyouonamission:Ittakesmorecouragetosaynothantosayyes. Endingsarejustdoorwaystonewbeginnings,saidvaledictorianJordanTyrrell.Tyrrellshared howhelearnedtogiveback.ItookatriptoVirginiaBeachthatchangedmylifeItwasthereI dedicatedmylifetoJesusChrist,hesaid.AnendhadtobemadetothewayIwaslivingto startanewbeginning. LoudounCountyPublicSchoolshad4,465highschoolgraduatesfor2012from12highschools, DouglassSchoolandMonroeTechnologyCenter.GraduationtookplaceJune10through12at variousschoolsinthecountyandthePatriotCenterinFairfax.

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