CHS graduates, local 8th and 5th graders to mark milestones

       With some students still frantically trying to round up last-minute points so they can don tasseled caps - a typical situation at this time of year - graduation is scheduled Wednesday, May 25 at the World Arena for up to 360 students in Coronado High School's Class of 2005.
       A similar situation exists at both Coronado feeder middle schools - Holmes and West - where several eighth-graders are “on the bubble” as the dates near to determine who's eligible to move on to high school. Holmes lists a tentative number of 246 and West 146 for ceremonies May 25 at 6:30 p.m. and May 26 at 9 a.m., respectively.
       Ivywild School, in its last of two years having eighth-graders, will promote nine at a ceremony at the school Thursday, May 26 at 9 a.m. They are in the Palmer High attendance area.
       Ivywild, which started transitioning into K-8 four years ago, received permission from the District 11 Board of Education last month to revert to a K-5 school for the 2005-06 year. The switch was requested by Principal Libby Bailey because the school lacked the facilities (such as sports and music) that are offered to students in other middle schools.
       Ivywild's 20 fifth-graders will be promoted into the North Middle School attendance area. No formal ceremonies are scheduled.
       Promotional ceremonies are scheduled for fifth-graders at the following Westside schools, which feed into either West or Holmes:
       Bristol, 41 students, May 26, 1 p.m.
       Buena Vista, 21 students, May 26, 6:30 p.m.
       Howbert, 30 students, May 26, 9:30 a.m.
       Jackson, 40 students, May 26, 10 a.m.
       Midland, 17 students, May 25, 6 p.m. (dinner ceremony at Tesla School - RSVP to Midland by May 20).
       Pike, 16 students, May 25, 1:30 p.m.
       Washington, 33 students, May 24, 6:30 p.m.
       Whittier, 18 students, May 24, 9 a.m.
       For the Coronado graduation, the ceremonies will feature District 11 Superintendent Dr. Norman Ridder, Board of Education member Karen Teja, Principal Susan Humphrey, Valedictorian Paul Joos, Salutatorian Tiffanie Kimball and Student Body President Emily Hoover; and performances by the school's Jazz Band 1, Shomber Choir and Orchestra.
       Of Coronado's graduating class, up to 25 will be from the Bijou School, a grade 9-12 alternate school on the Westside that is not certified to grant diplomas itself.
       At the Holmes promotional ceremony, speakers will include Coronado High Principal Susan Humphrey and Holmes Principal Brenda LeBrasse.
       At the West ceremony, speakers will be Humphrey, former Colorado Springs Mayor Marylou Makepeace and Coronado Student Body President Emily Hoover.

Westside Pioneer article