THE COVER OF OUR FINAL PROJECT PROGRAM --PUN "INTENDED"

   Over the past 25 years I have had the privilege of being part of my students' lives for as many as twelve years.  Many entered the program as young children and continued throughout their school career.  The bond created between student and teacher in those continuous years is strong.  The 2012-2013 school year was the last year for us to have a high school at our campus.  I will greatly miss my secondary students.

...the lyrics to "For Good" from WICKED are dedicated to my wonderful high school students who I will greatly miss -

THIS TRIBUTE WAS SHOWN AT THE CONCLUSION OF OUR FINAL PERFORMANCE OF "BYE, BYE BIRDIE" --even though there were few dry eyes in the audience, including mine... I remembered what Dr. Seuss said, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

Our FINAL Celebration --a special cast party for "Bye, Bye Birdie"

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...
Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made from what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend...
Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
Because I knew you
I have been changed for good
And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame me for
But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share
And none of it seems to matter anymore

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a bird in the wood

Who can say if I've been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better

And because I knew you...
(Elphaba):
Because I knew you...

Because I knew you...
I have been changed for good...