05/12/06 - San Marcos Academy

At graduation time each year
Veteran covers campus with fl ags
By Adelita Ayala
What started as a way of honoring a lost son
has now become a tradition of honoring every
person represented by a tree in the Academy
campus.
As a retired Chief Master Sergeant in the
U.S. Air Force, Mr. Bill Childers felt the
need to do something to pay
tribute to his son, a retired
lieutenant commander in the
Navy, who died seven years ago.
Mr. Childers is the father of
Mrs. Bridget Wieland, Academy
receptionist, and grandfather of
ninth grader John Wieland.
When the Childers family
dedicated a tree in memory of
Brock Childers in 2000, his
father started placing a U.S. flag
next to the tree. Soon, though,
he thought it would be a nice
gesture to commemorate the
Brock Childers’ Memorial Tree
other individuals who have a tree dedicated to
them, veterans and non-veterans alike.
Thus, every year during graduation week, Mr.
Childers places about 70 flags around campus
with the help of his grandson, John, and some of
his fellow classmates. “The memory markers are
one of the greatest things the campus has,” Mr.
Childers said, “I feel honored
to have the privilege of doing
this.”
Mr. Childers places the flags
prior to graduation and then
picks them up the Monday
after. “Many people who come
to graduation compliment the
flags because it is a way of honoring
the veterans,” he said.
Hopefully the tradition will
continue with Mr. Childers
coming back each year to
continue this family legacy of
honor and recognition.
Goodrich gets thrill from wake boarding
By Raji Gullapalli
It’s almost summer and
everyone is getting ready to go
out in the sun, ride jetskis, do
some swimming, and go wake
boarding.
Senior Daniel Goodrich has
been a wake boarder for two
years. He said he has not done
any training, but has been practicing
by himself at the Texas
Ski Ranch, between San Marcos
and New Braunfels.
“The Texas Ski Ranch is a
lot of fun,” Daniel said.” It is
Daniel Goodrich prepares himself to do a trick
and jump off the ramp at the Texas Ski Ranch.
very relaxing and a great place
to release some energy.”
Before he got into water
sports, Daniel was primarily
interested in snow sports.
“I got interested in wake
boarding because of snowboarding,”
Daniel said. “I
snow boarded for about five
years before I decided to wake
board.”
He said he likes snowboarding
better, but it is too expensive
to go often. Wake boarding is
much more affordable. Daniel
goes to as many wake boarding
competitions as he can, becoming
overall champion in the
last one he entered. He won a
pair of $800 boat speakers and
a big plaque.
The tricks Daniel has mastered
are grabs, spins, inverts,
and flips. He has been practicing
grinding also.
“I intend to continue wake
boarding in college as much as
I can,” Daniel said.
A big wake boarding fan, Daniel spends a lot of
time in the water during the summer.
May 12, 2006 The Laurel Page 19
On chapel hill, Mr. Bill Childers places a U.S. flag by one of the
memorial tree markers on campus. Mr. Childers places flags by all
70 trees during graduation weekend each year.
Eighth graders looking ahead
to Commencement & beyond
By Kelsey Henry
“I’m a little bit nervous about graduation. I don’t like being
on stage that much.” said Victoria Hargroder, one of the 29
eighth graders who will begin the next chapter in their lives,
high school May 19 at the Middle School Commencement.
The eighth grade has become a tight-knit group this year.
Many of them said that they will miss middle school mostly
because of their friends. “I will miss the fact that we were all
good friends in all the same classes,” said Lainey Godwin,
this year’s valedictorian. The salutatorian is David Abugaber.
Another positive aspect of middle school they said they enjoyed
was early lunch.
“I will miss early lunch and having break in the gym,”
said Chloe Rocha.
While the eight graders say they will miss their friends
and their teachers, they are also ready to move up to the upper
grades. High school offers many more privileges, such as
school dances like the military ball and the chance to compete
in varsity sports. Additionally, the eighth grade graduates say
they are looking forward to meeting new people and gaining
more respect. Victoria is looking forward to “getting to hang
out with my high school friends.”
“I’m looking forward to a better school system and sports,”
Arnold Kim said, while Kristi Allison added, “I will not miss
people calling you ‘little middle schooler.’”
Of course, high school is not only about activities and
social life (believe it or not). It is finally a chance for students
to choose their own classes and start finding out what they
want to do in life. Electives, foreign languages, and athletics
were at the top of the eighth graders’ course selection preference.
Francis Hwang said, “I can’t wait to take a foreign
language” while Arnold Kim said he is most excited about
“chemistry, PE, and band”.
While the seniors prepare for college and adulthood, the
eighth grade is just coming up to the starting point. I wish
to express good luck to all my friends and an excellent freshman
year!