And realize as we're all surrounded by our closest friends and family, that today is a gift. That's why it's called the present. As we look toward tomorrow, I'll let you in on a secret. Nobody actually knows where we're going to be in five years. We spent our whole lives answering the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" And now that we're officially grown, the possibilities are still endless. Some of us may be paying $80,000 in college tuition, while others may be heading into a job that pays $80,000 tomorrow. That's the beauty of this next chapter. Whether you're heading to college, the military, or starting a career, tomorrow isn't a test you've forgotten to study for, it's an open door. We finally have the autonomy to change our minds, change our majors, and change our lives. We have the freedom to be whoever we want to be, even if that person changes three times in the next six months.
Here are three things to remember as you drive forward. Your past is your perspective, not for living. We all make mistakes coming through high school. Some of us have all failed a test, missed a deadline, or maybe even gotten fired by our best friend. But just as every plan looks good in the rearview mirror, we sub celebrate the success without always showing the winding, messy road that got us there. Remember these moments, but don't dwell on them. They were lessons. They gave you grit and determination. They are the armor that will protect you from the next bump in the road. So glance back, appreciate how far you have come, and keep moving. Your windshield is bigger than your rearview mirror. As you leave here today, you will have more control over your path than ever before. Your choices will no longer be dictated by a syllabus.
So it'll be interested to see if that record is able to survive with three highly competitive runners there. The Heritage 4x4 team they've run a 425 this year. They can break the school's own record from 2003 which is 431.6 six. And then Ensley Dmer of Heritage. Uh I think she gets both of the throws tonight. Uh she's thrown 36 feet in the shot put and 94t 11 in in discus so far this year. For pull vault. Both of those kind of just date back to last year as it was newly added in uh at the high school level. Woodland and Heritage is the only two competing in it tonight. But the lone pole valter uh this year his entry his seed height is 6'6. That's the pole vault record for the boys. And then Ensley Dmer, she may go for three meet records here tonight as she's currently the pole vault holder and very well could break her own record tonight.
What's happening? Why are, you know, why is why are the attendance rates like this? But it's we're now working on putting a system that's transparent to everyone around what the district's expectations are and then us as administrators consistently applying that system. So, it is a work in progress. Um, as any of you might know with, you know, we we have to work collaboratively in that process, but it is something that is being addressed. Margaret, >> I I just wanted to say for people who may not know, could you tell them what >> APA? APA. Uh they are the Ammeris Educators Association. Thank you, Margaret. I said I was going to use acronyms and look at me. Uh and they are the U body the union body over our teachers and educators that parent and presenting school advisory committee. I just had a question about how our absenteeism um compares to our region, our area.
So, here's to the unknown. May we have the courage to not know what we're doing and the hope to enjoy every second of finding out. Many of you won't remember this speech, but I hope you'll embody its message. Never be afraid to try. Through our past, we've been able to grow into who we are today. But now it's time to step into the future. Wherever you go and whoever you become, it's important to stay curious. So go ahead, change your major three times. Apply for a different job. Dip nuggets into sauces you've never even heard of. Don't be afraid to fail because there will always be a way to pick yourself up again. You just need to be brave enough to try. High school has prepared you for success. Now it's up to you to achieve it. And you will achieve it because once a Lancer, always a Lancer.
The path ahead may seem hazy and even a little scary, but remember what you learned in driver's ed. The windshield is a lot wider than the rear view mirror. The future is a lot larger and more important than the past. Embrace this uncertainty. It's time of hope, fear, accomplishments, all rolled into one. And by embracing it, you will uncover and develop the true wonderful self that's been waiting to emerge. Lastly, someone is always watching in the mirror. Look in the mirror again and don't see the past. See those who look up to you. Maybe it's a sibling just starting their journey or a younger student who sees you as an example. As you forge your own path, keep an eye on those who follow. They will witness your triumphs and your failures. Show them what it looks like to be bold, to be resilient, and to keep going even when things don't go as planned.
So it'll be kind of excited to see those take shape. We're gonna see if we can get the camera panned over. I >> think the high jump is about ready to get started. We're going to take a look there. >> Bring up the field. Looks like the girls will be getting things started in high jump. central. >> So Jeremy, go ahead. Read through the start list for the girls high jump here tonight. >> Number one, Newan Schwander from Bluton. >> Number two, >> what what is she jumping at? >> Oh, she's jumping 36. Mackenzie White from Bluffton jumping 39. >> Taylor Smith from Southern Wells jumping 310. >> Charlotte Connor from Woodland jumping four. >> Meredith Weise also from Woodland also jumping four. >> Laneley Schae from AC jumping four. >> Rowan Quickery from Southern Wells jumping four. >> Curley Kirby Jake from Jay County jumping 44.
Is that just typical or is ours larger depending? >> Um, I ask this question a lot like in our listerve group around attendance and what are you doing to to you know deal handle attendance or address attendance in your districts and it is something that a lot of districts are dealing with. I haven't pulled I don't have a spreadsheet to show percentages but um anecdotally other HR directors and superintendents share that is um something that they're they're trying to work with and they're trying to work collaboratively with their unions. I think after COVID definitely we saw a spike in attendance and we don't want to encourage anyone to come to work when they're not feeling well but I think there's al there was a shift a culture shift too and so it's trying to get back to what we were right what we were doing before then and how do we do that and still support our educators I saw Sarah Marshall then um Tim did you have your hand up Anna thank you >> Sarah Marshall Ammeran regional school committees um can you describe how the districts or maybe it's a building based uh develop lists of substitutes.
Congratulations, class of 2026. >> [applause] >> Thank you, Maris. It is now my honor to introduce the student council president, Addison Wernern, for the class farewell. [applause] Good morning. For many of you, I may have just been another face in the crowd. You may have bumped into me fighting to get out of Fuilding, or you may have seen me rushing to my first hour class after arriving late. Once again, sorry, Mr. Hennon. But when I first sat down to write this speech, I racked my brain for something inspirational that isn't just a regurgitation of everything we have heard about our futures for the last four years. I thought about what I learned so far in my life and I came up with one honest truth. Nobody really cares. Nobody cares whether you're sitting in this gym as first or 515th in our class. Nobody cares if your team lost the first round of the playoffs or if you made it to the state championship.
Today marks the end of one chapter and starts a new one. So turn your gaze forward. Openly embrace the future with wisdom you have gained and courage to take risk. Go forth and write a new bold story. Congratulations class of 2026. Now go full speed ahead. [applause] I now certify the class of 2026 to the board of education and the superintendent, Dr. Warren as having met the graduation requirements of the state of Illinois and the board of education of district 2011 and the faculty of Belleville West High School, I now ask that the president of the board, Mr. Mike along come forward to present the diplomas to the class of 2026. Dr. Mr. Hill, will you please read the role? >> [snorts] >> Before I read the role, let us pause to offer a moment of silence in the remembrance of those we have lost.
>> JJ Reynolds from Jay jumping 44. >> Mallerie Airman from Heritage jumping 46. And Min Harris from Heritage jumping 46. I don't Elliot and Jeremy. First call girls 100 meter pre girls 100 meter precisely from South J County >> does look like first attempt >> by I believe that was McKenzie White going as a miss. >> Got a lot of different field events going on. And again, as we take a look around the field, uh, looking over at the discus area and throwers, we'll give some shout outs to them as well. Looks like we're starting with the boys discus throws. >> Who do we got here tonight, Jeremy? >> From Jay County, Ricky Wheel throwing 671. S from Southern Wales, Josiah Bricker throwing 677.5. From South Adams, Harold Smith throwing 695. From J County, LJ Carter throwing 695.5. From South Adams, Gavin Richards throwing 7410.
How do you because I imagine that's part of the problem. If you if you had a qualified substitute, you wouldn't maybe wouldn't need to pull other educators away from their classes to to help during an absence. Um, I imagine that that's also challenging, but can you talk about how how substitutes are found and if districts collaborate, there's some big list of, you know, that you could pull from? Um, I'd like to learn more about that. >> Sure. >> Every teacher role and for parent role perhaps also. >> Yeah. Yeah. Um, I'll try to be succinct because I'm I have to be mindful of the time. I think we have one more question. Uh, subs are very difficult to find, right? They're per DM. It's very transient. It's um people can choose whether they want to commit or not that date to sub. Uh we're working also with the union to try to create a full-time permanent sub position within the district.
Nobody cares if you're headed to an Ivy League school or a community college. Nobody probably even cares about this very speech except for my mom, of course. But these titles, the trophies, the accolades, the things we clutch on to to shape our identity are not permanent. The person who lives underneath all this stuff is what truly matters. That's what people actually care about. It can be so easy to get caught up in our own lives, especially during high school and across social media. We fret over likes on an Instagram post or second guess every message we send. We spend too much energy fearing embarrassment or judgment or ridicule from our peers. And we let this fear of what people might think stop us from trying new things and taking risks. But the truth is, everybody is too busy worrying about themselves to be worrying about you.
Thank you. Coley Copper, class president. [snorts] >> [cheering] [applause] >> The next five students to receive their diplomas have earned the distinction of graduating suma kumlady having maintained a perfect 5.0 GPA. They rank at the very top of the class of 2026. Adam Bilzing, [cheering and applause] Mason Blair, [cheering] Nolan Blair, Thomas Frame, Elena Gert, [applause] along with Coley Keeper, the next 14 students to receive their diplom. diplomas have earned the destination of magnum kumlady by maintaining a GPA between 4.99 and 4.5. Matthew Beerman, Ty Buchanan, Sky Coine, Charlie Copper, Emma Dorschman, Maxant Abriel Marquo Escobar, Caitlyn Felt, Braden Forny, John Freely, Lily Golbart, Trey Good. Rich, Amaya Green, Caleb Green, and Wald. The next 12 students have earned the distinction of graduating kumlad. They have maintained a GPA between 4.49 and 4.0. Adam Alford, Hunter Arnold, Nora Ayatti, Landon Back, Adam Barry, Isabella Bouette, Chase Benty, Eva Cruz, Kaylee Dashner, McKenzie Dixon, Jabri Edwards, Samantha Juie, Alyssa Agy, Anthony Aguular, Addison Alexander, Adriana Allen, Carson Allen, Devin Anderson, Destiny England Reed, [screaming] [cheering] >> Aishani Armstead, Isabella Austin, William Austin II, Elizabeth Oz, Jordan Bailey, Devin Bernard, William Bates, Kaden Batau, Ethan Bean, Michael Bell, Jaden Belie, Tyler Beverly, Anthony Bibs, Nathan Brile, Carson Blair, Hunter Blings, Bariah Blue, >> [cheering] >> Zane Bond, Abrael Boyd, Alexis Boland, Ella Britz, Jordan Brewer, Alexander Briggs, Maron Brown, Andrew Bun, Tasia Burch, Mercy Burrell, Dorz Burton Jr., Isaiah Bush, Antonio Bird, Michaela Cordwell, Darren Calvin Jr.
From Bluton, Reed Harris throwing 775. >> And from Southern Wells, Leland Heath >> throwing 79.5. And what about girls shot? Who do we have competing tonight >> from Bluffton? Cheyenne Sonixen >> with no mark >> from AC. Lauren Hook from throwing 228 from South Adams. Zoe Litweller throwing 238 from Jay County. Vashi Cvantes throwing 248 from South Adams. Ava Martinez throwing 2510 from Southern Wells. Casey Needler throwing 266. And from Bluffton, Molina Moyo throwing 285. >> And who's going to be in the second flight of >> Did you get both flights there? >> And then second flight will also be >> from from J County on the second flight. Arabel Link throwing 21 thorn, excuse me, 291 from Heritage. Kendall Gerber throwing from Adam Central. Klay Henning throwing 293.5 from Woodland Middle School. Payne Bella Payne throwing 311.5. Throwing Woodland Grace Hammond throwing 322 from Southern Wells.
Right? There's there's multiple different things that we're trying to do to address this issue. Uh we invite retired teachers to come back and be subs or the best kind of substitute you can have in a school district. But yes, it is very very difficult to find substitutes and that's that's why we end up pulling teachers from the classroom to cover uh many times and it's it we don't have we don't have the answer right we don't have the perfect way of how to how to resolve that. I'm going to go to Anna is I'm going to go to Anna so she has an opportunity and I think that's the last question I can take. So I just wanted to say absences especially after CO have been a a huge problem both with students and with teachers. Um in Shootsbury they had a food allergy and they've implemented a whole bunch of very restrictive guidance around hygiene so people are washing their hands a lot more.
So, let me repeat, nobody cares. 10 years from now, don't look back and regret not being brave enough to follow your heart. Don't miss out on opportunities to live your life just because you're worried someone might think it's weird. Don't let the pressure of fitting in stop you from being happy. Because the more people you grant power over your life, the less of your life it becomes. Now, to be walking across this stage today is a huge achievement and one we should all be proud of. I mean, we did outlast three different principles. But but while you're sitting in your seats thinking about what you're going to eat after all this is over, I want to highlight the importance of owning our lives. Throughout this next chapter, we will encounter thousands of moments that will test our limits, try our patience, and stretch our resolve.
Elsa Franks throwing 339 from Heritage. Insley Dmer throwing 36-9. >> And Insley Dmer and she's probably going to be on pursuit of her three. And I see that she's also long jumping. So she's doing lots of field events here tonight. Uh first attempt at 1315. You guys can follow along on live results uh mileplit.live live and just look for that ACAC middle school meet courtesy of South Adams timing. Do appreciate that. >> And then as we take a look at the pole vault again, very few in the field. Uh if we take a look at both boys and girls vultures because they will be competing at the same time. Just the height rising as it goes. Start with the girls. The girls starting from Woodland, Ruby Artweller jumping five foot flat. Also from Woodwin, Elise Clark also jumping 5 foot flat. And from Heritage, Insley Dharma jumping 8 foot.
They're limiting food consumption only to the cafeteria and it has the side benefit of reducing illness. And so I was just going to say, what kinds of hygiene >> structures have you tried to use in this school, in this district to I mean just washing hands more frequently actually really reduces germ spread and so maybe there are some hygiene you know procedures to I can't say we have one but I also still our nurse manager isn't here to ask either. Um, and that is absolutely a point of feedback that I will bring back. So, thank you. And I'm sorry if there were other questions, but I want to keep us on track with time. Is that okay, Dr. Z? >> Okay. >> So, we do have coffee and fruit um and water available. We're going to take a we we did a lot. It's been like over an hour.