001[Music] Happy birthday. [Music] Happy birthday. [Music] I knew you're going to be That's [Music] time. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Hallelujah. [Music] [Applause] I'm not. Not yet. Not yet. [Music] or something. Just let me know. [Music] Hallelujah. [Music] 2. Okay. [Music] Well, I do this. So, when you do all the work. Yeah, I had a lot of help. Yeah, it was really nice. [Music] I'm like, let's do a guy out of your backyard. [Music] Oh, but I did. [Music] Oh, thank you. Thank you so much. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. [Music] Hey everybody. [Music] Hallelujah. Hallelujah. [Music] Hallelujah. [Music] [Applause] [Music] You're hallelujah. [Music] Okay, we'll go down that way. I don't know. your way if you'd like. That's all right. I'll go get Let [Music] me change my phone. Go to thisbody down [Music] I know [Music] How you
002doing? [Music] Melodies. Please. [Music] [Applause] Did we Did we not have Steve wanted to remake it. That's what I wasn't sure. Just tell it. Where is Mr. Oh, he's over there. Do you want this up there? Right here. I already have a headache. I want to cry and get more. Where should I put this? I can put it on the other side. Should I put it over there? I'll just in case people need it. I don't know. Sure. [Music] play something. So I just start writing. I could say welcome. What have they been? Do you know what they've been practicing? Oh, you're just practicing exactly. mic. Is it on already? Is it okay if it stays on? [Music] Welcome. I'm Mrs. Prevos, the proud principal here at Continental. We're going to get started promptly at
0039. Thank you all for being here. [Music] What was But I don't know who they go to. [Music] Yeah. Yeah. They say it Yeah, it okay. [Music] You're in the way. You're in the [Music] Give me a reason. [Music] Make it [Music] right back. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] down the key and say Christ. [Music] It's [Music] all you [Music] got. Here I [Music] am. Yeah. [Applause] [Music] It's all going [Music] Hallelujah. [Music] I hope the Baby. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Baby. [Music] Yeah. [Music] Yeah. [Music] Good. That is my [Applause] You Please [Music] She was staring out the that [Music] SU said [Music] I kissed my what I feel like [Music] you don't [Music] want my [Music] ass. You're going [Music] She's a brand [Music] new [Music] heresy house. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] sex. Let's [Music] Father's
00436. [Music] We're going to wish these days [Music] Good catch. Good thing that table was there. That's on the internet, too. Yeah. [Music] Heat. [Music] [Applause] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] We are [Music] not [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] I don't know. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat.
005[Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] That's [Music] Good morning. Good morning. My name is Lennon Hosley. My name is Analy Gatsby. My name is Menley Salar. and we welcome friends, family, staff, and special guests to our 2025 promotion ceremony. Thank you all for being here to help us celebrate this momentous occasion. Please stand and welcome the SATA NJR OTC for the presentation of colors. Oh god. Order colors. Ready. Left face. Present. colors. Ready? I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Order colors ready. Cut. Right. Face. Colors. Forward. March. Please be seated. [Music] Please welcome to our podium our superintendent, Mrs. Roxan Rico, our principal, Mrs.
006Diana Privas, and our director of student services, Mr. Steven Leen. Good morning. I am Mrs. We know the very proud superintendent of these amazing Colts that we are going to celebrate today. I would first and foremost like to thank our board members who are here with us. Mr. Austard, board president, please stand. Miss Laura Le Fever member, thank you. Without their support, this would be very difficult to do. And we have a very good supportive board who goes along with all of our amazing ideas that we have for our students. I'd also like to thank all of our supporters, our scholarship supporters, um, who help us throughout the year, who spend time with our students who believe in all of you. And without all of them, we would not be able to present you the
007amazing awards and recognitions that you will receive today. I would like our grandparents in the house to please stand. Grandparents, where are you? Let's give them a round of applause. [Applause] It started with you. Yay. Thank you. How about parents in the house? Can we please have parents, boys and girls, help them clap for your parents? [Applause] [Music] How about your ants and uncles in the house? Yay. How about all our brothers and sisters that are in the house of these amazing folks? Stand up. Yay. And extended family and friends, please stand because we appreciate all of the support that you provide as well. So without further ado, I will turn it over to I believe Mr. Nathan and thank you. It is we are going to run a little bit long, but we really
008do want to recognize our students for the great things that they have accomplished this year. So thank you all for being here this [Applause] morning. Welcome everybody. Um it's my privilege to talk a little bit about the class of 2025. Um these students I have one word that describes them and it's cruising. And what I mean by that is this in all my years of being the director of student services and dealing with discipline, I didn't have to do much with this grade level. It just kind of cruise through. They embrace the rules. They follow the rules, but they find a way to make it fun and challenging and they push limits. And what I mean by that is we don't just live by all of your houses. It's a bit of a commute to
009get here. And this year, some of our eighth grade boys decided that they were going to cruise to school on their bikes every day. And that's a great representation of what this class is. They think outside the box and they push boundaries in positive good ways that impact people around them. And now seventh graders are competing with them to see who can get here first in the morning. And it's great because they're all getting physical exercise and that's what this class does. And we'll hear a lot more about that when we do sports because they just push limits um the whole class. And so I love that cruiser mentality in the right direction. So congratulations guys. I'm really proud of you. I didn't forget that I would like all of our staff members, continental staff
010members who are in the house, please stand. Teachers that are in the house, please stand. We couldn't do it without all of our staff members and support staff. Thank you. Thank you. All right, welcome everyone. So my speech for all of you eighth graders was made specifically with you all in mind. So forgive me to all of you because you forgive forgive me please because this is with their own lingo. So it it might be hard to understand but I think they'll understand it. All right. AO8 grade class of 2025. Yeah, for real. You all are actually graduating. No way. This is just a level up. This is This isn't just a level up. This is the glow up. You all went from tiny sixth grade NPCs. And for many of you, my first year
011here, you were third graders. So, you all went from me knowing you when I first met you, from tiny little third graders, NPCs to full main characters. I'm shook. Totally shook. First off, massive W. You all survived middle school. That's not just skill issue avoidance. That's peak sigma behavior. I saw the grind, the late submissions. I heard about them. The Google Docs named final, final, actual final. The chaos, the vibes, the bonding over pop quizzes or last minute tests that you might have forgot about and were like, "Oh my gosh, there's a test coming up." Totally iconic. And now you're piecing out, logged off. were low-key crying in the staff room. High key gonna miss your unhinged energy. The way you walked into school like it was a side quest. The can I go to
012the bathroom miss knowing full well you just wanted to wander around the halls. We knew. We let it happen. That's love. We really didn't let it happen. To all of you, thank you for the memes, the core memories, and the absolute tom foolery. This school won't hit the same without you. The hallway energy is about to drop 87%. High school's up next. New arc, new characters, bigger boss battles. But I believe in y'all. No cap. Keep slaying. Stay dulu and stay safe. For real though, proud of you. We all are. This isn't goodbye. It's just BRB. Honestly, I'm very proud of you all and all of your accomplishments. You've all worked so hard to get to this point. I've watched it. I've seen you through the years. I've seen the friendships. I've seen you problem
013solving. We'll miss you all very, very much. For many of you, you've been here since preschool. And regardless of when you started here, you become part of the family right away. So again, we are going to miss you very much, and we look forward to hearing all of the amazing accomplishments you're going to do in high school and far beyond. This is home for you. Remember, once a cult, always a cold. If you ever need any of us here, always remember where your home is. You know how to find us. And you know that we'll be right here waiting. Congratulations, class of 2025. We love you. [Applause] Good morning. Please welcome my fellow classmate giving the first speech, Vicky Freeland. [Applause] Good morning teachers, families, friends, and especially to my fellow classmates. Today feels a
014little surreal. After so many years, some of us starting all the way back in preschool. We're finally standing at the edge of a brand new chapter. High school is calling. And while that's exciting, it also means saying goodbye to a place that has been part of our lives as long as we can remember. Continental hasn't just been a school to us. It's been like a second home. This is where we learned to read and write, where we solved our first math solution problems. where we learned to play instruments, played sports, and discovered the things we're passionate about. We've grown from curious little kids into confident young people. And every hallway, classroom, and playground here holds part of that journey. And the best part, we didn't grow alone. We grew together. We've seen each other through
015our awkward stages, group projects, school dances, field trips, and moments that made us laugh until we cry. We've celebrated wins and helped each other through challenges. Whether it was making it through a tough test or finally understanding a tricky math lesson, we had people around us who cared and cheered us on. Each of us are leaving here as our own person with our own strengths, voices, and dreams. But we'll always be connected by the time we spent growing up at Continental. To our amazing teachers, thank you. Thank you for believing us in us, for challenging us, for helping us grow into the people we are today. Your patience, support, and care have made a difference we'll never forget. To our families, thank you for being our biggest supporters through every early morning, late night project,
016and everything in between. And to my classmates, thank you for the memories, the laughter, the friendship, and for sharing this part of life with me. I'm so proud of each and every one of you and I can't wait to see where your paths take you. We're ready now, not just to walk into high school, but but to carry everything we've learned here at Continental into the world ahead. We may be leaving this school, but it will always be part of us. Thank you. [Applause] Woo! Introducing our next speech, Javier To Fernandez Espinosa III. Good morning, graduates, faculty, parents, and honored guests. Continental has made for some of the greatest memories of my life. I'm so grateful I got to grow and have all these amazing experiences surrounded by such great people, my Cole family. And
017a big part of our Cole family is our teachers. Teachers often don't get the props they deserve because to wake up every day and be so kind and comforting regardless of the circumstances isn't easy. But that's what makes Continental so special. The time spent at this school is unforgettable. for making friends that last a lifetime to passionate staff members who make you feel welcome. Today we're all proud to graduate as Continental Colts. Leaving a school that has taught kindness, consideration, and love won't be easy, especially after how comforting of a place our staff has made it. But knowing how this school has made sure we are prepared and knowing that we will always have someone rooting for us makes me very grateful. I hope that is something we can all be after our time together
018at Continental and even in our future because because no matter how bad things may seem, as long as you just keep going, your co family has always got you. So, moving forward, let's keep representing our school by being positive and smiling just a little more. With all this being said, I want to thank God for guiding me throughout this journey. To my family, mom, dad, and my siblings who have always been there, I love you guys. and to all of Continental. Every teacher I've had, every coach I've played for, our sweet cafeteria ladies, our hardworking janitors, our nurse, our bus drivers, our recess aids, everyone. Thank you for making Continental what it is. A school that feels like home and one we are all blessed to be able to graduate from. Thank you. I would
019now like to present our next speech presented by Elelliana Irene Morgan. [Applause] Good morning everybody and welcome to our 8th grade 2025 promotion. It has been an incredible journey as a continental colt for nine years of my life. Reflecting on those preschool holiday parties to the unforgettable eighth grade Washington DC trip feels like we've truly have grown up within these walls. Speaking of these walls, they've echoed with cheers of school dances, the nervous excitement of talent shows, and the laughter on countless field trips. Being a Continental Colt and being in all the sports and clubs has truly shown me there are so many good opportunities at Continental. I want to thank my teachers, staff members, coaches, and classmates and my family. But there's one special thank you I want to say to my mom. Thank
020you for you spend so much time at the school volunteering, setting up and cleaning up for things like school dances, class parties has made a huge difference for us. I couldn't have done it without all you guys. To my fellow classmates, wow, we did it. We have shared so many memories and even though standing up here feels a little emotional for us, I wouldn't trade our time for anything. Our friendship and spirit has made these years truly special. As we move on to the next chapter, let's carry the Cole spirit with us. Let's remember the lessons learned and the memories made here at Continental School. Congratulations, class of 2025. Once a cole o, thank you. We are fortunate this morning to have our continental orchestra led by Mrs. Cincia Bleti play two short pieces for
021us. Fantasy on a Japanese folk song and Russian music box. Eighth grade students who will be playing with our orchestra include Charlie Ortega, Journey Kirk, Vicky Freeland, Angela Kesler, Isabelle Zimmerman, and Jayen Heert. [Applause] Good job. Ah! Oops. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Hallelujah. [Music] Hallelujah. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Bye-bye. [Music] Oh, hey. [Music] Hallelujah. [Music] Oh my [Applause] [Music] Hallelujah. [Music] I love you. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Please welcome my fellow classmate, Brody Smith. Up. Hello families, friends, and teachers. This this has been an exciting school year. I want to express how grateful I am for the school and what it has meant to me and my fellow students. We are thankful for this opportunity and how good it is to be speaking in front of you all. Eighth grade is an important milestone. We never knew
022this was going to happen so fast and we looked at our parents. It seemed like yesterday it was the first day of school, first day of meeting each other. This past year there were challenges, but as a class we overcame them because we were united. And this is why this class of eighth graders represents what a Tottenham court student looks like. As we start the next chapter of our lives, we not we will not lose hope for the future as long as we stay together. This couldn't have happened if it wasn't for all all of amazing teachers who believed in us and helped us when we need it. And I also want to thank the staff members for keeping the school safe and a fun learning experience. and every student on the same stage who
023is graduating with me. I am proud of all your hard work and to graduate you and best of luck on your future endeavors. I want to say thank you to my mom and my dad who always believed in me and helped me to get to this moment. And I want to thank Continental for being the best school I ever went to of my entire life. And I would deeply miss this school. Thank you. And now, last, but certainly not least, my good friend and classmate, Sebastian Mercedes Bear. [Applause] Good morning. Today we would like to thank the school staff, all of our teachers for their hard work, dedication, and patience over the years, and our family for the love, support, and guidance. This wouldn't have been possible without all of you. We were anxious, excited,
024and perhaps a little lost when we first entered middle school. And it seems like that was just yesterday. It has been a journey through middle school. Now, we know a great deal more about life, and we have determined our identities and priorities. Our friends have grown to be family and even when we doubted ourselves, we had teachers who still had faith in us. We have determined our ability to adjust, develop and persevere in the face of adversity. We will remember all the moments shared in the classroom, laughter at recess, and the challenges we overcame together. We have learned not to not only knowledge, but also the importance of friendship, teamwork, and respect. This is a new beginning, a door to a future full of possibilities. We know that education is the foundation of our success
025and we are committed to continuing to learn and grow. We are we are the future for a better world. Thank you Continental for a safe and special place full opportunities learning and good experiences. Finally, I want to express my gratitude to my classmates for the journey, the laughs and the memories. Thank you very much. Now it's time to give out awards. First award is the Kate Civil Science Award presented by Mrs. Naomi Austria. So Killili was a beloved teacher who is known for her love of learning and her passion for science. She passed away in 2007 and so we honor her with this award. Um, can I have Abraham White please? All right, I've been crying already, so I'm just going to read from this. Abe has proven throughout the year that there is no
026problem that cannot be solved without with a little bit of scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and a ridiculous amount of engineering skills. His natural leadership inspires classmates to dive deeper into experiments and tackle challenges that they would otherwise avoid. He always has something to add to the scientific discussions we have had in class and truly make science a little more fun in our class. He doesn't just excel personally. He elevates everyone around him with his infectious enthusiasm and collect collaborative spirit. Congratulations to a white for winning the game. Next is the athletes of the year award presented by Mr. Steven and Mr. Nathan. [Applause] So, first I want to thank Mr. Lean for allowing me to present this award and also for a couple of things. One is harassing me at a job fair six years
027ago and convincing me to come here. And the other is uh on my second day of teaching here six years ago asking me if I'd be the assistant flag football coach and I told him no. But again, he was persistent and I'm so glad I did that because it led me to spending so much time with all of these guys both in that sport and many other sports. So, thank you, Mr. Lean. And let's go ahead and get going with the most outstanding female athlete award. This year, Mrs. Hatch, the middle school music teacher, and I bravely embarked on an experiment. We decided to split the eighth graders into an all boys and all girls sections, PE and music. Mrs. Hatch drew the toughest end of the stick in the classroom, dealing with 37 eighth
028grade boys every other day. I had it easier in comparison as I coached many of those boys and had several years of yelling at them under my belt. Yet even so, I did not expect some of the challenges I faced with the girls this year. These girls are ultra competitive. So much so that at times I almost lost control of their PE class. They pulled each other's hair out supposedly on accident. They cussed at each other and even once at me again supposedly on accident. and they argued about ball and strike calls to this now jaded umpire during the softball unit more times than I'll ever be able to or want to remember. That said, this group of girls is also unbelievably supportive of one another. They cheered each other on like crazy when they
029did something well and supported each other when someone was having a down day or playing a sport they simply never played before. I'm so proud of these ladies and how hard they brought it this year. And there are a lot of very good female athletes in this eighth grade class. They're fast, they're strong, and they're determined. But only one can do just about anything. She is the quickest middle school girl I've ever seen. She has the biggest cardio gas tank of any middle school girl I've ever seen. and she is the most determined middle school girl I've ever seen. Yet, through all this athletic achievement, I've never once seen this girl brag. Coming of age, smack dab in the middle of the Tik Tok generation, this may be her most impressive quality. She expects to
030be great, and when she is, time and time again, she only smiles and moves on to the next thing. This girl was the best volleyball player in the fall, the best soccer player in the winter, the best defender on the basketball court, and broke three school records on the track. One being the 400 meter dash, a race that, in my opinion, is the hardest thing to be great at in any sport. It's a full sprint around the entire track, far longer than what is natural for the human body. It's a race where you slowly start to feel your body break down. first your legs and then your arms and finally your lungs. It's not only vomit inducing afterwards, but you also feel like throwing up before. All because of the sheer dread of knowing what's
031to come. And this girl not only broke the 400 meter school record, but she broke it by over two seconds, a lifetime in track and field. She did this on championship day, her final solo race of her Colts career. an incredibly clutch performance, especially because last year on the last day of school her seventh grade year, she wrote me a thank you note that ended with the simple line, "I will break the record." After her prediction came true, and she broke the record that day, she lay on the ground near death, saying she tasted blood and couldn't feel her head. But there was no time for complaints because she was needed somewhere else. Her mother and I ordered her up and over to the long jump pit she went where she got third place while
032barely being able to stand. 10 minutes later, she anchored her team's 4x400 meter relay and ran the same brutal race all over again, getting our team first place there as well and cementing our girls track championship. It's clear from this story that this girl is gritty. This girl is strong. This girl is someone who will do anything it takes to win. This girl is, of course, the great Elelliana Irene Morgan. All [Applause] right, now for the boys. The first week of PE, this class's sixth grade year, I knew something was different about this group of boys. Not only were they already just about as big, fast, and strong as that year's eighth graders, but they also treated PE as if it was warfare. In fact, during my very first unit of the year, flag football,
033I had to deter a fight in the locker room and help someone stop crying because he lost. Later in the year, Mr. Lean, being a former PE teacher and way more creative or maybe brave than me, bought a glow-in-the-dark basketball and told me he used to let his students play basketball in the dark back in the day. It's an excellent tool for teaching body awareness and communication, he said. I bought some glow stick bracelets to differentiate teams, taped some glow sticks to the backboard for a light source, and greeted my first class of the day with almost as much enthusiasm as they had. Well, my first class was a class consisting of several of the boys on this stage. And within 15 minutes, they were fouling each other in the dark spots of the gym,
034literally two hand pushing each other onto the floor. I shut down the activity that day, but in all seven of my other classes, it went smoothly and without issue. Flash forward to this year. These boys are now nearly men. Some of them, from a distance, look like grown-ups, and several of them are the fastest people in the gym right now. Still, if you interact with them for more than 30 seconds, you realize they are still kids. Someone farting is the funniest thing they've ever experienced. And they make up new words for everything. And they use them so much I find myself using them. Despite these moments of immaturities, immaturity still holding on, I still couldn't be more in awe of what they become or more excited about what's still to come. Yet, there's one boy
035in this group that always stood out to me. He was always one of the top athletes in the class, an absolute program changer that has made me look so good as a coach. But he carried himself in a slightly different way. When competing with his classmates, whether in PE or on one of our sports teams, he never once had a moment of losing his cool. He never got mad at his teammates, the refs, the coaches, or even himself. He simply had the personality of a welladjusted adult from the moment I met him. Humble, kind, and always considering the big picture. One moment during PE last year when some of his fellow classmates were crashing out on me for a supposed bad call I made, I asked him, "Hey, why aren't you getting upset like everybody
036else?" Without hesitation and in a tone of voice that was almost confused because of how easy the answer was, he responded because it's middle school [Laughter] PE. Yet, despite this coolheadedness, this is just this student's just as competitive as anyone else on this stage. It's the oddest combination of intensity and calmness I have seen at this age level. A young man with all the testosterone of a high schooler, yet all the wisdom of an elder. I will always remember this year's top athlete, not for what he accomplished, which was an incredible amount. Multiple school records and the major part of seven trophy winning teams during middle his middle school career, including four first place conference championships. But instead, I will remember him for how he accomplished it. Being a true guy's guy, coaches, player, and
037someone everyone on this stage I know can't help but love like a brother. It's my honor to introduce this year's top male athlete, Javiero Fernandez. Next is the Deshawn Glover Awards presented by Mrs. Mary Glover. [Applause] Good morning. [Music] Morning. I'm going to kind of do this backwards from what I've done before. I want to say this year I am proud to award the two students that I'm going to name for the Deshan Glover Award. Broy Hiller, do not assassin Ranada. [Music] This award is given by my husband and myself. We set it up back in 2008. My son passed away. Deshawn was a student at contin school always had and had a rough life or start in life. We believed in sec second chances as a family and he believed in that also. When
038he was adopted by us, he had chosen chance as his middle name. He was known for his smile, being friendly, caring, and influenced everyone that he knew. Each year, the staff chooses two of the students, and this year she recipented by Miss Simone Knight and Mrs. Good morning everyone. Um so we're changing things up. We are going to call these two students um to the front. Um our first individual is Braden Teale. And the second one I would like to announce is Brody Smith. [Applause] So, it's not normal for us to have two students up here. And I just want to emphasize every one of these kids up here has shown tremendous improvement. And I'm sorry I've cried more today than I could when my other kids were promoting. Sorry. You knew this was gonna
039happen. You knew this was gonna happen. Here we go. Okay. Um, self-improvement is essential to all of us because it drives personal growth, helping individuals to become the best versions of themselves by continually seeking to improve individuals adapt better to challenges, build strong stronger relationships and achieve greater satisfaction in their lives. Ultimate ultimately improvement fosters a mindset of lifelong learning and growth, which is key to being successful in this everchanging world. Um so with Brad and Teasdale middle school teachers um as a group have recognized the distinction of how much he has grown academically, emotionally, socially and personally. Um so we congratulate him and we know he is on to better things as he goes on to high school. So congratulations keeping it together. So, thank you, Brody. So, this year, Brody has shown remarkable
040growth as an eighth grader. Last year when I met him, he was quiet and reserved. He used to keep to himself and avoid drawing any of attention. He has stepped out of his comfort zone and become an active participant in his classes and with his peers. He has a genuine interest in history and getting a 99 on his civics test. [Music] Last year, I wouldn't have imagined him speaking in front of a large group, but now he does it with such courage. He has also started to come out of his shell and finding his voice both in and outside the classroom. Along with his growth, he has demonstrated kindness, compassion, and sincere willingness to support others. His transformation has been inspiring to watch. Sorry. And it's for that reason that sorry we knew that was
041gonna happen that Brody Smith is being recognized with the most improved award. [Applause] Next is the Green Valley Kuanas Club Awards presented by Mr. John Steve. [Music] [Applause] Well, first off, I have to say it. I just have to say it. Aloha. Got here. Um, first off, I am not Pastor John Steve. Pastor Pastor Steve had a grandson at a promotion at another school today. So, you've got me. I am Warren Sergeant, the president of the Kuanas Club. And we have with us uh by our news member Tamara Remath. She is the Okay, we're going to call two students up here. Uh let's go with Elelliana Morgan. Excuse me. There's my funny voice. Sebastian Mercedes. [Applause] The uh Quantis Club over in Green Valley sponsors the builder club here at Continental School. And uh we
042have Builder's Club members up here. Raise your hand. Come on you guys. They've got a lot of different words. Yes. with great honor and privilege to present the outstanding award student. This award is given to a student who has demonstrated exceptional achieve academic achievement, strong leadership and a positive impact on our school community. This year's rece recipient has not only excelled in their studies but has also a remarkable dedication to helping others, participating actively and extra extracurricular activities and setting an inspiring example for their peers. Let's get our award winners. [Music] Next is the Continental Teachers Awards presented by Mrs. Wendy F. [Applause] [Music] Okay, let's try it this time. So the Continental Teachers Award is um the teachers actually at the end of the year we sit around and talk about all of you
043if you knew that but um so a great all-around student is someone who excels not only academically but also demonstrates strong character leadership and models by example in their daily actions. They're motivated, responsible, curious and consistently strive to do their best in all areas. They show respect to peers and teachers, work well in teams, and can be counted on to always do what is right. These are the qualities we try to develop in all of our students. But at the end of the year, we um have come together to award two exceptional students who demonstrate these on a daily basis. So, it is my honor and privilege to award the Continental Teachers Award to Yara Vargas and Braden Galler. [Music] Next is the parent teacher club awards presented by Mrs. Holly Watcott, Mr. Nathan. [Applause]
044All right, I'm presenting two awards and then Mr. Pilman has been gracious enough to present the last one. The first one, let's call up Thomas Ecker, Adeline Adams. So Thomas received the great achievement K through eight award. That means that he's been here at Continental since kindergarten through 8th grade. Um he's truly outstanding among his peers. His character and respectful nature helped to create a positive atmosphere wherever he goes. What is most impressive about Thomas is his approach to work. He gives maximum effort on every assignment and is dedicated to being the best he can be. These qualities have earned him not just academic success, but also achievements in many other areas, including sports and music. We are proud to recognize Thomas for his outstanding achievements. Adams is a remarkable young woman. She received the
045highest GPA. So not only achieved the highest academic excellence with her top GPA GPA, but she has done it with extraordinary grace. Adeline approaches challenges with the poise and kindness that is rarely seen in someone so young. Her combination of academic brilliance and genuine compassion for others make her truly deserving of this recognition. Congratulations to Adeline for earning the highest GPA for the eighth grade class of 2025. All right. So, thank you again to PTC and Holly for letting me do this. When it was decided who would get this award, I really wanted to be involved. And this award is for most outstanding cult. And as I was writing this, I realized it's almost like an MVP. And I don't want to say that exactly because there's a lot of other awesome awards, too. But
046this is like a very well-rounded just good at everything kind of award and exactly the kind of student that we want here at our school. So before I go into this year's most outstanding Colts qualities and what makes them so perfect for this award, I want to talk a little bit about what it means to be a cult. And I don't mean our school's creed or goals or culture. I mean in the wild or on a ranch, what qualities does a cult, the animal actually have? First, I hope we all know that a cult is a young male horse. It's why we call our girls sports teams the Lady Colts and have started getting uniforms that match the slight difference. But as far as defining characteristics go, a cult is extremely energetic. There's an undeniable
047aura behind a cult's movements and behavior. Cults are aggressive, cults are playful, and cults are curious. Quite simply, cults are full of life, and it's impossible not to notice. They not only exude physical awe, but they also carry an extreme amount of potential. Someday, a cult may become a stallion. Big, strong, athletic, and aggressive, these are real go-getter horses that make ranchers a lot of money. Through breeding, racing, and general competition, a truly exceptional stallion can earn a rancher hundreds of thousands of dollars. This year's most outstanding cult not only embodies what it means to be a cult right now. smart, curious, energetic. But in the future, it would not surprise me at all if this person becomes a truly exceptional adult. One that we all look back on and say, "I went to school
048with that person." You see, some cults on this stage have been Colts since preschool. And there's something undeniably cultlike about these students. They've heard the kind, safe, responsible creed and the colts rock, a call to assembly attention and the once a cult, always a cult morning announcement reminder since they were old enough to count to 10. Yet others here joined us later, some adapting more than others, to all of our cultlike ways. And I believe some here, and especially our most outstanding cult, was born a cult, even if they only joined our school a little less than three years ago. This year's most outstanding cult is a leader in the classroom. One teacher called this student, quote, "One of the most respectful students in our school while still maintaining a sense of humor." While another
049said, quote, "This student leads by example and is a one ina- million kid I will never forget." This year's most outstanding cold is a leader in athletics. This year he broke a school football record, two school track records, was the best defensive basketball player I've ever coached, and he was also one of the best wrestlers in our school's history. This year's Colt is someone who, when our boys basketball team was in a playoff game late against Calabasas, a team that had beat us by 34 earlier in the season, and he was working his butt off to keep us in the game so tired he could barely breathe and asked me to come out of the game. I angrily told him absolutely not. And he just nodded his head and kept on going. His fullcourt pressure,
050steals, and clutch scoring helping us seal the win. and the greatest sports turnaround I've been a part of since I started coaching here. This moment is the perfect moment to represent this guy as a person. This year's most outstanding Colts will grind and grind and grind because he knows no other way. All talent aside, that's what makes him truly great. This year's most outstanding Colt is Jonathan JJ. [Music] The next award is the Optimus Club Award presented by Mr. Kevin Walsh and Mr. Steven Leon. [Applause] Good, good morning. Morning. Nobody's uh quite mentioned it so far, but uh the decorations for this year's promotion are amazing. It's a pretty killer summit. The uh the famous club of Green Valley Serena uh has 21 members. That's uh that's a pretty small club. Uh we're not exclusive.
051We uh we're always looking for more members, but uh there's 21 folks that have stuck with us. We're a service organization and we're dedicated to helping kids. That's uh that's who we work for all year. Excuse me. Getting over getting over a cold. Last uh excuse me, last week we uh we gave out scholarships to eight graduating seniors at Walden and Serena. Uh those were $2,000 scholarships which we hope will give them a hand in getting on the right path in their life. Excuse me. the students that we gave the uh awards to the the scholarships um weren't the top students at school, but they were the students that we thought needed the help the most. And that's kind of been our theme uh is to uh is to give a helping hand to the
052the kids that need it the most. our uh our gift, our award uh that we give out each year here is to the what we call the comeback kid. And uh in the past that's been somebody that maybe didn't start out on the right foot or maybe it was somebody who was never came out of their shell but eventually did. And uh so our uh our award is for that that person that's not necessarily shown the most improvement, but the person that has has turned their turned themselves around. Uh Mr. Lean is going to talk a little bit about that person and we'll give them our [Applause] award. All right. So, I want to give a shout out to the Optimist Club really quick while I'm up here, too, because with three weeks before the
053track season started, they donated money that allowed us to get hurdles for the first time in Continentals history. So, thank you. And our track teams gave that back 10fold by bringing home two championship first place trophies for boys and girls. So, we can take that back to the [Applause] this the comeback kid award. This individual is one that didn't really get in a lot of trouble but didn't really put themselves out there in the beginning of their career here at Continental School. Over the last year or two, we've seen this person kind of blossom socially, start to make new friends, and become an very important um and integral part of this eighth grade class. I think everybody on the stage at this point would call this person a friend, which isn't easy to do when
054there's 650 kids on our campus where all kids respect you and call you a friend. regardless of what conversations or conflicts um you may get into. This student also started engaging more in their studies and working harder and we saw that as they improved academically as well. I'd like to welcome up to the podium Robert Estrada. [Music] [Applause] Next is the Continental Foundation Awards presented by Mrs. Bonnie Clar and Mrs. Julie Cerui. [Applause] Good morning. Morning. The Continental School Foundation. We have three awards we would like to uh present. The first one goes for the academic achievement award. And if Owen Crawford Owen is being recognized with a high academic certificate award for his outstanding performance in the classroom. As an eighth grade student, Owen has consistently demonstrated dedication, focus, and a strong work ethic.
055His commitment to academic excellence sets a positive example for his peers. This award celebrates his hard work and well-earned success. Congratulations. The second award is for outstanding service and this goes to Isabelle Zimmerman. Isabelle exemplifies what it means to put others first. With a heart for service, she has consistently stepped up to help her classmates and teachers without being asked. She has dedicated her own personal time to help our school and community in a variety of ways. Her selfless actions and kind spirit set an example for us all and demonstrate the remarkable impact one young person can have through service. Congratulations. [Applause] And the final award is for inspiration if Journey Kirk Journey is being presented. She's being presented with this award for following student for her outstanding ability to uplift and motivate those around
056her. Clearly, we just saw that when she came up here. Through her resilience, positivity, and unwavering support for others, she has become a source of encouragement and strength within the school community. Her actions, both big and small, have inspired classmates to persevere, stay true to themselves, and strive for their best. She exemplifies the true spirit of leadership through kindness and compassion. We are proud to announce that the inspirational peer award goes to jury I would like to uh invite Victoria [Applause] Freeland Morgan. The foundation knows these ladies because they have been the student representatives on the foundation board this year. They have both been outstanding. They have a commitment to the foundation uh meetings. They come every month and they give us the uh update on what they're doing in school. So on behalf of
057the foundation, I would like to present you with Next is the Mason Taylor Music Award presented by Mrs. Cynthia Bleti and Mrs. Amanda Hatch. [Music] Good morning everyone. It is our great pleasure to present the Mason Taylor Musician of the Year Award. An honor that recognizes not only outstanding musical achievement, but also character, dedication, and the impact a student has on our community. I've had the privilege of working with this incredible student since they were in fifth grade. From the very beginning, it was clear that they had something special. Not just talent, but passion, focus, and a willingness to go above and beyond to grow as a musician. Over the years, I've watched their dedication turn into true artistry. They've consistently impressed directors and clinicians at our festival competitions. always earning high praise. And on
058multiple occasions, they have recognized or been recognized with outstanding soloist awards, a rare and well-earned honor. But what truly sets this person or individual apart is not just their musical gift. It's their character. They're the kind of person who lifts up the entire ensemble, who leads with kindness, humility, and grace. They're supportive of their peers. They're respectful to their teachers and an absolute joy to work with. This year, something truly special happened. A generous donor from our community reached out and asked if they could give the gift of music to a student who has not only excelled musically, but also embodied integrity, perseverance, and heart. Without hesitation, this student came to mind for both of us. Thanks to this donor's kindness, this student will receive their very own instrument to carry with them into high
059school and beyond. And just a little shout out to Miss Hatch. She spent a lot of time repairing this instrument, cleaning it, and getting it ready for this kid. This award is named in honor of Mason Taylor, a student whose passion for music and strength of character left a lasting mark. Today's recipient truly lives up to that legacy. And now we have the honor and privilege of presenting the Mason Taylor Musician of the Year Award to Adeline Adams. Mom, do you want to get a picture? You have the plaque here. Let's go. Next are the six Elks Excellence Awards presented by Mr. Ken Dickerson. [Applause] [Music] Good morning students, teachers, faculty, family, and friends. I'm here today on behalf of the Green Valley Elks Lodge to present six awards to six students who have achieved
060what I believe is the beginnings of greatness. The inspiration you experienced should be a path you follow your entire lives. Sometimes the inspiration comes from your teachers, sometimes from your families, sometimes from your fellow classmates and friends, but often that inspiration comes from within yourselves. However it happens, it's important that you recognize you are ultimately responsible for your own achievements. You should appreciate and thank those whom you believe inspired you at some level. The Green Valley Elks Lodge Auxiliary added a small award to each of you with your certificates. On a personal note, I was inspired in my ninth grade. I was assigned to do a careers class. Choose a career, write a paper. I failed to do that. Towards the end of the year, the professor, my English teacher, came to me after class,
061had me sit down and explain to me, "If I didn't do it, nobody else would." That stuck with me. That was an inspiration through my entire life and career. I hope that something here today and through your course of your year and on through school inspires you to greatness. I have an award here for excellence in writing. [Music] Adeline Adams [Applause] I have an award here for excellence in perseverance to Jacel Bie Hernandez. [Applause] I have an award here for outstanding excellence in art. Jason Jaden Herbert. [Applause] I have an award here for excellence in social studies. Brody [Applause] Smith. I have an award here for outstanding excellence in citizenship. Vivana Argones. [Applause] I saved the last one because this has something to do with my life, too. I did everything I could in math,
062calculus, everything all the way accounting. When I got out of college, I go, I don't think I'll ever use that. I did 20 some years in law enforcement and new chief came in and said, "We need somebody to do financial investigations." Anybody know anybody that has that experience? Guess what? I got stuck with it. So, you never know when it's going to happen. I have an award here for outstanding excellence in math. Landon Hanan. [Applause] Thank you. [Applause] Thank [Applause] [Music] you. Next is the Golden Horseshoe Student Achievement Award presented by Mrs. Roxanna [Applause] Rico. Okay, you're doing an awesome job. Boys and girls, do you want to just stand up real quick and sit right back down? Just stretch. Adults, you can too. Quick up and down if you need to. Yes. Shake it
063out. Okay, good. Thank you. We're almost done. You're doing amazing. We never expect them to sit this long and I know it's hard for the adults as well. I would like to invite for the Golden Horseshoe Student Achievement Award, Jacob Douly. Please stand up. [Applause] When considering a candidate for this award, the teachers look for a well-rounded individual who does well academically, is a model student with behavior, and who is involved in activities in school. We look at their character and this particular individual excels in kindness, humility, responsibility, goodness, and positive energy making them a wonderful presence in and out of the classroom. The person is well respected. Jacob is well respected by teachers, staff, and classmates, and is a role model to others. The hard work, effort, and dedication demonstrated in all areas of
064school make Jacob deserving of this extremely special award. And it's with great pleasure that we present you with the Golden Horseshoe Award. And he will have a Golden Horseshoe Student Achievement Award with his name and date on it that we'll get to you at the end of the day. Okay. Or tomorrow. Thank you. [Applause] The next The next award is a principal's award presented by Mrs. Diana Quas. [Music] Okay, I hadn't got emotional, but I've been watching you guys this whole time and I'm starting to get have a lot of good memories with a lot of you in here. So, the principal's award is an award that celebrates students with growth, resilience, and character that they've shown along the way. And I would like to call up the first student who will be receiving this
065award, which is Amelio Bion. So stay right here. Amelio approaches every task with a thoughtful heart and focused mind. He is someone you can count on to do the right thing even when no one is watching. Alio, your steady leadership and respect for others are deeply appreciated by your teachers and your peers. The next award is Vivana Aragon. [Applause] Viviana, thank you for bringing kindness and determination in everything you do. It's been a pleasure also watching you throughout the years grow in jazz band. I see that passion and dedication you've had and it's been beautiful. She leads not with volume but with values, hard work, integrity and compassion. Viviana, you are a quiet force of nature and your drive to succeed while lifting others along the way inspires not only your peers but inspires us
066all. Thank you. And lastly, Bryson Bizuki. Bryson. Bryson shows us the power of humility and leadership. With quiet confidence and an unshakable work ethic, he consistently demonstrates excellence not just in academics but in how he treats every person with dignity and care. Bryson, your leadership is a gift to this school. [Applause] Congratulations. And the last award, the last award is the high expectations award presented by Mrs. Roxanna Rico. All right. This award is a very special award. It is the High Expectations Award um that grants one of our eighth graders $1,000 for their freshman year of college and $1,000 for their second year of college. So, it'll be waiting for them. I'd like to call up Miss Marisella Seran, please. Marisella truly embodies excellence in every sense of the word. She has shown remarkable growth
067not just in academics but as a whole person over the years. What sets her apart is her unwavering dedication to meeting high standards in everything she pursues. She is always willing to lend a helping hand to ensure others can succeed as well. This combination of personal drive and genuine care for others success makes her absolutely extraordinary. We can't wait to witness all that she will accomplish in the years ahead. With such determination and heart, your future is undoubtedly bright. We are so proud to give you this award. and afterwards I will need her um family members to come and sign and you have to sign so we can keep it on file and after you enroll in college or university you'll be able to come back and we'll give you your money. Okay. Thank you.
068[Applause] Congratulations. I think we're about ready, boys and girls. Now for the promotion of the class 2025. Please welcome Continental School Board President, Mr. Steven Austerly. um our superintendent, Miss Roxanna Rico, and our principal, Diana Quos, and our director of student services, Mr. Steven Lake. The following classrooms will be announced by Andy Vance. Welcome families. I'm very proud of this group right here. They've been exceptional all year long and it's just a testament of their uh environment and their families. So, it's a privilege to have been their teacher and it's a privilege to live here in this community with all of you. Without further ado, we're going to go ahead and begin the ceremony. But before that, I I do want to tell you guys that I will I will miss you very much. All
069of you. I really It's been just such a pleasure being your teacher and I will miss you and I want you to know that no matter what happens in your life in the future, you come to a crossroad. If you need to talk to somebody, my door is always open. I'm sure I speak for everyone here that our door is always open. We love you. I love you very much. And I will pray for you that you will have a blessed life and a prosperous [Applause] life. Put the first rope in stand. Alan Adams, [Applause] Michael Adams, [Applause] Vivana Andrea Abagonis, Rana Ariana, Dante [Applause] Arno, Renata, Isabella, Arvisu, Seos, Aren Lanco, Bryson [Applause] Bosuku, Banks, Brandon, Emo, Bon, [Applause] Santra [Music] [Applause] Bun, John Clay, Ethan Khan, Lily Kazino, Laya [Applause] Kazano, O Crawford
070[Applause] Lillian Davis, Kase [Applause] Delansancy, Ivan Diaz, Jacob Don, Kylie DS Ani Sophia Drunk [Applause] Thomas Eert Riley, [Applause] Robert [Applause] Estrada, Javier Pavil Fernandez. [Applause] Alexandra Fruit, [Applause] Maya Gomez, [Applause] Ryan Brand, [Applause] Jaden Heber, [Applause] Landon Highland, Felix [Applause] Hernandez, Braden Era, Mark Ival, Rodie Hiller, [Applause] Landon How'sley [Applause] Riley EK Carter Jackson [Applause] Jonathan Joiner, Angela Kesler, [Applause] Journey Kirk, Janelli Leaspi, Alexa, [Applause] Jasmine Martinez, [Applause] Alanali Martinez, Marianis, [Applause] Jace [Music] McGee, Callahan McKenzie, Sebastian Merc, [Applause] And we on our board Dylan Lopez, [Music] Ian Oaha. Liam O'Neal, Charlie Ortega, [Applause] Ector Ro, Aiden S. [Applause] McKinley Salash, Marisella Serrano, [Applause] Isabelle Simmerman, Brody Smith. Good job, Tyler Sweeney. Brandon Teasdale, [Applause] Laura Visa, Jay Bas, Jazelle Bas, [Applause] [Music] Abraham White, [Applause] Congratulations class of 2025. Each year, the promoting
071class comes up with a gift to the school. Our class has decided to give to the school two continental cult flags to be displayed alongside our American flag on our flag [Applause] pole. We are joining two Okay, sorry. We are done with two flags so they were able to last longer after we have left for continental. And now for the closing remarks from Mrs. Rico. All right, let's give it a round of applause for our amazing 2025. And I have a quick message for you boys and girls. I want you to continue to be bright, be brave, be bold, be beautiful, and be you. And once a cult, so be a good kind cult. Go forth and do. We love you all and you've done an amazing job. So again, one more great big round
072of applause. Thank you all for joining us today. We would like to thank all the parents who helped decorate the gym for our special day. Would all the parents who assisted please stand? [Applause] There will be refreshments in room 170 across the hall. After the refresh, we would we would appreciate it if families could help take down the chairs so the students can begin their celebratory lunch and festivities. Thank you all for joining us this morning. [Music] Let's go somewhere. [Applause] Let's [Music] just imagine what the face is on the faces to the sun. Praising God forever. [Music] Forever to me. That's it.