Teaching receptive skills to business English students Being able to listen and read is an indispensable part of being a fluent user of the English language. I have been teaching business English since 1993 and know that the primary tasks of my students are acquiring exposure to the English-speaking business environment, immersing themselves in Anglophone culture and being able to comprehend complex ideas in their professional fields through different media. As broadband internet connection becomes ever more pervasive, students are switching from printed information sources to video and text content available online. Learners increasing demands represent an even greater challenge for me as an EFL tutor. The question then becomes, how do I tackle this challenge in my everyday teaching practice? Why teaching receptive skills is important? At the very beginning of my teaching career I realized that most of my students were able to express their ideas and even pose questions to foreigners but were unable to comprehend their answers. This discovery therefore became one of the many good reasons for me to task myself with teaching reading and listening in the first place. When I first started teaching a quarter of a century ago, Soviet tutors lacked the necessary knowledge of contemporary learning techniques, therefore I had to find appropriate approaches by means of trial and error. At the earliest of junctures in my career, I found that the key to teaching receptive skills effectively is exposure to what native speakers say and write. Problems for Russian students The main challenge was, and is, that the Russian language is totally different from the English language in terms of phonetics and syntax. Moreover, the two languages have very few common words. Thus, students require relatively strong level of English to be able to understand even the simplest of phrases. To make matters worse, business professionals came to my classes late at night, exhausted after long working hours, thereby forcing me to confront very short attention spans. The solutions I have found My solution was to make exposure to the English language as enjoyable and level appropriate as possible. In order to motivate my learners and to develop fluency in reading and listening I used materials tailored to their professional interests, for example sales, accounting, web design, marketing, etc. Once I gained their attention we started practicing receiving and interpreting messages within their professional vocabularies. This increase in attention spans enabled me to generate improved fluency through classroom language learning experience. My learners extensively practiced both top-down listening and more conscious accuracy focused listening without even realizing it. As I gained experience and learned more about the psychology of teaching and the way memory worked, I implemented more sophisticated methods based on skills and strategies my students had already developed in their native Russian language, such as inferring, predicting, skimming, and scanning. A few years after the fall of the Iron Curtain more British-made learning materials became available, thus greatly enriching my professional toolkit. Through a good deal of repetition, exposure, imitation and drilling with those newly available and highly desirable materials, fluency was the final outcome. Teaching strategies that I use today As my students progressed from beginner to intermediate levels, my main task is to familiarize them with the different types of listening and reading activities that exist. In the case of listening these are understanding the key structures, looking for subject and predicate in each sentence, listening for key figures and or facts, and following the speaker as he or she switches from one topic to another, for example in news. In the case of reading these activities are scanning, skimming, receptive reading, intensive reading and extensive reading. Intensive reading activities develop the skill of careful reading that helps a learner to uncover the exact ideas the author seeks to convey. Financial executives and lawyers are usually taught reading for professional, informational purposes, they need to understand semantic and linguistic detail and to be able to focus intensely on the text. The most proficient skill is extensive reading, through which students should understand all of the details contained within a professional text, financial, legal etc. At this stage their speed and skills in grasping the general idea become the most important factor. The results of my teaching strategies Now I am able to teach my students to the level at which they become very fluent in reading and listening, fluent to the extent that many of them have been asked whether they had previously lived in the UK or North America. They achieved this level of fluency, despite having never been immersed in a native English speaking environment. Instead they benefit from immersion in listening during my classes and by making use of the entire array of media available today. Listening to business conferences, major TV channels, YouTube, vlogs and social media. Are you interested in teaching English as a foreign language? Speak with an ITTT advisor today to put together your personal plan for teaching English abroad. Send us an email or call us toll free at 1-800-490-0531 to speak with an ITTT advisor today.


a. So I do think it's worthwhile for us to do it for our, as Jeff pointed out, cascading down subcontractors that were impacted by this. And that was, and just to close out, a little bit over. And that was kind of DOE's retort leading up to the industry's issues meeting, is that in order to get really traction, and bring these long-standing languishing issues to a close that identify the Cognizant Security Office that's causing the issue, propose a resolution, and that's the metric that we could track as a forum, and that's the value proposition. The Cognizant Security Office is a 17-nids that's on hold. Where's the holdup? Where's the breakdown in the process? So that way we could determine rightfully as CSAs and CSOs is it at the policy level, whether it's national level or CSA implementation, or is it somewhere downstream? That'll be helpful. And I think to close out, Jeff has pledged to bring DOD's information to give us a data point if there's a much larger cast. But I think DOD has preponderance and I think the information they provide is going to yield us the information we need to go forward smartly. Thank you. All right. Yeah, wait for another? One more. That's from the the methods. Okay. Last but not least, and also, yeah, I'm very interested. Thank you so much, I know in the interest of time and we're a little bit over. So we'll jump right into that. What is unique about this slide that you've heard from various departments and agencies today about their statistics in terms of timeliness. And so these slides actually do depict data that has been collected from only DOD, OPM and the IC. But the further breakdown of that and this is unique for contractor data that includes agencies contributions from CIA, DIA, SCI, NGA and RO and NSA and State Department. I believe we've captured most of the departments and agencies that are still in the room. That's out of methodology. Most of you are familiar with that and we're currently using the second PICCA 2012 methodology here on the bottom. This slide represents industrial personnel security timeliness metrics as it relates to quarters. So if you take a look at this slide we're comparing each of the investigative pipe secret confidential top secret and periodic investigation. And we're looking at the green bar so on the chart across the board and the purple block. So in comparison to those two items we did see a slight increase in secret and confidential processing totaling within the number of days and also a decrease as well and periodically. This is a snapshot for secret clearances for SLI 19 quarter one.  But if you take a look at this it's 227 days in total for this secret process at this point in time. And that is a 7-day increase from last quarter. Top secret clearances that includes the legacy types as well as the SSCI and the tier 5 investigations we saw an increase here so 423 days in totality which is an increase of 31 days from last quarter. Periodic investigation you'll also see here 331 days we did have a slight decrease in numbers. So all questions please send us an email and I'll open up the floor for any questions. The decrease in PRs is attributed to modifications in our processing as it relates to ways in which we can find efficiencies in processes. So to relate to that you saw some of the statistics from DOD so Heather Green and I have been working closely together as well as Director Phelan staff as well over at MBIV to really drive down some of those processes. So the timeliness associated with those processes. So the partial government shutdown definitely did impact some of those numbers. I don't know if you were here previously for the quarter but we actually had to caveat our numbers so the department and agencies were not able to report their timeliness metrics back in what was it quarter four of 18 and so we had to give those folks time to get back into the office. We prioritized their work and then we were able to process for a list of agencies who can look online. I didn't bring them all with me but also that included some of the subcomponents of those major organizations. Any other questions? Good afternoon. Recognizing that we are already over time I will be, I will be very brief. The Defense Office of hearings and appeals as most of you know is the due process authority that is the only authority for denials and revocations for not only DOD contractors but contractors with the 30 other federal departments and agencies under the MISP exception of the intelligence community agencies, Department of Energy NRC and a handful of others we are the place where clearances get denied or revoked. The good news is that we do not have a backlog. In fact our workload is at steady state at all of the stages where we work right now we get our cases exclusively from the DOD CAF we work closely with the DOD CAF to ensure that that works smoothly. We are getting right now, we have on hand a small number of the statements of reasons. It is actually 239 active statements of reasons. We have approximately no exactly 472 cases pending hearing 340 cases pending administrative judges. We are all within normal limits. The other good news is that we believe that in the coming year two of the things we talk about investigative standards and adjudicative standards are probably the two biggest innovations that affect the workload that we share with the CAF is continuous evaluation which can in theory increase the workload but if it is managed correctly it just helps us find the needles and the haste back bigger. That is at least our earnest hope. The other thing is I want to answer quickly a question that Greg asked which was may have mentioned rhetorically but the concern about e-adjudication is real. One of the reasons that e-adjudication has historically not worked as well for industry as it does for the military departments and historically the numbers for the military departments are significantly higher than they are for industry. Applicants are older. They have been around longer. There are just more facts in their cases and as a result they don't pass the current e-adjudication business rule. Ned alluded to the fact that those rules are being retooled and with luck probably the best thing that we can do in the coming year for the DOD CAF is to come up with more robust e-adjudication business rules that allow more cases to pass and as suggested when in a world where we have historically and this is a 30 year number only deny the revoked approximately 1.5% of the cases that means that we should be able to do much better than we are currently doing with the e-adjudication. Those are the two big heavy lists for the coming year but as of right now Delha is healthy and looking forward to continue to work with the DOD CAF and DVD. Thank you. Again, we will be July 18th here at the National Archives in this room and then also on November 20th I hope to see you all then. Okay, meeting adjourned. That concludes our conference. Thank you for using AT&T Event Conferencing and Hunt. You may now disconnect.


What what are you sighing about doing what you're not eating on camera? They do what is there Western bagel near here? We have bagels you have bagels here After all of my pine in what kind of bagels You have cream cheese If we bagels we have cream cheese Well, that's not always the case You could have had bagels and cream cheese and ate them and then you had the cream cheese gone on this leftover bagels And now all you have is the bagels which are you don't want to eat the bagel without the cream cheese Butter you could put the butter on the bagel, but that's not the same as the bagel with the cream cheese Corbin, I'm Italian and Jewish Instagram and Twitter He doesn't like that you're not I've had a DNA check I do have Irish in me What you you haven't because you're scared that it's not a hundred percent pure Irish my dad has He pooped in a bag. Why? What's new about that my dad does that all the time This is a new trailer a to logo. No cool. I want to read all this. I do want to read all that. It's a to logo movie trailer It is several a room Nick of a room and my hash babu note several a room Nick of a room Nick of a room which translates to nobody can match you There's a story that revolves around an army major played by my hash babu Who is deployed in Kermul to keep the country safe from external threats, okay? Robles run an army major who's deployed to where is co-couple? Do you know? Mm-hmm. It said where he is deployed No, that region of India No, I do know and it was subbed by your subbers because it wasn't subbed who are the greatest Subbers on the planet. That's a fact. That is a fact.  I don't know. Okay, and that wasn't anything like I was expecting based on what we just read Well, I first I thought it was like some family comedy When they were all in the train. Yeah, so it was at first. I thought it was gonna be like a Family comedy. Yeah, like a foreign sons or something like that or like even better. Yeah, but I hope yeah And so I thought it was gonna be that and then it turned into like almost some type of fight like a fighter a Epic hero, right? It's from The obviously as we know a lot of the heroes in Indian cinema are just like the epic to fly physics Yeah, God like right on like heroes And so that's what it turned into and so and we know that a lot of Indian films are very Masala He and so there's a lot going into there's not just one genre right in the film I thought we had seen Something of it. What did you think I'm I'm definitely intrigued I love the playful silly quirky weirdness of the opening half of it Mm-hmm, and I loved the thought that it could have some of the defying physics There was a beautiful stunt moment with that one guy falling sideways on his neck and shoulder ahead. That was amazing His neck is broken So, yeah, I I'm very interested especially if it got a pretty quick runtime if it's not like three hours If it's got a under three hour. Look at us talking about a quick runtime under three hours I'm interested. I'm definitely interested But here's the thing I Don't know that I would have been interested in we did we did we saw the teaser Well, look at us watching the teaser. It was the teaser. It was about a month ago Oh, why I think I remember the name Mahesh Babu And it was really just him fight that fight scene on the outside of the the Coliseum looking thing. Yeah, that's that's what it was Yeah, I thought I reckon I just didn't know that's what this was Totally forgot. Wow. I was wearing the same shirt You were the only S3 shirts. It's true Let me see if we can get a little more synopsis here It comes at the 11th ship of February. I think I think this month could be wrong. Oh, yeah. Is that it January? Yeah So it's a quick. It's going a two-hour runtime A tough army major is deployed to get out and keep the country safe from external threats, but it said nothing about the Interesting comedic aspect of the girl and the family and this back that stuff. So, huh, is that independent state? Is it it's not the 10th? No, it's later in the month. It's like the 25th. Okay, you think this would release on the day. It's like a military film Did no or he didn't get only release on No independent say this, you know, no No, it released early in the year though Maybe it did because we didn't see it right when it came out No, we were at we saw it a few weeks late. It may have interesting Let us know But yeah, the it it was interesting. I Can't tell right now. It's only two hours. Geez, right? Quick runtime we've been watching a lot of films because we have sag screeners and stuff like that for American nominate films because we're both part of the sag unions We get a vote on the sag awards. Yeah, so they send us films and it's a lot of American films are an hour 30 two hours tops usually if it's a 90-minute film, I'm just like Labergast, yeah, it's over so fast. Well, it's true. Did I even watch a film exactly? Yeah, it's from watching with the 60 films we watched in this past year of Indian films. It's definitely made your Change what is a long film and what is not a long film the company Irishman? That was so long I remember it was I remember when we went into Lagann and we were both like Okay, here we go. We're gonna probably have to watch this in segments Okay, here we go. Lagann and now it's like three-hour films or I would put that on Oh, yeah, yeah, especially When you know certain parts are really good and come back into the room and watch the song or there's one song in there I didn't like it. Anyways, that's not what this is about. It isn't sorry. This is good Very interested if you want to see it. Let us know what you thought it's gonna be funny I think it's gonna have action. I think it's gonna be silly


This question is from Mimi Namaskaram Sadhguru In the last few weeks you have been speaking about making home a sweet home to live in However home cannot be sweet for many who are victims of domestic violence and cannot escape anywhere. This is a man complaining or a woman? Mimi, huh? Mimi. Am I am I? Sounds like a woman in Lebanon the number of victims have increased by a hundred percent since March 2019 and The same is happening across the world after the lockdown How can we help them in these difficult days and what can they do to survive this period? Domestic violence. I thought it could be a man because these days women are more fit than men So I thought it's the man complaining, but it's still a woman unfortunately Well So this is what we are trying to change. This is what the world is trying to change because because a woman Or a female human being has certain biological responsibilities in terms of Bringing us all forth here Because of that There were certain Social handicaps which evolved over a period of time These handicaps have been exploited Too harshly in many societies Almost everywhere, but not everybody but everywhere It's happened in some places. It has religious backing In some places it's free enterprise To dominate and exploit a woman Individual people will always do. I want you to understand. It's not just about a woman The individual people have a tendency to exploit anybody who is little weaker than them well People all over the world this used to happen. Fortunately, it's come down considerably now When we were growing up also Everyday at the school You can get beaten for something or the other almost every day. Why are you beating a child?  I went there Those days the 250cc Single stroke Machine was a big motorcycle Today when I park it next to what I have today It looks like a joke, but that day it was big motorcycle on the road.  You must always have some power. I Said not just road just about anywhere if you don't have power, they'll push you around Unfortunately the world has become like this This is why This is why a spiritual space is very important where people are not seen for their strength People are not seen for their physical strength or financial strength or something else like that But people are valued just for what they are We need to build a society like this This Violence within the house. I know a whole lot of people are trying to address it Like it's a man-woman problem. It's not a man-woman problem. This is man versus anything problem Anything that's weaker than you is very small you will stamp it out It's a little big you throw stones at it if it's a little bigger you take a stick and beat it Just about anything Why why do people why did people go about just shooting whatever they saw Wild animals and stuff like that Not always for food if they're just short for food because of their survival.   We must make those choices. We can't fix everything right away but all of you who have children empowering The girl child in your house is the most important thing Empowerment does not mean she should become the exploiter from tomorrow Empowerment is this that you have no need to exploit anybody that is empowerment a Human being is truly empowered that If I sit here, I feel wonderful by myself. I don't have to have ten people behind beneath me for me to feel great This is empowerment This empowerment has to happen means You have to look at the spiritual process the whole world spiritual process Does not mean looking up looking down. It's about turning inward and getting in touch with the essential nature of who we are If we don't touch that We will be like every other animal this happened one day a Lion was walking in the forest and he was feeling like this man in the domestic violence scene Little strutting around thinking like that He saw a fox. He caught him and he said hey, who is the king of the forest?  You are the king of the universe He felt a little more. It got puffed up and then he was strutting around then he saw a Leopard caught him Who is the king of the forest? He shivered Because he's not a match for the lion He said no, no, you are definitely the king of the forest. There is no two ways about it If I had two choices, it would be you and you Then he was feeling really wonderful even a leopard is shivering in front of him And he came to a little opening there.  You could have just told me The tusker said but I had to make my point So this problem that wherever you find somebody who is little weaker than you Physically financially socially politically you want to rub them in This is very animalistic It's okay for the animal kingdom not okay for human beings


Good evening and welcome to the U32 graduation of 2018. At this time, I would like to welcome Bill Elizabeth Palitzos to sing the national anthem. At this time, I would like to welcome Mr. Bill Kendall, the superintendent of Washington County Supervisor Union. Thank you, Stephen. Good evening all on this beautiful night. I would like to welcome our U32 education communities, mothers, fathers, families, friends, U32 staff, and most importantly, the graduating class of 2018 to the 47th commencement ceremony of Union 32. I would like to ask everyone here who came to recognize and support a graduate to stop for a minute at some point during tonight's ceremony and reflect on a memory that stands out for you of either supporting or celebrating the small successes your graduate had along their journey to where they stand tonight.  It started when you first walked into kindergarten. And now here you are today on your way to new journeys and experiences. During that time, you've learned a lot, had great times with your friends, and now you're ready to go. Washington Central Supervisor Union exists to nurture, inspire, and all students the passion, creativity, and power to contribute to their local and global communities. I will always remember this class for two reasons. One, six years ago we both came to U32. And second, more importantly, you have demonstrated this past year to the faculty and to myself what it looks and sounds like to meet this mission statement that I just stated. Your active leadership to make your voice heard in a respectful manner has shown me that you know how to contribute to your local and global communities. Tonight starts a new part of your life.  Go exploring, try new things, and remember the great times, the good friends, and all the knowledge you've gained here while you've been at U32. Welcome again. And to the graduates, have a great future, but do not forget your time here in Washington Central. I believe from this point on, your life will change in one and very important way. You have had a lot of people making decisions for you up to this point, but now it's up to you. Good evening, congratulations to the U32 class of 2018. For those of you who don't know, I'm Stephen Dellinger-Pate, U32's principal. And I want to welcome parents, grandparents, siblings, family, friends, and everyone else who has joined us on this beautiful evening. I want to especially thank our guest speaker tonight, Kathy Toppe, current science teacher in addition to many other roles here at U32. We've reached the culmination of your education from Washington Central, and we are prepared to send you off to contribute to both your local and global community, as you heard from our superintendent. This ceremony is the major event that marks your passage from youth to adulthood. The class that sits before you has shown to our community that they are ready to engage with the world outside of central Vermont. I want to encourage each of our graduates to give back to the community that is supporting you throughout your education. This community has attended your plays, your concerts, your sporting events, and served as your mentors and advisors. This community puts its hopes and dreams in your hands and they expect you to rise to the occasion. Many of you are already given back to the community that supported you all these years. I would like to recognize the seniors that participated in the senior community outreach project this week. Would you please stand? These students went out into the community on Monday to help others, a testament to the spirit of giving that exists at U32. And I want to point to one student in particular, Cole Mulady, who is the only student who showed up in his group and despite the urge to just blow off this service, he went with his chaperone and the two of them completed the job that was slated for a full team. Good job, Cole. You can sit back down. As a member of this community as well, I hope to see each and every one of you become a strong, vital part of our towns, no matter where you travel for school or pleasure. Please remember your home in Central Vermont. I also want to take a moment and recognize the faculty and staff of U32 who give tirelessly and joyfully to educate these students. In tonight's program, we will celebrate our achievements by hearing from students themselves. We will have two student speakers, Zach Schneider and Katie Phillips. And now our first student speaker, Zachary Peter Schneider. Good afternoon, everyone. Today is a big day for all of us, for the students, the parents, the teachers, and more. It has been a long journey here at U32 and now finally we begin a new one, the journey of life.  I'd like to start by thanking my parents.  Thank you to all of my family, my friends, and above all, my amazing God. Without them, I wouldn't be who I am today. This evening, I'd like to talk a little bit about purpose. From the time I was a little boy, I had always thought that I wanted to be a professional athlete of some sort. I'm a dad and my friends.  Now all the celebrities had, those such as Sean White, Channing Tatum, or even Justin Bieber, with many possessions. They lived the life that I admired. But as I grew into the person I am now, I realized that it's never about having things. I've learned that there's more to life. Life is not about your possessions, status, or your swag. Life is about living with a purpose.  Nor did I know where I wanted to go. I mean, I had aspirations and dreams of doing things, but nothing that I set my mind to. As the time progressed, I slowly came to understand why I was living. I found that with strengthening and living by my faith, I found purpose in life. Growing up, becoming a more mature, responsible young man, and just making sense of everything happening around me, has influenced me to find my place in this world. That isn't to say it's easy, or we'll come with the snap of a finger. But we are all here, right now, alive and well. So we need to live with this in mind. As youth leaders, chilly children once said, if you have a pulse, you have a purpose. Four years ago, this class and myself all walked through the doors of U32 High School as a freshman, not really knowing what to expect. Maybe it would be something like in the movies, with the jocks, the geeks, and the popular kids. Fortunately, it wasn't. There was much more life and expression roaming through those halls. So many different people and opportunities for us to gain something from. This was a place where we didn't have to be like the movies. It was a place where we could change, and just be us. From dreadful homework days, to after school curly runs, from late night practices to championship games, and attempted foosball competitions to senior pranks, from each little friend group to the entire class as a whole. Now as seniors, ready to graduate, it is the memories we've created with one another that will be remembered forever. With that being said, I pray that my peers find their passions and purpose in life. May they strive to live for them each and every day. That each and every one of you walks out of here, feeling proud of all that you've accomplished these last four years. And what I want for the class of 2018 and the rest of you to take away from the speech is that life has meaning. Some days are going to be harder than others. Trust me, a lot harder.  Make this life a life worth living. Oh, and remember, this one thing, it's never a goodbye, but always a see you later. Thank you. Thank you, Zach. At this time, I would like to call Caitlin Phillips to this mic. Welcome. Lotus Lake days are a rite of passage for every seventh grader at U32. Two days span outside and freezing weather, playing team building games and learning survival skills. Bundled up in snowsuits, the class of 2018 grumbled their way out of the school. Within 10 minutes we were wet and cold. It did not go uphill from there. One TA wrapped a student in tarp practicing a technique to prevent hypothermia. They then lifted this cocoon student up to transport them and promptly dropped them on the frozen ground. Another TA could not find their campsite and instead wander through the woods before picking a random clearing in which to start their fire. A third TA decided to roast clementines on sticks, which went about as well as you'd expect. I bring up these stories, not to force you to relive these traumatic days, but to show the fortitude of the class sitting before you. Everything went wrong that could go wrong, but we still enjoyed ourselves. When asked, current seniors remembered coming up with hilarious TA chants, building unique snow forts, or actually enjoying those roasted clementines. Every student focused on the good. This perseverance has followed us through our time at U32. Every student sitting here has faced frustration, stress, and loss. The road has not been smooth, but every student here has fought for something, has followed a passion, has supported a friend. I have very little wisdom to offer for our lives after U32, but I know one thing. I can't imagine any of us failing. We are determined, and at the end of six challenging years, we will remember the good, the countless memories and laughs shared with friends, the excitement of new learning, the triumphs of athletic victories, and of course, the best senior prank U32 has ever seen. At the time of Lotus Lake days, teachers and peers may have described the class of 2018 as rowdy, fun, intelligent, or self-conscious. This year, when I asked people to describe our grade, the vast majority of them said one word, diverse. From cross-country running championships, to foosball tournaments, to simply surviving A-push, our classes' accomplishments are not easily categorized. Our interests range as wide as the human imagination, and these passions have blossomed at U32. The graduates in this audience have transformed into individuals. With their incredibly strong spirits, they have accomplished the following things. Calvin Mecha-Smith started his own clothing company, creating a brand that is now famous at U32. Molly McCready broke the Vermont State shot-pot record by over two feet, and will follow fellow seniors Steven Look and Nathan Smoller in competing at the National Track and Field Competition this weekend. Kyle DeRosia started working on a mushroom farm, learning how to grow and distribute the mushrooms for use as medicine and food. Zach Klein recorded two albums of original music and arranged several pieces for the U32 chorus and band. Cole Malidi trained in Brazilian jujitsu, earning a blue belt and competing in six tournaments. Wyatt Mash Curry and Ruby Lam participated in nulls and outward bound respectively, each spending days in the wilderness facing daunting challenges. These examples just scrapped the surface of what the students sitting before you have made happen. I have been and always will be inspired by their accomplishments and curiosity. But we didn't do all these things alone. Every person here has had a hand in our success. So now, as you sit there looking at us and we sit here staring back at you, there are a lot of emotions swirling between us. We are excited and scared, nervously anticipating futures that are not yet in our grasp but are close enough to taste. We are relieved to have made it this far but sad to leave our friends in everything we have known up until this point.  This celebration is as much about you, our families, our friends and our teachers as it is about us. You have raised an incredible group of young adults and we may be terrified to leave but thanks to you, we are so ready. So class of 2018, it's now up to us. Stay strong, stay fun, stay curious and diverse and don't forget this community that has built the foundation from which everything else will grow. At this time, I would like to welcome Emily Cremens to introduce our guest speaker tonight. Good evening, everyone. I am honored to introduce this year's keynote speaker. She is a beloved teacher who for the past 44 years has given countless hours to helping students before school and after school. She has coached cross-country, Nordic skiing and track and field for both the middle school teams as well as the high school teams. Her passion for teaching, her students and her coaching is immeasurable. She is very well loved by all of us and we cannot be more proud to have her speaking tonight. Please help me welcome Kathy Topping. You're probably wondering why I asked you all to come here tonight. Oh yeah, you're graduating. When Emily came to ask me to give this speech, my first reaction was shock. What did she say? Then disbelief, this has to be a joke followed by fear. I can't do this. And finally, humility. Thank you so much for the privilege of speaking to you. In 1968, I sat exactly where you were sitting. Well, not exactly. It was 55.6 miles east of here in Littleton, New Hampshire. I know it's hard for some of you to believe but I did graduate from high school. When I thought about my future, I was only thinking about a few years down the road. I never imagined that I would be standing up here, giving a speech to a group of graduating seniors that I love and the community that I've been part of for the past 45 years. I know one thing though, never again. I have absolutely no memory of my commencement speaker. I cannot remember if it was a man or a woman. I haven't the faintest idea what his or her message was. And my memory is legendary, ask my students. I'm pretty sure that I was only thinking about one thing during that speech. Won't this person please stop talking so I can get my diploma and get out of here? It is possible that one or two of you, are thinking the same thing right now. I have spent many sleepless nights worrying about what I should say to you. I asked my TAs for advice. Ruby said I should say something from my heart and make her cry. Kayla said don't make the speech sappy. Parker said that he would be happy with anything that I wanted to say. Thank you Parker for taking the pressure off. I asked lots of other people for advice. Mark Chaplin, who is well known for his memorable speeches at every sports dessert for the last 40 years, told me to keep it short. It only took him 20 minutes to explain this concept to me. NPR suggested there are four rules you must follow when making a graduation speech. The first rule is to be funny. God knows I'm trying. The second rule is to make fun of yourself. Okay, but it is easier and more satisfying to make fun of Mark. I didn't understand the third rule. Don't ask me about the third rule. So I skipped to the last and most important rule. You must have a message. So here goes now for the message. Seniors, in case you've been dozing, listen, this is the message. Go rock climbing. Now if you did not understand that, this is a metaphor. Really, honestly, I crunch numbers for a reason. I'm not exactly sure I know what a metaphor is, but I think this is one. Go rock climbing. Let me explain. When I graduated from high school, I went off to college expecting to become a scientist and get a job where I could wear a lab coat with a pocket protector. I graduated in 1972 and sadly couldn't find a job without more education. So my father's best friend offered me a job working in an insurance company, learning to program computers. I lasted three months. Then I got the lab job. It was really rewarding work, but I felt isolated until that moment, I had no idea how important it was to me to interact with other people. I didn't know what to do next, but I knew I needed to change direction. I was walking down the hall outside the lab when I saw a poster advertising a program for a master's in education. The first week of the program would be spent, you guessed it, rock climbing.  It was just what I wanted to do, rock climbing. I did not think that that meant that a week later I had to learn to be a teacher. I just wanted to go rock climbing. The week was great. I made new friends including Mark Chaplin who was also rock climbing. Then I started the education program and was sent to U32 to do my student teaching. My first supervisor was a biology teacher who had some very strange ideas about teaching biology with audio tapes. I was ready to quit again. It was time for more rock climbing. I mentioned I was planning to try something else when I met the woman who changed my life. Her name is Rachel Macanellen and I'm sure there are people in the audience today who remember her. She asked me, can you do math? I said, yeah. She convinced me to switch from science to math and continue my internship. Rachel taught me what it means to teach. I would not be here today if it were not for her. I hope I have lived up to her standards. I taught math at U32 for 30 years and was feeling like I needed another change of direction when Mark Chaplin asked me if I would consider teaching chemistry. I found myself rock climbing again as I followed Mark's lead in my route back to science. I rediscovered my passion even as I have found myself answering the same two questions. What will happen if I eat this? Can we blow something up? You are about to invent yourselves to transition from high school student to community member. What will you be doing in five years? Where do you want to live? What job do you want to have? Do you have it all planned out? Don't be afraid to go rock climbing. You can easily fail at a job you don't like so you may as well take a chance on something else. You never know who might become your anchor or what route you may follow. Take a chance that you will find something you love. I have been so lucky that my week of rock climbing led me to U32 and a job I treasure. Thank you for the opportunity to spend my days with you. Thank you for helping me when I struggled to link the projector to my computer. Thank you for saying hello as we pass in the hallway. Thank you for trying to teach me what tweeting is. Thank you for entertaining me with your sports, your music, and your art. Thank you for sharing your ideas with me. Thank you for not giving up when I encouraged you to try to pass a chemistry quiz for the fifth time. Thank you for putting your cell phone away even if I did have to threaten you with the wrath of calf. Thank you for making me laugh. In 50 years, you probably won't remember this speech. You won't remember who gave the commencement address but in that time, I hope you have done plenty of rock climbing and that each change of direction led you to a new adventure. Thank you. It's a hard act to follow. At this time, I would now like to take a moment and honor a few students who could not join us for this ceremony tonight. Two of our students finished their studies early and enlisted in the armed services. Isaac Kingwood is the first I would like to recognize. He has already completed basic training in the Marine Corps where he got his honor grad for his platoon. He was a guide, squad leader, and Ironman. Our second is Hunter Winters who completed graduation requirements for U32 in January and left for Marines based training in Parris Island, South Carolina the day after Easter. He has scheduled to graduate and become a Marine on June 29th the day after he turns 18. Hunter dreamt of a future in the military since he was a young child. He has showed incredible determination and set out to make his dreams come true. He looks forward to serving the country he has incredible pride in. You will also hear two other graduates that are called on during the ceremony. They've been mentioned already, Steven Look and Nathan Smoller who've been competing in nationals for track and field and are traveling to join us right now. And if they can make it before we finish, we're gonna run them across the stage. All right. So we've assured that if they get here, we will make this happen, but you will hear their name called during the ceremony itself. At this time, I would like to call Adrian Megida, our school board president to the lectern to give the Gehegan Award. The Gehegan Award was created in 2000 in honor of Jackie Gehegan, who was a teacher and associate principal of U32 from 1971 when the doors first opened until 2000. Jackie believed that this school called on its students to be caring, involved people, willing to contribute to the betterment of the school by supporting and reaching out to others while developing their own personal sense of self. The Gehegan Award is presented each year to that graduating senior who best exemplifies the true spirit and soul of U32. Each year, the actual Gehegan Award, a gift to the recipient, varies, intended to be a very special gift that also recognizes the extraordinary talent of a U32 student. The award itself is a piece created by a U32 student artist or woodworker. This year's winning honor artist, Connor Cooley, has been known to U32s since seventh grade for his addiction to drawing. Whether it was drawing on his TAs whiteboard in the mornings or a $5 bill, Rivas printing paper like this one, the young artist always put his best work forward. Connor's determination and creativity in the arts has never been ignored as he was the recipient of the Weird Genius Award in 2017 and most articulate artist award in 2018. He also attended Governor's Institute for the Arts during the summer of 2017 and has submitted work to the Congressional Show for the last two years. Connor spent his senior year as a member of the pilot program where he studied art and English. Connor has learned a lot from his career at U32 but he has taught us along the way as well. From him, we learned that art is never really finished. There is always something to add. That kindness always wins. That drawing just takes practice. That learning can be fun. That even when kids can't stop moving, it doesn't mean they aren't listening. That teenagers actually do like their parents and that the bare minimum is never enough. While Connor is not able to attend graduation this year due to his older brother's wedding, he is pleased to honor one of his classmates with this gift. Connor will be taking a gap year this year, most likely spending his time creating art. We are excited to bestow a Connor Cooley original and one of the most coveted pieces to the recipient of the 2018 Gehegan Award and the piece of artwork is right at the corner of the stage here. It is our pleasure and honor to award the 2018 Gehegan Award to Zach Gabriel Klein.  I'm gonna see him for a while while I do this, okay? Zach embodies the qualities Jackie Gehegan prize most in a U32 student. He is an energetic, fully involved individual who has found his own voice at U32 and then helped many others find theirs as well. He is accomplished in the classroom, on stage and in all his co-curricular activities. He has forged his own path through U32 as a student in our pilot program. Many of you have seen Zach as a stage actor. He is a regular cast member of stage 32 and other local theater productions. His musical talents have been on display in chorus, camarada, variety shows and virtually any stage or might that is available. What you might not know about Zach is his devotion to social issues. Zach helped start our student group seeking social justice and he is a strong voice in the U32 community for equality, acceptance and inclusion. He strives constantly to make U32 a safe and welcoming community. Zach Klein is one of this year's most outstanding students at U32. He is a leader and during his time here, U32 has become a better place because of him. Zach's presence at U32 has brought joy to those who come into contact with him every day. Zach has shown that he is an intelligent, loyal, compassionate and caring young man. And as this year's recipient of the Hagan Award, he truly exemplifies the spirit and soul of U32. Congratulations Zach. All right, it's the part that we're waiting for. So at this time, I would like to invite Scott Thompson, school board member and Bill Kimball, superintendent to the stage, along with Sue-Ann Mayette, teacher advisor and Kerry Wilson, teacher advisor. All right, this year, Cooper Lam, the vice president of student council will read the names of the students receiving their diplomas. So we will award Cooper's diploma first. James Cooper Lam and joining Cooper is his mother, Rosemary Leach, a Rummy paraeducator. I'd like to welcome teacher advisor, Brian Albee to the stage. Trevor Andrew Abert, Zachary David Baldesaro, Dana Rae Brown, Harrison Onward Clark Bushnell, Kyle Nelson Chase, Elizabeth Jean Emery, Joshua Sage Farber, Riley Ann Fly, Hayden Victor Garbacheck, Robin Jeffrey Hartzell, Shannon Emily O'Kelly, Nicole Maggie Sucker, Rebecca Thompson and joining Rebecca is her father, Scott Thompson, school board member. I'd like to welcome teacher advisor, Sandy Shalu to the stage. Alexander Matthew Henry Bell, Justin Pease Bennett, Cameron Cahill, Connor James Carbo, Sydney Alexandra Dewey, Wesley Dewey, Jenna Lee Jerome, Wilson Homer Knight, Caitlin C. O'Neill, Nathaniel Benjamin Palmer, Liam Patrick Robert. Please welcome school board member, Carl Whitkey to the stage. I'd like to welcome teacher advisor, Mark Chaplin to the stage.  Ian Jeffrey Boyer. I'd like to welcome teacher advisor, Christine Chartrand to the stage. Fiona Ann Astel, Grace A. Childs, Marshall Thomas Collier, Emily Cremens, Dakota David Dunham, Zach Gabriel Klein, Sean Michael Levine, Kanan Middleton. Please welcome school board member, Carly Bradley to the stage. I'd like to welcome teacher advisor, Krista Dee to the stage. Gabriella Faye Calderon, Eliza Morgan Chamberlain Hybel, Blaine Alon Culver, Ronan Jared Martel, Katelyn Elizabeth Phillips, Logan P. Powers, Bethany L. Russ, Zachary Peter Schneider. I'd like to welcome teacher advisor, Bonnie Godapy to the stage. Tegan J. Collier, Tian Connor, Avery Arrett, Jacob K. Joslin, Zachary Warner Legue, Gavin Wyatt Lang, Luca Joseph Montor, Emily Louise Olmsted, Silas Rollins Green, Robert Taylor, Mary Elizabeth Tebow, Grace Elizabeth Wilcox, Logan Tucker Wolf. Please welcome school board member, Carl Whitkey to the stage. I'd like to welcome teacher advisor, Zachary Gonzalez to the stage.  Please welcome school board member, Jonathan Goddard to the stage. I'd like to welcome teacher advisors, Ben Hynes and Linda Cuedo to the stage. Austin Thomas Brasette, Gavin William Dice, Javid Wyatt, Emmy Rose, Payden Matthew Robert, Nathan Smaller, teacher advisors, Sue Ann Mea and Kerry Wilson to the stage. Samantha Louise Fielder, Samantha Alp, Forrest Kingsbury Spencer, welcome school board member, Adrian Megida to the stage. I'd like to welcome teacher advisor, Kate McCann to the stage. Christina Mara Fleury, Kobe Jameson Gillander, Elizabeth Houghton, Rebecca Lynn Law, Jordan V. McOven Micah Smith, advisor, Nicole Schaefer to the stage. I'd like to welcome teacher advisor, Kathy Topping to the stage. Ubalitzos, Jasmine Luana Burke, Bailey Elizabeth Howard, Ruby Susan Lam, Steven A. Look, Nathaniel Morris, Ethan Charles Hunter Tenzing Sloan, subject of 2008.


I'm joined by Karris Laverg, Karris first thing. How'd you feel about the full 1990 experience, the jerseys and the court tonight? Man, I thought the jerseys were dope. The court was really nice, too. Man, it's our first time playing on this court, playing in these jerseys, so I think we did a good job for our first time, for sure. You guys look good. Philadelphia entered with the best record in the NBA. It's a tough physical team. What did you guys feel like you needed to do to be successful in this game? We knew they were coming off of back to back. Tough night last night, where they came out with a win against Bill. He was amazing last night. We watched that game and we saw what we could do to beat these guys. And we played a great game from start to finish. And you guys entered once again, short handed and still had a great performance. What does that say about the identity that you're building as a group? I think next man up mentality is huge for us. We know what the short season, playing almost every other day, every day sometimes. We know that 1 through 15 has to be ready. And I think tonight we really took advantage of that opportunity. You finished with 22 and 10 tonight. You were part of that next team that faced the 6s in the playoffs just a couple of seasons ago. And what ways have you grown as a player since then? I think just naturally just getting older and then watching more film, getting more comfortable with where I can attack and things like that. That was a super fun series. I actually just watched that series like last week. I feel like we all grew as a team, as players. It's cool to see where everybody's went from that series as well. But that was definitely a fun series. But I think I've grown a lot. And I still have a lot more to grow. Enjoy the win. We'll see you tomorrow night. Thank you.