.jpg)
Editor’s note: The following “overview” story of the graduating classes at Rockbridge County and Parry McCluer high schools is traditionally found in our annual graduation special section. This year’s special section was so full of other stories, photos and ads, however, that we ran out of space for the story. So here it is, and if you’re a parent of one of the graduates, be sure to clip this out and keep it along with the special section. Your kids will thank you 20 years from now.
And congratulations to all of the 2023 graduates from everyone at The News-Gazettte.
By Hope Huger
Members of the graduating class of 2023 were only freshmen when COVID-19 completely altered the traditional learning environment.
Guidance counselors of Parry McCluer High School and Rockbridge County High School believe that this class’s resilience and good nature helped them overcome the challenges presented by the pandemic, enabling them to walk proudly across the stage at Cameron Hall this Thursday and Saturday. -Of the expected 82 total graduates of Parry Mc-Cluer High School’s senior class, 50 percent will attend a post-secondary institution with the other 50 percent entering the workforce, military, or traveling for mission trips. Twenty-one percent of the students plan to enter health-related majors or careers after they have graduated.
PMHS counselor Mark Wheeler remembers this “extraordinary group of young men and women” coming to the high school as young eighth-graders.
“One of the most enjoyable attributes of being a school counselor is witnessing the transition and growth that teenagers go through on their journey through high school,” he said. “They come in as timid eighth-graders from the middle school … By the time they reach their senior year, they are ready to take on the world.”
Most of Wheeler’s time with the class of 2023 was spent navigating the turbulent process of postsecondary applications and requirements, he told The News-Gazette.
However, as this is the class that experienced most of their high school career amid a global pandemic, the students handled the pressures of applications, SATs and ACTs, recommendation letters, and transcripts with care and compassion for themselves and each other.
Wheeler feels confident that as these graduates enter life outside of high school that they will exude a similar kind disposition toward any challenges they may face.
“Overall, I have found the Parry McCluer High School class of 2023 to be an extremely caring and helpful group of young men and women,” he said. “Whether it’s at our school or out in the community, these guys collectively possess a true desire to help others.”
Wheeler continued, “I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to develop many ‘true’ counselor-student relationships over the last five years with these guys. We’re really going to miss these seniors up on ‘the Hill’ next year.”
Once they depart from PMHS, these seniors will be spreading far and wide to various Virginia state schools, community colleges, and trade schools. A couple of students will be traveling out of state to Columbus [Ohio] College of Art and Design and the University of Alabama, Wheeler noted. -Seniors at Rockbridge County High School will also feel a great sense of success as they walk across the stage to receive their diplomas. The class of 2023’s entire high school career was constantly evolving with the ebbs and flows created by the pandemic.
RCHS school counselor Hillary Camden told The News-Gazette, “There was nothing ‘normal’ about their entire high school experience. The entire world shut down during their freshman year, paving a completely new way in their educational journey. They experienced completely virtual education, hybrid education, and traditional face-to-face education. They continued throughout their high school experience facing the new norms, versatility of education, and achieving academic success.”
Camden believes that one word to describe the RCHS class of 2023 is resilient. Resilience enabled 237 seniors to graduate this year with 17 students graduating early. One hundred and forty-two seniors responded to a school-issued survey asking them if they will be attending a post-secondary institution. Seventy-three students responded they will be attending a fouryear college, 35 students will be attending a twoyear college, and nine students will be attending trade school. Also, three students plan to enlist in the military, 18 will enter the workforce, and four students responded that they are undecided. A total of 129 students will be graduating with college credits earned through dual enrollment or advanced placement courses.
The class of 2023 has greatly contributed to the overall success of RCHS, Camden said. In athletics, four female students will be joining D-1 athletic teams, including one state champion swimmer.
In the field of Career and Technical Education, seniors “played a major role in [the program’s] success,” Director of Technology and Career and Technical Education Paige Owens said. “As a division, we met or exceeded all categories of the Virginia CTE Annual Performance Report. This was a huge accomplishment and a testament to all of the great things that our teachers and students are doing.”
Owens also noted that 71 percent of all seniors participated in at least one CTE course and many took advantage of the work-based learning opportunities offered by the CTE program.
“Under the leadership of Robyn Sherman (RCPS work-based learning coordinator), over the past two years our students participating in work-based learning experiences has grown from 207 to 507 [students]. The majority of these work experiences come from our senior class,” he said.
Although their high school experience was unprecedented, the class of 2023 overcame the obstacles.
Camden told The News-Gazette, “The particular group of students faced some of the biggest changes and challenges in education over the past four years … the grit and determination of the class of 2023 helped them overcome all obstacles.”
