POULSBO — What members of the Class of 2014 take away from, and remember most about, their time in North Kitsap School District schools will likely be different for every student.
One of the more important lessons North Kitsap High School salutatorian Abigail Baldwin learned was keeping a positive attitude.
“Not stressing about the small things,” she said. Despite all the work to finish public school and prepare for college, “I still really enjoyed senior year.”
Of course, Baldwin will also remember the Vikings varsity volleyball team’s fifth-place finish at the state tournament in the fall — she was part of the team.
The 2014 North Kitsap class is “pretty athletic” and gets along well, according to Baldwin and valedictorian Katrina Weinmann.
“I feel like we’re a close-knit group. We all kind of mesh together,” Baldwin said, adding that large groups of students often studied together.
No matter what they’re doing, Baldwin and Weinmann said they never felt like they didn’t belong and “never felt out of place.” Baldwin said everyone is welcoming.
North Kitsap’s Class of 2014 goes out of its way to have fun, Baldwin said. During the senior barbecue June 4 at Raab Park, a group of students sat under a tree signing yearbooks, and another group played Ultimate Frisbee. Others watched classmates try the challenge of the Basketball Bungee Run; participants try to make a basket while attached to a bungee cord.
The Class of 2014 is also professional and businesslike in attitude, North Kitsap principal Judson Miller said. For example, the graduation rehearsal went quickly and smoothly, he said.
“They always came with a good attitude,” Miller said. “They were goal oriented, they worked hard.”
Miller said the class was always polite, professional and courteous. And, the class was “very driven,” he said.
The Class of 2014 knew how to work, but also how to have fun. Miller said if there was one word he would choose to describe the Class of 2014, it would be “clever.”
The barbecue was one of the last times the entire class will be together as students; 235 NKHS students will graduate June 6 at North Kitsap Stadium. The ceremony begins at 7 p.m.
The next day at 2 p.m., 222 Kingston High School Buccaneers will receive their diplomas, at North Kitsap Stadium. Among the students walking will also be 11 exchange students.
Co-valedictorian Ian Convy said his fellow Kingston Buccaneers are “not homogenous … It’s a pretty varied class. [There are] people doing whatever you can think of” in interest pursuits.
The Class of 2014 — not just Kingston’s — is an open-minded group, Convy said. In this generation, there’s less restriction on what people do, what they believe and how they act, he said.
Co-valedictorian Natalie Myers agreed. “I think our generation is more open-minded. It’s more of a class that when we’re involved in something, we try and fight for what we want” rather than accepting the way someone says it should be.
When Convy looks back on his time in school and on his graduating class, the thing he will remember most is the beauty of Kingston High School’s surroundings. “That part I’ll remember,” he said.
Convy said he doesn’t believe someone can remember a class as a whole; there’s so many people.
Myers said that, she will definitely remember the last week of school, however, which included senior pranks.
The hard work of Kingston’s class of 2014 helped the high school secure a ranking on the U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools List for two consecutive years, principal Christy Cole said. Kingston ranked in the top 7 percent of high schools nationally, earning a silver medal and a place on the list in 2013 and 2014.
“They’re very enthusiastic and talented — talented in many ways … including academically,” Cole said.
