This Years
Move-Up was
THURSDAY - May 26th, 2011
Emily Powell wrote:
*BON VOYAGE,
BALBOA CLASS OF 2011!
After days of fog/rain and wind, the sun shone brightly on May 26 -- graduation
day for the class of 2011 at Balboa High.
Our beautiful Balboa sparkled like the jewel it is, as grads in their orange and
blue graduation gowns 'bedecked' the campus grounds.
It started at our traditional Senior Breakfast at the Croatian-American Hall on
Onondaga at Alemany, when at 7:00 a.m. the
crew of Juniors (proudly wearing, for the first time, their senior sweaters) and
alums arrived to hang banners, adorn the tables with
orange and blue cloths and accessories, and organize the repast in the 'galley'.
A cheer went up (that probably rocked the Excelsior District) when the graduates
arrived; and the great, memorable day had begun.
The time-honored tradition of passing the lighted candle, speeches by outgoing
and incoming officers, alumni representatives, our
principal, Kevin Kerr and others were all jubilantly and respectfully received.
The Balboa Alumni Association presented a total of $13,000 in scholarships.
And, of course, after the ceremonies and tasty breakfast of juice, croissants,
strawberries and granola, all the Bucs sang "Auld Lang Syne" followed
by the Balboa Hymn.
That ended "stage one" of the day's voyage. And then...Imagine yourself once
again seated in our Calvin Simmons auditorium. All of the lights were working,
the auditorium looked even more beautiful than we remembered it to be, the stage
was set to receive the grads, the band was tuning up -- and there was excitement
in the air in anticipation of the 80th Anniversary of our One Hundred and
Twenty-First Move-Up Assembly. (Remember, although Balboa opened in 1928 (83
years ago) -- it was not until 1931, (80 years ago) that the first Move-Up
Assembly was held -- and, further, remember that up until about 1973 we had two
graduating classes, not one per year -- hence the above numbers.) This reporter
believes Move-Up was the idea of our first principal, Robert R. Chase.
O.K., then suddenly the Processional, that we all remember so well, begins --
Yes, it is the Triumphal March from Aida by Guiseppi Verdi.
On cue, the graduates triumphantly and proudly march down the aisles to take
their places on the stage. And the audience cheered.
And then, the trumpet sounds and our principal Kevin Kerr invites the new
Seniors, Class of 2012, to enter and take their new seats in the senior section.
And that was a sight to see (and hear!). Our new seniors, wearing their
senior sweaters, waving orange and blue pom poms, came rushing in singing "We
are the Seniors, the High and Mighty Seniors, the Seniors of Balboa High".
('Remember that?)
All of the traditional Move-Up Assembly ceremony followed, including the
placing of the garland on stage by the class of 2012 in
honor of the graduates, and the presentation to the school of the Class 2011
bronze numerals (which will be soon imbedded in front of school), and so much
more. And, who truly orchestrated this entire emotionally moving Move-Up
Assembly (as he has for seemingly 'time immemorial'), including rehearsals, and
months and months of planning??? Oh, of course, you know who. It was retired,
revered and respected faculty member and founder of the Balboa Alumni
Association -- _Nick Kafkas! We all thank you, Nick.
For the seniors, the day was not over. There was a senior lunch in the "Green
Room". (Our former auto shop has been transformed into a room of beauty and
usefulness for school events -- The transformation is unbelievable, but true!)
Graduation ceremonies started at 2:30 followed by a reception in front of
school. We tearfully said Bon Voyage great class of 2011 -- But, we will see you
again. (Yes, the class raised enough money to buy life memberships in the Balboa
Alumni Association -- proving they always have been and always will be:
/Loyal all and ever True!/
And the sun kept shining over beautiful Balboa.