Ken McLemore

HOPE – The Hope High School Class of 2022 was given a call to a new beginning during the annual HHS Senior Breakfast in the HHS cafeteria Aug. 10.

That theme resonated across the addresses presented as the Class of 2022 gathered for the first time as the senior students at HHS.

HHS Student Council President Montavius Eason said it was an incumbency upon his fellow seniors.

“It took me a minute to realize this is our last year,” Eason said. “We’ve survived.”

But, he emphasized that arriving at this juncture was only the beginning, in keeping with the theme of the morning “A Sweet Ending to a New Beginning.”

“You may go on and further your education, or you may get a job, or go into the military and good luck with that,” Eason quipped. “But, this is the year it begins.”

Hope Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Crossley took up Eason’s theme and expanded upon it.

“I’m not here to see that you simply survive; I want you to thrive,” Dr. Crossley said.

“I love you all, as a human being. We are all on the same page to make sure you have every opportunity.”

He recounted options such as graduating with concurrent credit from the University of Arkansas-Hope to take the next step toward a four-year degree or technical certification.

Crossley also challenged the teaching faculty at HHS to “change the lives of your students.”

He recounted the tale of the Bamboo Tree, which does not demonstrate any growth for four years after the seed is planted.

“In that fifth year, it grows ninety feet,” Crossley said. “This is the beginning of the fifth year.”

New HHS Principal Donald Patton exhorted teachers as much as the seniors to embrace the reality that each student in the senior class will graduate.

“You will all make it because we are all involved together,” Patton said.

New HHS Assistant Principal Lekia Jones began with her signature, “Hey, hey, hey” to encourage the seniors and their parents to approach the year in keeping with the theme of new beginnings.

“Let’s do this,” Jones exclaimed.

HPS Athletics Director and Head Football Coach Phillip Turner returned to a theme he has used each year to offer the “Senior Challenge.”

“You have made it; you are at the top of the totem pole,” Turner said. “But, being at the top means you must lead.”

Important dates in the year include a Nov. 1 class meeting to elect class leadership and plan for the year; Nov. 9 to order senior rings and graduation regalia; Feb.11 ring delivery; and March 31 for graduation regalia delivery.

Hope High School Student Council President Montavius Eason, left, opens the program for the annual Senior Breakfast in the HHS cafeteria Aug. 10 with the theme “A Sweet Ending to a New Beginning.” Hope Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Crossley expanded upon Eason’s remarks to encourage the Class of 2022 to thrive in its final year at HHS. – Ken McLemore/Hope Public Schools