by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
Kennedy Community School foster grandparent volunteer Darlene Bechtold was elected by the school’s eighth-grade class to speak at this year’s graduation ceremony June 2.
Kennedy Principal Laurie Putnam said the class has 51 students.
“We at Kennedy Community School are so proud of our graduating students,” Putnam said. “We honor their work and determination and will miss them greatly. These students represent all that is wonderful about public education. They are scholars, musicians, athletes, mentors and show a commitment to civic-mindedness. We at Kennedy wish them all the best in their future endeavors.”
Language arts teacher, volleyball coach, play director and graduation organizer Kelli Maurer said Bechtold ran against three other people on a ballot to be chosen to speak for the graduation ceremony.
Bechtold said when asked if she was OK with her name being on the ballot to speak at the graduation ceremony, she told Maurer she was fine with it because she never really expected to win.
“I was really amazed and surprised they asked me,” Bechtold said. “I was humbled.”
“The students were really excited when ‘Grandma’ Darlene chose to stay on the ballot for voting options and she won by a landslide,” Maurer said.
Some eighth-grade students offered comments about Bechtold.
“I wanted Grandma to speak because she is caring, nice, loving and even though I wasn’t one of her students, I still love her,” Bryce S. said.
“Something I remember from when we had her was we played cards and it was a lot of fun,” Zackary A. said.
“She helped make class better,” Haley J. said.
Bechtold thanked the students for choosing her to speak at their graduation commencement. She spoke about how she started school 70 years ago in a one-room school house with 30 other students in all eight grades and how at Kennedy there are 30 students in one classroom for one grade and more than 700 students in their fabulous “Green” school.
She focused her speech on what she said she felt were the most important things learned by all in kindergarten, according to the poem by Robert Fulghum. Things she hoped the students had learned and would carry into the rest of their lives included playing fair and including everyone, saying you are sorry when you hurt someone with words or actions, warm cookies and cold milk are good for you – nice comments and praise feels like warm cookies, live a balanced life and learn something new each day, think some, draw and paint, sing and dance, play some and work some, and remember to smile at others when you greet them.
Bechtold also talked about how she saw the students developing into persons who love and respect life, using their talents, skills and unique personalities to bring light and joy to others, and how they would be strong, confident and safe as they explored the world.
She ended with telling students to reach out and take each others’ hands as they went forward.
“A helping hand is all we need as we face this exciting new life,” Bechtold said. “I bless you with peace. I bless you with joy. Thank you and remember to say ‘Hi Grandma’ whenever you see me.”
Fondly, called “Grandma” Darlene by many, she has volunteered many hours at the school through the Catholic Charities Central Minnesota Foster Grandparent program. She volunteers as an overall helper in the classroom, helping with math and reading skills, listening to students, offering words of encouragement and more.
Bechtold, 76, has lived in the St. Joseph area most of her life. She and her husband, Herb, have been married for 56 years. They are the parents of four adult sons – Brian, Bruce, Brad and Brent, and four daughters-in-law. They have nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Before volunteering as a foster grandparent, Bechtold worked as a daycare provider for many years and also worked for AccuServ Inc.
Other speakers for the ceremony included students Caylan Guse and Zach Schiltz and social studies teacher Michael Stuber. Guse spoke about a year of lasts, but a celebration of firsts. Schiltz spoke about procrastination and how life moves on whether you are ready or not.
Stuber spoke about team work and what we do when we don’t always succeed. During his speech, fifth-grade students from Daniel Schaefer’s class formed a circle in front of everyone and on the count of three slowly sat down, resulting in classmates sitting on each others’ knees.
Stuber said this illustrated teamwork and supporting each other. Even if the circle falls apart, we should still help each other get up.
The students chose an altered version of the song “Cups” to perform. There was also a tribute slide show and diplomas were handed out.
“Grandma” Darlene Bechtold was chosen by Kennedy Community School eighth-grade students to speak at their graduation ceremony June 2. She has volunteered many hours at the school through the foster grandparent program.
Guest speaker “Grandma” Darlene Bechtold spoke to the Kennedy Community School eighth-grade graduating class about skills they learned in kindergarten that continue to be applicable to them in their lives.
