(June 11, 2004) IT’S BEEN AN INTERESTING experience living with the Class of 2004 for the past four years. You have demonstrated achievement, talent and spirit. As a group, you continue to prove that the sum of the parts makes for a stronger whole. In the world of measure twice, cut once, most of you have heard and understood. While I always want you to consider the consequences of your actions and decisions, a lesser theme that I have tried to convey over the past four years was the concept of appreciation. Appreciation is shown in a variety of ways. It can be as simple as a “thank you” or an acknowledgement of what you have received. Sometimes an understanding of where you have been or what you have accomplished can only be seen in the rear view mirror. Since the beginning of this school, I have always tried to get students to pay attention to the resources and support they have here and to show appreciation for it. The attitude of “entitlement” or “you owe it to me,” while sometimes seen in the members of the Class of 2004, was not a typical response. It is always disappointing to me to see entitlement or selfishness on the part of a student, “We deserve to (fill in the blank) because we are seniors.” The blank could range from taking a ridiculously unchallenging senior class load, to preferential parking, to “ditch days” and senior pranks, to something as simple as the belief that you are more important than someone else. I am always heartened by graduates who return to Clark Magnet and acknowledge that despite their dissatisfaction with some of the Clark requirements, they still recognize how good they had it here and express appreciation for what they see in the rear view mirror. So while I want you to measure twice and cut once, I also want you to always be appreciative for the gifts you have been given. The Joni Mitchell song, “Big Yellow Taxi,” talks about not knowing what you’ve got until it’s gone. My nephew Casey can help further illustrate the concept. I met Casey a few years ago when my wife and I took a trip to Connecticut to visit her aunt and cousins. We stayed with Casey’s family in their 250-year-old farmhouse and had a great time touring Boston and other Revolutionary War sites in the area. I found Casey to be smart and athletic, playing hockey goalie for his local team. Ten-year-old Casey learned quickly that hanging with Uncle Doug got you the best food. We shared a common interest in barbecue. Six years have passed since that summer in Boston. Casey was spending last Christmas with his Uncle Tom’s family in Dallas, Texas. Casey wasn’t feeling well and at first they thought he had the flu. When he passed out unexpectedly, the doctors at the hospital diagnosed that he was suffering from pneumonia and far worse, a rare and raging form of Leukemia, a cancer of the blood. For the next few months Casey was in and out of comas and treated with toxic medicines that ravaged his sixteen-year-old body. The doctors in Boston Children’s hospital worked to stabilize his cancer count enough to allow a bone marrow transplant. The medicine didn’t help and the cancer progressed. A few weeks ago, the doctors presented Casey with his options. The proposed procedures had a very low percentage of success and the side effects (should he survive the procedure) seemed far worse. After months in a hospital bed, Casey had a long talk with his mother and made the decision that he wanted to go home. In the months he has left, Casey has dedicated himself to reliving experiences that only a year ago he took for granted. He tended goal again in a recent hockey game and his family is planning a trip to Ireland, something he always wanted to do. I don’t share my nephew’s situation with you lightly. It is a painful inevitability that none of us who know Casey want to face. I do present the story to you as a gift of sorts: as an opportunity to share your appreciation with those you know and love; as a chance to maturely ponder things you would usually take for granted or believe were owed to you. And as you prepare to leave Clark Magnet High School, another reminder to measure twice… Doug Dall Principal FROM FREE DRESS DAYS to prom; from cowboy hats to mortarboards, it has always been a delight to see you and to work with you. You’re wonderful individuals and an awesome Senior class. Thanks for all your help selling candy and planning our events. I’m glad to have had the honor of being your Class Advisor. My very best wishes to ALL of you. Ellen Armitstead Mathematics, Class Advisor GOT TO KNOW most of you during your sophomore year in PE, but you all left the fitness world to the academic world. Remember the mind is a terrible thing to waste, but so is the other 90% of your body. Now that you are in control of your schedule, remember to include “Recess” as part of your lifestyle. The following words express my heartfelt wish to you all: May God bless and keep you always May your wishes all come true, May you always do for others and let others do for you. May you build a ladder to the stars and climb on every rung, And may you stay Forever Young. Come back and see me, Judith Thomsen Physical Education 2004 OR TWO THOUSAND-FORE?! I’ve known some you since seventh grade, some since ninth, and some not at all. This must be said: there has never been a group quite like you! Jessica, the Shakespearian insult queen; Alek, the best cross-dressing Renaissance Fashion Show model; Katie—you’ll always be in my heart; Danielle—sing, girl!!; Artia, “I’m sorry” will never sound the same after you; and Michael impressed us all with his dancing in the amphitheater at lunch in the 9th grade. Chorus & Drama came alive with many of you—even with Mazin controlling the curtains. Luckily Kris was in charge. So, off you go. The world may not be ready, but I know you all are! You will make this world a crazier place for sure, but in a good way! You make me smile! Carol Pettegrew English FOR ME, ANOTHER BLISSFUL schoolyear has passed. I thank you all for playing your parts in making this the happiest place on earth. I hope you, as well, have found joy in being at Clark this last year and the last four years. It really is not like any other place of learning anywhere. Much has been offered, from Advanced Placement to the many technology-based courses to the Senior Project to the Talent Show to Poetry Night to Robotics to Engineering Clubs to . . . These have been opportunities for you to get your wings and learn to fly. I hope you have taken the time and exerted some energy to dig in, learn something new and deeply, and develop the confidence that comes from knowing that you have done something excellently. If you have, you leave here with self-awareness and an assuredness that you have something to offer the world, and can expect that the world will reward you in return. I hope the time you’ve spent here has given you the start you need as you enter the larger universe. Come back and tell me about it. I miss you already. Charles DeVore Mathematics I HAVE KNOWN MANY of you for four years now (!!!), and am now faced with the harsh reality of your departure (except for you Moseley. I’ll probably leave this place years before you do). Here are a few of things I will miss about the Class of ’04: -Christine Choi’s bubbliness in the morning. -The sound of Arin K’s voice translating everything into “Spanish” (actually I’ve begun hearing that in my head even when he’s not around). -P-Mak, Sargis and Areg being able to combine their skills to do the job of one normal person. -The entire Toon Squad. -Iveta’s “not” whining. -“High fives” with Jimmy Neutron and Matt T. -Conor’s “jokes.” -Hannah Lee’s columns. -High fives with Arbi Mushgel. -Daniel Han and Philip Kahn’s book recommendations. -Lucy Abramyan’s and Anna Bagerian’s unrelenting excellence. -The ray of sunshine that seems to follow Vivian Cho everywhere. -The joy (and frustration) I’ve experienced watching these people grow from high school freshmen into exceptional young adults. Make the most of the time you have. If you think your years at Clark were challenging (fun, too), wait’ll you see what comes next! We will miss you. Fred Blattner Mathematics