On Friday, June 12, my wife Mary Lou and I attended the Spectrum Community School class graduation of 2009. Seventeen students were honored. Each student was allowed to speak and some sang songs they had written, or read poems they had written.

There was even a martial arts presentation. Tears flowed because of all the effort made by the students and their teachers to get through graduation and go forward with all they had learned to become great young citizens and adults.

Without the dedication of staff and these students, where would they be in this changing world? Special People Enduring Classes Through Understanding Maturity: It is through our hopes and prayers of parents, students, staff and many others that this program will continue forever.

It was a great honor to attend this graduation of 2009 Spectrum students and a huge thank you to all who supported this much-needed program.

Thank you to the Stillwaters Environmental Education Center for letting Spectrum use your park for the graduation ceremony.

Rob Reister

Poulsbo