I have always enjoyed working with the students of the Gazette and I am very proud of what all of you have accomplished; however, I don’t know if Granite Hills High School ever fully appreciated the efforts put into making the Gazette a nationally recognized online newspaper.

After the conclusion to GrizzComm summer camp, I received an email stating that a staff member did not want GrizzComm to use her room again because we left a yellow marker partially dried out. We left a box of paperclips partially spilled in a desk drawer. We left a bottle of whiteboard cleaner on the whiteboard shelf. After all of the work that went in to GrizzComm, this is the comment we received. I apologized for our mess, but wondered.

After all of the planning by Gazette staff to implement a Google team approach to our newspaper, decisions were made that stymied our efforts. Only one section of American history was during summer school. Now juniors could not fit a 0-1 block for the Gazette into their schedule. AP Civics was moved to first period; now seniors could not take our 0-1 block. Health was scheduled for 0 period; now freshmen who attended summer camp could not take the 0-1 block. After all of our success, we had only five students scheduled for a 0-1 block. The end of the Gazette as we knew it was near. Our students are working very hard to produce a 0 period paper, but maintaining the quality of the past is going to be very difficult, especially with a very young staff.

Then to top everything off, I wanted to raise money from staff and students to present Jeremy with a laptop to symbolize our appreciation for everything he had done for our community. Many staff members, students, and parents were very supportive; however, several staff members would not contribute to the Rabaino family because of Lauren’s remarks about ASB. I was deeply hurt that teachers would hold one sibling responsible for an opinion expressed my another sibling. Then when we scheduled to present Jeremy with his laptop, after an email had been sent to all staff, only four teachers took the time to come see the presentation. This was the last straw. After having lunch with Christina, I asked her to drive me to the district office; I picked up my transfer request and turned it in after school.

With the reduction in AP classes offered at Granite, the coming retirement of Mrs. Duncan, the lack of effort made to keep the Gazette a viable 0-1 class, and the recent negative comments, I have decided that I want a new horizon, a new atmosphere. Hopefully Harmony will allow me to join their expanding Advanced Placement program and allow me the opportunity to inspire eager young engineers and musicians. I still have one good decade left.

Ditto. This is crazy. But awesome.