All six siblings graduated from Cottonwood High School. For these siblings (those who have had high school graduates) I don't think any have had all their kids graduate from the same high school - of course Mom and Nelva didn't either. There was the move from Hermitage to Havenmoor, but that didn't affect the boundary school. The first five photos were taken at the Hermitage house ... the big blue spruce in the front/side was a common backdrop, as was the lava rock fireplace. Derek got the pretty backdrop of the Havemoor house for his graduation picture.
Black, White and Gold will be victorious ... that's the start to the school song for Cottonwood High (probably the only line I actually know). This is reflected in the cap and gown over the years. While the boys seemed to stay consistent in black, Wendy's group got gold, while Jen's class looked angelic in white. All had some of the "extra" cords, sashes, etc that indicated academic prowess and other ideals.
Scott paved the way, and he and Chris overlapped their high school experience, as did Chris and Wendy. Graduations on the even years, 1982, 1984, 1986. Jen followed close enough that teachers definitely remembered the older siblings - Shane and Derek will have to comment if they felt as if they were living in a sibling shadow** during the school years. Jen's was the only "odd" graduation (year-wise).
Check out the New Year's Babies for a similar side-by-side-six!
**We did get some comments from Derek and Shane ...
Derek: "I didn't feel like I was in anyone's shadow (6 year gap between me and Shane so we didn't share a lot of the same teachers) EXCEPT in Mr. Bill's AP Art and AP Art History classes. I think Mr. Bill always wanted more from me being Sterling Scholar Shane's little bro. In fact, I didn't get an A my senior year - I think I got a B+. But the night before the last day of school, Brian and I had already started our Summer lawn mowing business. As a last day of school prank, we drove Dad's blue truck over to Cottonwood, late one night before the last day of school the next day, unloaded our mowers and set them to the lowest setting. Then we moved "Bye Bye Bye" into the front hill of the school (REALLY short so it was a different color and unmistakable). The next day people were talking about it (it was right outside Mr. Bill's classroom windows). He gave me my grade (B+). I said with disappointment "Mr. Bill, I expected I'd do better after you saw my final art project." "What final project?" He asked. "That one." I pointed out the window. He smiled and said "That was you?" Brian and I confirmed that it was. He then changed my grade to an A-."
Shane: Speaking of living in the shadow of siblings, two experiences come to mind. One is also with Mr. Bill...on the first day of my first class with Mr. Bill, he says "Westra, huh? Any relationship to Jeni Westra?" I said, "Yes, she's my sister." Mr. Bill just stands silent for a minute and then says "How is she liking the Women's Penitentiary?" I laughed inside but kept a straight face, and said "She's dealing with it fine" (or something like that). The other one was that I got into AP US History because the woman in charge loved having Jeni as a student. I normally wouldn't have got in because my grades weren't good enough, and I probably shouldn't have taken that class, as I didn't do well and I didn't pass the AP test.
Jen: Ironically, I don't remember Mr. Bill that well. I know I took several art classes, but can't recall which were from him. I definitely remember Claudia Wright, the AP History teacher! I took AP American History my Junior Year, and AP European History my Senior Year. Tough classes, but she taught in such a way that it was interesting and engaging.
Fun!!
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