From the Editor’s Desk
Published 10:01 am Sunday, June 19, 2022
- Seaside High School seniors Alondra Jimenez Mota (from left), Reese Taylor and Hailey Hughes wait to walk in graduation ceremony for the Class of 2022 on June 9.
Welcome to the Seaside Signal.
Memorial
A tearful memorial at Seaside High School brought students, family, faculty and friends together in a remembrance of band director Kyle Rieger’s life.
“This is truly a celebration of what Kyle brought to this community and the impact that he had on the young people that he got to interact with every day,” principal Jeff Roberts said. “And also his colleagues. They got to work with him every single day.”
Seaside High School band director had an impressive resume: at 26, a masters degree in music education and composition, performance skills and a passion for education. He came to Seaside last September and left his mark on faculty, students and friends. “Thank you for always being there, thank you for being my friend,” wrote a student. “I will always remember you as the best teacher. Thank you for being my teacher.”
Rieger’s younger sister Kara, 21, called him her brother and best friend, and she had never seen him as excited as when he got the job at Seaside High School. More coverage and photos here.
Resiliency
The resiliency of the Seaside High School Class of 2022 came through on graduation day.
Gathering in the Seaside Civic and Convention Center, surrounded by a flurry of flowing red gowns and a large crowd of spectators carrying signs, flowers and balloons, there students were ready to move ahead, past the pandemic, past the tragic loss of Kyle Rieger, the stresses of remote learning and a learning environment like no other.
Valedictorians Ila Bowles and Everest Sibony used a basketball analogy: “We were ready to push through anything that came our way,” Bowles said. “No matter the amount of ‘senioritis’ we faced, we pushed until the final buzzer. … We’ve been through a lot together. We’ve been shoved into the wall, pushed onto the ground and spit at, but that did not stop us from leaving that court with a victory.”
Read more in Katherine Lacaze’s story …
Celebration
There’s a new Miss Oregon. The 75th anniversary scholarship program highlighted just how far the event has come — always with a focus on education and social initiatives. A special Seaside moment comes with our own Seaside High School grad Hannah Garhofer finishing first runner-up.
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