New River Academy Seniors Nelson Jones, Alexandra Shallhorn and Keegan Grady

Palmer Miller and Alexandra Shallhorn all dressed up

The weekend progressed like an ocean wave at the Point of Wolves, green and glassy and casual, then cresting into a crescendo of formality and tradition. Back and forth we oscillated between relaxed and the ceremonial. It began, as all good weekends should, with a river trip for the entire crew: New River Academy students, staff, parents, sisters, girlfriends, brothers, friends. All of the students were kayaking, along with a handful of brave parents and friends, some experienced (including one formal Olympian, but whose counting!) a few were just getting the feel for it and experienced the best in New River swim safety. Most of the family glided down the miles of pools and rapids in rafts, guided by experienced Class VI raft guides. A few swimmers toppled out and were hoisted back in by the others, and in the Triple Z rapid one of the rafts flipped on its head, and a second later parents were bobbing up in all directions. No “watching from the sidelines” for these families! The New River Gorge was at 6 feet, a big, bold, bouncy level and the sun was high and hot above. Deep in the gorge, we stopped to play at a wave and the students were able to show off their style, tricks acquired and skills honed by the last 9 months of nearly everyday paddling all over the globe. The wave was big, the tricks were bigger, and the cheering section the biggest we’ve ever seen.

Awards at the Graduation Banquet

A few hours later, we were out of wet river gear and into our finest. The girls showed up in dazzling dresses and high heels, the boys in button down shirts and combed back hair.  We’re used to the traveling around South America, living out of  a suitcases type of fashion, so seeing our students all dolled up was a delight.  They sure do clean up nice, I heard someone say, although it could have been me who said it.  We gathered at the elegant White Horse Bed and Breakfast, where a dinner was served, a gastronomical pleasure about which I do not have the skills or wit to accurately describe. As dinner turned into dessert and evening deepened into a tranquil early summer night, we presented our end of the year awards. The students were recognized for their daring, cooperation, humor, talents, compassion, understanding, visualization, valiance, and brilliance. Among other things. The prizes were spectacular, and they all glittered (I should know, I chose them) and they also included a hot green Huge Experiences t-shirt from Patagonia. Seniors accepted their new Green Jackets with images of buoyancy dancing in their heads.  The parents applauded and laughed, we all laughed, the students walked with pride, and finally we turned our eyes to the movie, produced by the video class.

Academic Coordinator Kara Ware presents NRA Director David Hughes with a End of the Year Gift

On the screen images of New Zealand and Chile and Canada floated by. Rich colors, sharp editing, huge moves and big water.  Highly impressed, we then turned our attention to the slide show.  Eyelashes across the room threatened to run their mascara as images of the past year streamed past. The photo students had included a face shot of every student and staff with their full name, and it became acutely apparent that these shots were the final shots, and that every glance was now a goodbye.

David Gorski accepts the What Can I Do Award, aka The Gorski Award

Late into the night, parents of graduation seniors, soon to be empty nesters, sat out on the porch, creaking back and forth on a porch swing. Speaking, I presume, about all the years of work and carpooling and homework fights and studying that have led up to this moment. Or maybe they were talking about something else, I’m not sure, but I am certain this was on the forefront of their minds. School begins for some of us at age 4, and it’s been a long haul.