Seniors enjoy 'hot time' at Calabasas High School

Despite temperatures that soared into the 100s, the seniors of Calabasas High School kept a crisp step and cool demeanor during their June 19 graduation walk across the school's football field and to their seats in front of the stage.

At the end of the ceremony nearly 500 seniors moved their tassels from left to right, signifying the conclusion of high school and the beginning of the rest of their lives.

"A constant phrase on this field today will be, 'We did it,'" said senior speaker Clayton Graham. "Buwhat is 'it'? Freshman year, it was just trying to survive high school. . . . Senior year it was fighting off senioritis. (Now) is it the diploma? Will it be our dream job?

"Don't be afraid. Go find your 'it,'" Graham told the many friends, family members and fellow seniors in attendance.

Calabasas Mayor Mary Sue Maurer was on hand to celebrate the graduates' big day, as were Las Virgenes Unified School District board members Dave Moorman and Jill Gaines.

Gaines' daughter Stephanie is a member of the graduating class.

"I've known many of you a very long time," Gaines said. "Some from elementary school, and some even from when you were in diapers. As I see you sit in front of me today, two words come to mind- 'Oy vey.'

"The best is yet to come: College, careers, starting families and becoming leaders in your communities," Gaines said.

The senior choir sang "Blackbird" by The Beatles and senior class president Ashley Green reflected on what his classmates learned- and will continue to learn.

"We can analyze Shakespearean sonnets, conjugate Spanish verbs and find the integral of a given function," Green said. "But Calabasas High School left us knowledge that far passes academics. We've learned our education will continue long after we graduate today."

Spencer Goodman was the class's salutatorian speaker.

"We have been forewarned that it would be hard to say goodbye," Goodman said. "Nevertheless, we find ourselves feeling no more prepared than we were on the first day of high school.

"Today we gather at a crossroads. We are prepared, but we are frightened. Self-doubt has threatened to overwhelm us. (But we must) travel to a new realm of uncertainty," Goodman said.