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The Class of 2007
Posted: May 16, 2007Monday, May 14 was a memorable day in the history of Warren Easton High School as 191 seniors received their diplomas at the McAlister Auditorium on the campus of Tulane University. The valedictorian and salutatorian presented thoughtful and well-written addresses. The students thanked their parents, teachers and the Charter Foundation for getting their school open. They also thanked God for their many blessings.
They were followed by an emotional, inspirational speech by General Russel Honoree, who appeared at the request of the senior class. He told the graduates that they were the most important graduating class in the history of the school and that they were the heroes of the storm.
“You looked at Katrina and said ‘No, not me, We're going to live through this. We're going to graduate.'"
Although his schedule had him booked elsewhere, the General stayed and shook each graduate’s hand.
Charter Foundation President Billy Hatchett told the graduates that the choices they would make would determine their futures. Principal Alexina Medley recalled a poem from her sixth grade graduation. She reminded the students that their mission was to light a candle in the darkness and hoped that Warren Easton would always serve as a beacon in their lives.
Dr. Armand Devizon, who taught at Easton during the first semester before becoming Human Resources Director for the Orleans Parish School Board, complimented the students for their their work ethic, saying that 75% of them held jobs while attending school.
Warren Easton benefactor Sandra Bullock was invited on stage to receive a plaque and a thank you card from the senior class. She told the students how impressed she was with them and with the graduation, which was “a celebration, not a ceremony.” She remarked how joyous this occasion was, “very unlike my own graduation,” she chuckled. "You are the miracle that came out of Katrina," Bullock proclaimed. She also said “you guys are the best looking group of kids I have ever seen.” She told them to take care of themselves and each other.
The room was full of emotion and more than a few tears were shed.
School Board member Jimmy Fahrenholtz member commended the students for surviving Katrina and Principal Medley’s rigid academic requirements. He said, “I know one you kids are smart and well-trained and that one day I will work for one of you.” Fahrenholtz then said his proudest moment as a member of the school board was in getting the needed fourth vote to allow the school to be turned over to the Charter Foundation. He also confessed “I’m a Fortier grad and you guys used to beat us in everything!”
Warren Easton Charter Board members in attendance included Arthur Hardy, Ron Brocato, Ronald McDonald, and Sal Genovese, who led the class in the Warren Easton Alumni pledge.
All four local TV stations covered the graduation for the evening news and the event made the front page of the Times-Picayune the next morning.
Class of 2007
Sandra Bullock made a surprise appearance at the graduation
General Russel L. HonoreeEaston Students Photography Exhibit opening May 12 at the Contemporary Arts Center
Posted: May 08, 2007Students from Warren Easton have participated in a documentary photography project in consortium with The Light Factory, a Charlotte, North Carolina museum.
All are invited to attend the opening reception of their work this Saturday, May 12, from 2 to 4 pm at the Contemporary Arts Center, 900 Camp St. in New Orleans.
The exhibit, entitled Message in a Bottle: Reconstructing Lives, consists of photographs taken by Easton students, and their assemblage pieces, combining bottles, found objects, and photographs.
Other participants in the project were photography and film students at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) and art students at Benjamin Franklin Charter School.
Sponsored by the Light Factory, 30 students from Charlotte traveled to New Orleans in February to meet the New Orleans students. The Charlotte students and teachers spent a day at Easton filming and interviewing our students. The combined group then went on a day long field trip to New Orleans neighborhoods to photograph recovery efforts, search for artifacts, share Katrina stories, and bond at Rock ‘n Bowl.
Photographer Carl Bergman served as visiting artist for this 7 month long project, conducting weekly after-school classes in photography. Warren Easton art teacher Mary Hannon guided students in the creation of artworks that combine the resulting photographs and found objects. The students have created conceptual images that communicate their ideas and feelings about the devastation and recovery from Hurricane Katrina.
The work of the New Orleans students is scheduled to open at the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans on May 12, 2007, and to travel to the Light Factory in Charlotte in July, 2007.
“The ultimate goal of this project is to give students an opportunity to express and discuss the issues of tragedy and rebuilding through photography and film,” said Marcie Kelso, Executive Director for The Light Factory. “The ‘power of image’ is not confined to what we all felt watching the news coverage of this terrible event. The ‘power of image’ is also the profound way that we can use the creative image-taking process to heal.”
The exhibit will be on display at the CAC through June 24.
http://www.cacno.org/calendar.html
http://www.lightfactory.org/exhibitions/index.htmSILVER-BROWN DANCE COMPANY OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK VISITS WARREN EASTON
Posted: April 12, 2007The Silver-Brown Dance Company of Brooklyn, New York has traveled to New Orleans to provide master classes in dance and expression for the students of Warren Easton Senior High School. This free program of dance education, performance, and mentoring is entitled KATRINA KIDS TOUR: BROOKLYN TO BOURBON STREET. Master classes are being held from April 11th through April 20th after school, with a culminating performance to be held April 21st in the school gymnasium, 3019 Canal Street at 7:00 p.m. Friends of Warren Easton, family of the participating students, and residents of New Orleans are invited to attend this final performance.
Easton “spirit group” members were invited to attend the classes but participants are not limited to those in organized groups. Many other students have signed up for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Eva Silverstein, artistic director of the company, founded the Silver-Brown Dance Company with Guillermo Brown in 1998 and assumed full directorship of the company in 2005. She is the recipient of five proclamations celebrating her work from Brooklyn Borough President and has been profiled in numerous dance publications. She has presented her work throughout the United States, Canada, Central and South America, and Europe.
Ms. Silverstein has brought four dancers from her company, all of whom have impressive resumes in dance and expression. Warren Easton is most appreciative of their thoughtful and generous spirit.<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Next >>
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Click here to see the feature that ran nationwide on the NBC Nightly News on July 2 and aired again in New Orleans on WDSU on July 3.
Click here to view highlights from remarks made by President George W. Bush on August 29, 2006 in the Warren Easton High School Auditorium.
