November 1998

Greetings to our Grads!

As I reread my newsletter from last year, I reminisced about our first year in our new building and realized how much better settled we are this year. Some of our trophies have been cleaned up, repaired, shined, and placed in trophy cases in the hall. There are a number of them yet to be displayed, but at least it's a beginning!

Exciting news!--Our school has recently received the EXEMPLARY status from the Texas Education Agency--the highest rating a school can receive. What makes it so great is that the ENTIRE school ranked Exemplary. Now, that's a feat to be proud of! You know that YOU helped make us what we are today.

Last summer my family and I made another trek to Colorado and enjoyed a visit with Ke" (Walters) Cooper, Class of '77, and her family. We always enjoy Colorado Springs immensely, especially when we get to spend time with her, her neat husband (yes, you Gerry!), and two teenage daughters-my kids always love that! (I would tell you how old she will be in June, but she would probably change the locks on her new house!)

As time has progressed, several of our exes have played important roles in the life of the Lackland I. S.D. Donna (Beck) Granato, Class of '76, was one of the guest speakers last spring at the student council's annual Career Day. She spoke on her career as a psychologist. One of our newest faculty members is 1979's Tracy (Apodaca) Ramirez. She joined our elementary staff in the fall, and we are so happy to have her. She is an active TSTA member and has fit right in with the rest of us. Our graduation speaker in May was 1975 Class President Jim Jones. I'm not sure that Jim ever thought of himself as a public speaker- however, I cannot begin to tell you how impressive he was on stage. He personalized his speech with the seniors' names and bonded with them with comments on his background as a military dependent as well as his military career. He added his own brand of wit and charm and made several touching remarks about Mrs. Stacey and the change of names of our school. All in all, it was super! This summer and fall, as all of us were struggling with our new high-tech computer stuff, Internet, e-mail,passwords, and new Gradespeed that automatically does everything, 1998 grad Brian Morris worked (along with senior Joe Shamess) for the district to set up machines, install software, trouble-shoot problems, sooth our ruffled feathers, etc. He proved himself to be most knowledgeable in the field of solving problems. We have missed him since he left for college in Ohio.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION: As a class gift, the graduates of 1998 donated their funds left at the end of the year to the Diane Nichols Memorial Scholarship Fund. Also, Jim Jones donated his honorarium from graduation to the scholarship fund. A big THANX goes to these folks!

Many of you have asked about Mrs. Stacey. She is doing fine and spends her time between here and Washington, DC (still!). One of her employees, Janice Niznik, will soon be retiring, as will the cafeteria manager, Mr. West. This summer Charlie Rice retired and is spending his time at home in Floresville. (I wonder what he was doing during the October flooding in his area-perhaps building an ark!) We hired a new junior high math teacher and another special education teacher. One of last year's new junior high teachers, Amy Waddell, will be getting married in December. Our band director, Jim Carroll, lost his wife Dorothy to cancer last November. Mr. Carroll retired at Christmas of last year. Retired teacher Joe Sparks joined us for lunch in October. The "sparks are flying" in his life, and things are going great! Things never stop changing, do they?

I hope you have begun thinking about Homecoming '99-as this decade draws to a close soon. The student council is hard at work these days preparing for the big event. Details are as follows:

Basketball games - Friday night, January 22, 1999
5:00; 6:30- 8:00-boys' JV, girls' varsity, boys' varsity
Opponent: Medina High School

Dance-Saturday night, January 23, 1999
Kelly Officers Club on Kelly AFB
8 p.m. to midnight
Photographer available
Tickets purchased at the door (for exes)
Theme: City of Angels

Many exes have stopped by for visits. I only regret that some of us have missed out on these visits by being in class (imagine that!). Still, T for stopping by. If you have the opportunity, do stop by. As I told you last year, it will always be your school and our school, no matter what kind of face lift it receives. Plan to see us in January!

Cordially yours,

Cynthia Lyon