The class of 2013 is unique. The class that leaves at the end of this month can be marked as the transitional pivot between old school and new school. We started with writing on the chalkboard and we ended by writing on the iPads. As the soon-to-be graduates of Fraser High School, we can only look back with good memories and look at the future with hope. But if there is one thing that must not change in this tight knit community, it is the sense of community. While we move towards more technology in the classrooms, let’s not forget that friendship and relationships are the foundation of a strong school. The role of the teacher is getting smaller, but don’t forget that the teacher is the true guide for every student. More classes with more students are taking their classes online, but events like pep assemblies and dances must remain so that students interact and socialize. As the founder of the two year-old student section at Fraser, The Stable , I created it to give students a common bond and just one more thing that would mesh different types of people together for a common interest. It’s not to say that these high school traditions will ever go away, but it would not be so shocking if these traditions became a little less, well, tradition-y. I remember back to May of 2010 and I sat on a student panel which asked then-principal Dr. Richards questions about why he thought he would make a good superintendent for Fraser Public Schools and what his vision was for the district. I’ll admit, when I heard his plans of virtual classes and having technology such as iPads in the classroom, I thought that the district was going to move too fast and would lose focus on what is really important for a successful school environment. There has definitely been a struggle for the Class of 2013 to stop clinging to the old school way of learning and start using iPads for half of a year, but I think every senior can agree that hybrid classes have turned out to be a brilliant program at FHS and that the iPads will eventually be useful and not complete distraction in the classroom. My wish for the district as I, along with my senior class, walk through the FHS halls for only a few more days, is that the administration, staff, and students never lose sight on what is really important in school. Don’t forget that money isn’t everything and although the district is becoming more of a business and more diverse geographically, that residents of Fraser should be first priority. The iPads, the Mac Books, and Promethean boards are all tangible items, things that can be replaced; however, FHS must hold on to the indispensable aspects of high school.