Cat Gymnastics

The White House released excerpts from President Barack Obama’s speech prepared for tonight’s Kalamazoo Central High School commencement at 7PM.

“… I’m here tonight because after three rounds of competition, with more than 1,000 schools, and more than 170,000 votes cast, I know – and America now knows – what you’ve done at Kalamazoo Central.

Together as a community, you’ve embraced the motto of this school district: “Every child, every opportunity, every time,” because you believe, like I do, that every child – regardless of what they look like, where they come from, or how much money their parents have – every child who walks through your schoolhouse doors deserves a quality education.

And I’m here tonight because I think that America has a lot to learn from Kalamazoo Central about what makes for a successful school in this new century: Educators  raising standards and inspiring their students to meet them.  Community members stepping up as tutors and mentors and coaches.  Parents taking an active interest in their kids’ education – attending those teacher conferences, turning off that TV, and making sure that homework gets done.

But the most important ingredient is you: students who raised their sights; who aimed high and invested yourselves in your own success.  It’s no accident that so many of you received college admission letters, Class of 2010.  Because you worked for it.  You earned it.”

See more here at the White House’s site.