The symbolism of a wreath varies depending on which website you consult, but all the explanations have one thing in common: commemoration. Wreaths celebrate the cycle of life, a significant change, an achievement, a victory.
In the Methow Valley, wreaths commemorate a milestone for another graduating class of high school seniors, which to some degree fits into all of the categories above. These kids are approaching phase two of life — impending separation from family and familiar — and launching into independent life. A year from now they’ll all be doing something that is not the thing they have done for the past 17 or 18 years of their lives.
Although we live in an era that places some value on educating its youth — these aren’t times when you see large numbers of teens dropping out of school to help support their families — high school graduation is still an achievement, not something to take for granted. And graduation is a victory, in a sense — a collaborative victory that involves not just the student, but the parents, coaches, teachers, mentors, and community members who all contributed to these kids’ upbringing and helped get them to a stage of maturity that makes more independence possible a year from now.
So in case you hadn’t figured this out yet: it’s wreath season, people. It’s the time of year when the senior class parents sell locally made holiday wreaths and swags to raise funds to host a safe and sober graduation party, which takes place immediately after the graduation ceremony.
The party includes any graduating senior, regardless of whether they are completing their high school education at Liberty Bell, the Independent Learning Center, at home, through Running Start, the Christian school, or any other educational venue. The class of 2024 has representatives from all of these.
The party allows all Methow Valley graduates to celebrate their accomplishments and enjoy being together as a group one last time before they scatter to begin the next chapter of their lives. The members of the class of 2024 aren’t all close friends, they don’t all share the same values or political beliefs or interests. Some of them may never see each other again. But they’ve shared a Methow Valley childhood, and that unites them.
If you’re attending the Homecoming football game at Liberty Bell High School on Saturday (Oct. 21) at 3 p.m., you can pre-order your wreath or swag onsite. If not, you can pre-order by emailing libertybellseniorparents@gmail.com. Wreath pick-up dates are Nov. 11 and Nov. 24. If you’re ordering for a business, we’ll deliver to you. Thanks for helping wrap up this group of kids’ senior year in style.
