Spring Issue.P65
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TheTheThe MessengerMessengerMessenger New Richmond High School, 1131 Bethel-New Richmond Road, New Richmond, Ohio Volume LXXV Spring 2015 Moving on to next stage of life... Mr. Heflin will be greatly missed after he retires By Hunter Gilpin & Tristin Baumann me to do this for a living and to students and families reached out enjoy it so much, I have a very to me broke down the subordi- grateful heart that it is not quite nate type relationship and it went that way you would picture a into a personal sense, which is career. You’d think that you among the things that have been would serve into a job and give blessings to me that were far be- in to it, but I feel very much like yond what I would’ve imagined I got more than I gave.” when I started teaching. Those Heflin also knows how many times when students and teach- students he’s had over the years. ers and families saw me as more “So I’ve done some calculations than their kids’ teacher but saw because at some point, I was me as a person and those are very asked about that, and I believe special moments.” just recently I went over ten “I guess it depends on which thousand. I believe that I’ve had hat I’m wearing,” Heflin said in for help. And when they are wor- Choir director Doug Heflin over ten thousand different stu- regards to the song of his people. ried and confused and concerned will be retiring after a long ca- dents in my classrooms, and of “If I am in the role of musician and they need a friend, they reer at the end of this year. He course right now I have 420, so playing the song that means the know that there is a stuffed duck answered a few questions that when you’re dealing with a large most to me it would probably be who will listen to every inane summed his career as whole. number of students, when you the hymn It Is Well With My Soul. word they have to share. That “I think I was born to teach,” have four classes with over 90 If I’m picking a song that applies duck turns out to be serving a Heflin said, “and that my deci- kids every day, the numbers go to an unbridled joy, I might lis- symbiotic relationship with the sion to teach was part of fulfill- very high. The neat thing is that ten to The Firebird at the the very students, so that together, the stu- ing that. I knew that I could teach so many of the kids who joined end of Stravinsky’s Firebird, or dents and the duck are as one.” without putting my ego into it.” the program maybe Jupiter Heflin was asked if he wanted “The ability to think outside when they were from The Planets to build a snowman, and he said, the box and see so many of those young followed by Gustav Holst. “They won’t open the doors so things come to fruition is quite a through with If I was going to nobody will talk to me. So I have blessing. It’s great,” Heflin said the program all sing a song that to sit outside making snow an- about his experience at New the way was relevant to gels with my Beagle, in my snow Richmond High School. “You through, which my memories, I’d boots. And if after time, of be- know when you’re six years old is what would probably pick ing retired, I look back upon this and you say you want to sing be dozens of Morning Glow and need more, I then will build songs and write stories and then seniors every from Pippin. But a snowman. But it will look like years later you retire from a job year.” since the final a Beagle. A snow dog.” after sharing stories and singing Heflin dis- song I’ll do as a In conclusion, Heflin summed songs, there’s a level of fulfill- cussed what high school up what his plans are for after ment there that not everyone gets would be the teacher is the retirement. “Inside every artist to feel, and it’s really a privilege most emotion- song I Will Fly; there is a journey for understand- to experience that.” ally touching thing that has ever that is probably my anthem. If ing, and between serving others Heflin shared what he will re- happened to him during his ca- you want to know who I am, lis- and digging deeper into myself member most about his time reer. “I think finding one specific ten to that song, and I think you’ll through music composition and here. “I’d like to say I made a time would be difficult,” he said, get a better insight.” recording and performance and difference in the lives of kids, but “but the general times when I Of course, Heflin explained ministry, I believe I can have a I’m far more likely to say that have felt that way were when the the significance of The Duck. better, deeper understanding of the people I have met have made response of the students went “The Duck is physical proof that myself, and through there, con- a significant difference in my life beyond what students do and the children I work with, on oc- tinue to make an impact in the and because I still feel so in- went to what caring people do. casion, are insane and troubled. world.” debted to all those who allowed Then to see those times when the It is a public reaching out, a cry Final year for NRHS industrial tech teacher Jim Robinson retires after 36 years By Elise Holdsworth Jim Robinson is a well known started to have major money classes are great and you can tell industrial technology teacher problems and eventually had to they really do want to be in my here at New Richmond High lay off a lot of the staff, includ- class,” Robinson said. School. Robinson has taught 33 ing me. So I started to look for Robinson considers himself as years at NRHS, since fall of another teaching job and this was a very fair educator. 1982. After all these years, this the closest school I could find “Over the years I've been very school year, 2014-2015, will be that was hiring,” Robinson ex- fair, but definitely firm. Educa- his last year teaching at New plained. tion has changed drastically over Richmond High School. Overall, Robinson said his ex- 36 years I’ve taught, but I have “What made me decide to start perience here at NRHS has been still kept the same motto,” he teaching was because I enjoy the great. said. setting of being in a school and I “The number one thing is that As you would think, being a day thing like coaching is and the went to college to work in the I would consider myself very for- teacher for as long as Robinson spot opened and thought it would area of industrial technology be- tunate to find this job because at has it creates a handful of memo- be a great chance to come into cause I really like it and it was NRHS, I've always had a board ries. contact with some of our great- perfect for me,” he said. of education that supported my “What I will remember the est/top students.” When Robinson graduated program and actually cared most is the people. The great stu- While working here at NRHS, from college, he taught three about it. Also, the administrators dents, the amazing, staff, pretty Robinson has taught many differ- years in his hometown, and principals have always sup- much everyone. I have met so ent classes, but his favorite has Miamisburg, Ohio. ported me, too. And for the most many great people and had so to be yearbook. “That school district then part, the students that take my many great students that have “I like teaching yearbook be- moved on and been successful cause every year is different and Saying farewell to Mrs. Hall in the field that I teach. It’s amaz- allows me to be creative with the ing to see that, you can't beat book. Also, everyone that I’ve Intervention Specialist retiring this year that,” he said. had in the class each year is dif- By Ciera Moore During his time here at NRHS, ferent in their own way, which Working here for seventeen Robinson has also coached base- creates a different/more creative years, Mrs. Gail A. Hall plans to ball, basketball, and football. yearbook each year. They’re all retire at the end of this school “Two of the baseball teams very hardworking. Basically, just year. Having been with the New that I coached both went on to to be able to design and do lay- Richmond school district for so regionals. That is a very special out work for it is fun; I like do- long, she has many fond memo- memory of mine. Also, my three ing that type of thing,” he ex- ries. “I have worked with a wide kids all went to school here and plained. variety of students, and I have graduated from here. I have a lot As you would imagine, retiring many precious memories, too of memories with my kids, be- from a job that you have been do- many to list,” said Hall.