Second-grade teacher sends graduation cards to former students

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) — Year after year, there are different faces in the same blue and plaid uniforms. Some would call them almost angelic, albeit a bit mischievous at times.

They are students who once learned and played in Julie Voloski Basham’s classroom at Saint Francis in Beckley. Ms. Basham started teaching at St. Francis back in 2006.

The children grew up, as children do, and, soon enough, her first group of students were graduating high school. That is when she had an idea.

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“I just thought, I’d love to know what they’re doing after school is out,” recalled Ms. Basham on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. “So, the first class I ever had, when they graduated from high school, I thought I’m going to see how many of their addresses I can find, and I’m going to send them a card.”

So, for that first graduating class, Ms. Basham sent out cards. After that, it became a tradition as Ms. Basham sent the cards out year after year.

Collin Stacy said Wednesday that Ms. Basham was his kindergarten teacher. He visited her classroom as a graduate of WVU Tech.

He recalled that Ms. Basham had sent his graduation card with a bit of a gift inside the card.

“She told me that the more important card was within that, which was me pulling a card when I was here in Kindergarten, which is a funny memory she won’t let me forget,” said Stacy, referring to a system for disiciplining minor offenses. “I know I was in trouble that day, I don’t know, so it kind of set the standard of authority at that time, but now it’s just a running joke.”

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Ms. Basham said she has had special moments with every student that has passed through her classroom.

She said they all leave an imprint on her heart.

“I try to think of a memory of them or something that I remember, you know, that was special that year, and I send them a card to tell them that I didn’t forget about them because I think it’s important for kids to know that they put an impact in our life, just like we put an impact in theirs,” she said.

Students said getting one of Ms. Basham’s cards is a little like a hug from their elementary school years.

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“You know, it brought me back to here,” said Fiona Bechtel, who was anticipating her upcoming graduation from Woodrow Wilson High School on May 25, 2024. “I really enjoyed elementary school at Saint Francis, and it just, it was really meaningful to get a card from her. I thought it was just so thoughtful and nice of her to send those out. It was so sweet.”

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