In place of Newtown Middle School’s typical moving up ceremony, eighth graders returned to the school June 8 and 9 to receive certificates marking the accomplishment. Recordings of speeches and award announcements are expected to be released in the near future.

Near the start of the morning on June 8, NMS educators and staff waited along the side of the school for cars to pull up one by one. Masks were worn and everyone maintained distance as they waved green and yellow pompoms. As cars pulled up, the assembled group began to cheer for the approaching car.

After exiting the vehicle, each eighth grader picked up a certificate from a table, set up beneath a tent for shade. Each student was given a bag and a green balloon with the words, “Congratulations NMS. Moving up 2020.”

Some students posed for pictures with their cluster teachers while parents snapped photos with their phones, either from inside or just outside a car.

Each cluster and homeroom had scheduled times for parents to arrive with their eighth grade student.

As cars pulled out of the middle school’s parking lot, lawn signs could be read, saying, “Moving up. #LionPride. Congratulations 8th grade.”

As of June 9 the graduation videos were still in production.

NMS Principal Tom Einhorn said in an e-mail on June 9 that the certificate handouts were a “wonderful event. We were thrilled to be able to celebrate and recognize our amazing students.”