NMS Eighth Grade Moves Up And On

By Eliza Hallabeck

Family and friends gathered at Western Connecticut State University’s O’Neill Center on Thursday, June 24, to witness this year’s Newtown Middle School eighth grade graduating class move up and on to high school.

NMS Principal Diane Sherlock welcomed all in attendance to the event before graduating eighth grade students Victoria Madden and Kyle Watkins sang the “Star Spangled Banner” together.

Special awards were announced during the evening event by Ms Sherlock and Assistant Principal Kathy Boettner, and student representatives — Brenna Kelly, Hannah Schwartz, Nicole O’ Leary, Jessica Keller, and Kylie Gallagher — from the five eighth grade clusters at the school gave reflection speeches.

Student Council President Helen Allen also thanked everyone in attendance before she gave the welcome address to the gathered crowd and her fellow roughly 450 soon-to-be eighth grade graduates.

“Community service is described as some kind of work for someone else where no pay is received,” said Helen. “Two organizations at Newtown Middle School help to support the community; the Interact Club and the Student Council.”

The Interact Club, Helen said, has been involved in raising money for Pennies For Patients, which raises funds for children with cancer, and other endeavors.

“And this year the Student Council was focused on our country,” said Helen, “and helped out a Native American reservation is South Dakota. We organized a coat drive, a benefit basketball game, and we raised money to buy gloves, scarves, and other necessities for the children who live on the reservation.”

Other community service activities during the year included a Thanksgiving Food Drive and greeting local senior citizens for a showing of the NMS musical production of Guys And Dolls in March.

“Every one of us should be proud,” Helen said, “because every event was well attended. I strongly encourage you all to keep on participating in community service in high school and throughout life.”

After all of the speakers concluded, students were recognized as graduates of Newtown Middle School.