Date: Fri 25-Jun-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: JEFF

Quick Words:

Middle-School-moving-up

Full Text:

Eighth Graders Remember Three Years And Look Toward Four More At High School

(with photos)

BY JEFF WHITE

Last Thursday night, June 17, the eighth graders were in a mood to cheer. They

lauded the achievements of their fellow cluster members. They praised those

among them called to the podium to receive special awards. And when Thomas

Ward's name was called out toward the end of the student procession, the high

school auditorium thundered its applause in a standing ovation. It was at once

an act of support for Tom's courageous battle against cancer and an act of

class unity.

As always, the high school was an appropriate venue for the middle school's

Moving Up ceremony, as the eighth graders prepared to put their life on Queen

Street behind them and meet the challenges this coming fall down on Berkshire

Road.

"I wish I could say how much people have changed over these years, but I only

have so much time," said Kathleen DeWeese, Student Council President. Kathleen

was one of several speakers who addressed the audience that filled the

auditorium to capacity. "We came here as children, and are leaving as young

adults," she added.

Morgan Eve Swain, who walked away from the night with the Cluster 8B

creativity award, captivated the crowd with a violin medley of Irish folk

music. The onlookers enthusiastically clapped the cadence to the tapping of

Morgan's foot, and upon completion, she shyly acknowledged her standing

ovation.

"There was not one day that went by that I didn't laugh," recalled Kimberly

Shortt, Cluster 8A student representative. It was the portion of the evening

when students had the opportunity to reflect on their three years at the

middle school. Kimberly fondly recalled the biannual camping trips that Mr

Washburn and Ms LaRoche took with the kids.

Most students reminisced about time spent with friends, their teachers'

sometimes funny hijinks, and how the sprawling expanse of the middle school,

in the beginning a strange and daunting place, became a symbol of familiarity

and security for them all.

There was an overwhelming feeling of class cohesiveness at the ceremony, and

one got the sense that these students were not just prepared to move up to the

high school, but they were ready to move together.

"We have overcome everything, positive and negative," said Cluster 8B

representative Kathryn Lahey. "We all have one thing in common, we're moving

on."

Along with fond recollections of the past came the recognition of past

endeavors and hard work, as Assistant Principals Virginia King and Frank

Arnone announced myriad awards for student accomplishments.

Among the cluster awards, Jennifer Murphy (8A), Kelly Coney (8B), Theodore

Yemc (8C), and Lindsay Sprung (8D) were recognized has having the highest

grade point averages in their respective clusters.

Rachel Stern was the recipient of the Weller Foundation award for obtaining

the highest grade point average in the eighth grade class.

Several awards recognized student leadership and commitment to the school

community. Chris LaRocque received the Secretary of State Excellence in

Citizenship Award; Caitlyn Elf and Jake Rouse won the Michaels Jewelers Award;

and Katie DeWeese went home with the Sons of the American Revolution

Leadership Award.

As the procession of students curled around the periphery of the auditorium at

the beginning of the ceremony, many eighth graders offered up what they were

looking forward to the most about high school.

"I'm looking forward to new friends," said Ryan Prather.

Some students indicated the prospect of different sports as a source of

anticipation. "I'm looking forward to lacrosse," said Nick Ruocco. One student

asked in passing, "Do they have kick boxing at the high school? Because I

could get into that."

David Kean and Beatrice Burke both claimed that they were looking forward to

the freedom that the high school represents.

"I'm looking forward to new teachers, new people, I guess just a new

beginning," said Matt Socci.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the future class of 2003 met each other in

the high school lobby, and walked down the halls that will occupy the next

four years of their life. Parents and family were close by their sides; for

them, the evening symbolized the beginning of a new phase in the childrens'

lives.

"Here we are in front of you today, on top of that mountain we started to

climb three years ago," Theodore Yemc, Cluster 8C student representative, said

in his address to the audience. "I do believe the experience we take from the

middle school will help us climb that next mountain."