Date: Fri 26-Jun-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: MICHEL

Quick Words:

schools-graduation-class-'98

Full Text:

Class Of '98 Says Farewell -- Buy Not Goodbye

(with cut)

BY MICHELE HOGAN

The band was playing on the left. Family and friends cheered and applauded

from the right. Billowing clouds were overhead. Members of Newtown High

School's class of 1998 filed across the grass and were seated in the center of

Bruce Jenner Stadium Monday evening for graduation.

One by one, local dignitaries stepped up to the podium with words of

inspiration and encouragement for the 247 graduates seated before them.

Chuckles erupted from the stands and the green as teacher Robert McHugh smiled

and told the graduating class, "Don't be surprised when you begin to act and

look like your parents."

Seniors snickered back, and within moments several enormous beach balls

bounced back and forth through the neat rows of graduating seniors, eliciting

more cheers from the crowd of parents and friends in the stands.

A high-spirited celebration of accomplishment and freedom, students still

could not forget the people they would soon be missing. The graduating class

had pulled together as a family, and now they saw it coming to a close.

As they prepared to move on to a new chapter in their lives, Valedictorian

Michael Oristaglio touched the hearts of students and parents alike.

Michael told the them that there are many words he could say, but "one word we

shouldn't say is `goodbye.'"

He said through their four years in the high school, they had said goodbye to

their mascot; at times they may have felt they were saying goodbye to their

sanity.

He gently reminded them: "We let go. We were able to smile and move on. Say

thank you for one or two or 50 special people, but don't say goodbye."

There were muted giggles when he reiterated, "Don't say `Ciao.' Don't say `See

ya dude.'"

Then he paused. The crowd hushed. "Don't say `I love you.'" Again, silence. "I

love you."

"I love you. Some things are better left unsaid. Don't say goodbye." Silence.

Graduates names were called. Hands were shaken. Diplomas given.

Mortar boards were thrown to the wind when the last diploma was in hand.

There were then tearful embraces, touching remembrances, excited talk of the

future, but no "goodbyes" were heard on that crowded green Monday night.