They’ll be freshman at O’Neill this fall
“You’re getting a great group of freshman students, Ms. Brand …”
“With that, Highland Falls Intermediate School Principal Mike McElduff closed the June 26 ‘Moving Up Ceremony’, and sent his 51 eighth graders on to James I. O’Neill High School, where they will be freshmen in the fall.
The students heard from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Sheboy at their celebration.
“It’s a special evening,” he said. “It represents the first nine years of a 13 year journey through school. You are a talented and dedicated group of young men and women. You have amazing potential. Tonight marks a turning point in each of your individual and you collective stories. Tonight is the end of the HFIS Class of 2019. You had a wonderful procession in here as intermediate school students, but soon you’ll have a recessional out of here as the James I. O’Neill Class of 2023.”
He urged them to work hard in high school, but also to take time to try new things, and to define themselves.
“Use your talents and your gifts,” he said.
In his remarks, McElduff praised the parents and family members in the audience for their support through this point in the students’ lives, and reminded them that they will need even more support in the years ahead. “High school will be hard,” he said. “But you are ready.”
Several awards were given out at the ceremony as well. Two teachers — Ken Hall and Bernadette Smith — were presented with the community-based John Xanthis Award. Brian Aylward, representing The Center, made that presentation.
Student awards went to Emma Vanzetta and Christian Taylor (the John Sangimino Spirit Award), Amber Wojciechowski and Michael Steward (the Citizenship Award). All students who spent time on the honors and high honors lists were also recognized, as were the top five students in the class.
State Senator James Skoufis was on hand, too, to talk to the students and to give out ‘Student of Excellence’ awards from the Senate. Amber Wojciechowski and Jeremy Stoll received those awards.
Skoufis congratulated all of the rising freshman on their special day, and also congratulated the HF-FMCSD for continuing to provide an excellent education to all of its students. He asked the school’s staff and faculty to stand for a round of applause.
Also at the ceremony, four students — Kieaysia Amos, Jacklyn Kelly, Jeremy Stoll and Anya Voltaire — performed ‘Opening Up’ by Sara Bareilles.
Certificates of Completion were presented to the students by Sheboy, McElduff and members of the Board of Education.
The class members are: Camylda Alfred, Kieaysia Amos, Brian Austin, Justin Bell, Austin Borgos, Justin Bowles, Laila Brown, Benjamin Despirito, Lea Diaz, Sofia Dyroff, Sophia Farina, Kate Feldman, John Flynn, Patrick Flynn, Jaiden Green, Alfred Hiraldo, Katelyn Infante, Tommy Jaeger, Christopher James, Genesis Jones, Tom Keane, Jacklyn Kelly, Tristin Laurore, Khriz Lozano, Jiali Lugo, Alexander MacLeod, Connor Manning, Brynn Marks, Vincent Meyer, Michael Nichols, Devorah Peres, Timothy Podias, Blaize Quick, Marzella Rhodes, Aidan Rodriguez, Joel Rodriguez-Gonzalez, Hannidit Rosa, Jhemelee Sigsig, Michael Steward, Jeremy Stoll, Christian Taylor, JeanPierre Flores, Ruby Valladares, Emma Vanzetta, Alleyah Vargas, Yolanda Vargas, Anya Voltaire, Lonnie Whatley and Amber Wojciechowski.
