Movin’ On Up to the High School After Sandy

Story and Photos by Rosemary Leonetti

The recurring theme running through the grade eight moving-up ceremony was one of pride, as students and district speakers recalled the fortitude that the Long Beach Middle School Class of 2013 demonstrated in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.

Even the new outdoor venue at Veteran’s Field represented a triumph over obstacles. The usual venue, the high school gymnasium, was damaged by the storm, so with much work and planning and a little cooperation from Mother Nature, the ceremony was moved outdoors for the first time in more than 25 years.

The graduates marched down the field to John Williams’ “Olympic Fanfare and Theme,” a fitting bit of symbolism to mark the occasion. Eighth-grader Ebony Isaac led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. The eighth-grade chorus vocal workshop singers performed the national anthem, followed by a heartfelt rendition of “Count on Me.”

“It seems like only yesterday when we were all together for the sixth-grade Frost Valley trip,” said Principal Dr. Michele Natali in her opening remarks. “While there you made news friends, participated in team-building activities and had new adventures. You learned to rely on one another and created new bonds.

“Fast forward to 2012,” she continued. “After the storm, you put many of the skills you learned at Frost Valley to the test. You needed to learn to rely on one another, support one another and get your minds in the right frame of reference. As you move on to the high school, my advice for you is to reach for the stars, join new clubs, make new friends and make the most of your high school years.”

Board of Education President Roy Lester also praised the graduates for the extraordinary character they had exhibited over the past seven months.

“You graduates have come here today through your effort, your perseverance and your diligence,” he observed. “When things got bad, you just had to keep pushing. But perseverance is not worth anything without a goal. As you move on to the high school, decide on your goals and keep them in sight.”

Superintendent of Schools David Weiss also reflected on the unusual challenges faced by this class. “This year you had your share of hurdles to overcome,” he said. “As you worked through that, you learned more about yourselves and your community. You also learned that we can be stronger working together. I challenge you all to make a sustained and meaningful commitment to our community and to each other in the years ahead.”

Next came the presentation of the graduates, followed by the reminiscences of student government representatives Peter McQuade and Cooper Everett, who also spoke of how they all came together as a family in the face of adversity. “We’ve done so much to get to this moment — we all were stronger than Sandy,” they concluded, as the crowd erupted in cheers.

Long Beach High School Principal Dr. Gaurav Passi welcomed the graduates as the newest members of Long Beach High School and urged them to take full advantage of every opportunity by challenging themselves with rigorous coursework, becoming involved and setting goals.