Congratulations to the Class of 2012!

The honors began at Thursday’s Lower School Closing Assembly. The Assembly included songs and recitations from each of the Lower School Grades—Beginners through Grade IV—and some songs that the students, parents, teachers, and guests sang together. At the end of the Assembly, Lower School students brought flowers to their eighth grade partners and escorted them off the Green.

Graduation exercises for the Class of 2012 were held in the Gold Gym on Thursday evening. Middle School Head Joyce Swagerty encouraged the graduates to be thoughtful, active students in their next schools and to believe in themselves as both learners and leaders. Head of School Mark Stanek caught the imagination of the students in his own speech, which made reference to lessons about family and trust in The Hunger Games books.

The students themselves presented a recitation of quotes from the declamations they shared throughout the year at Middle School meetings, and sang Still Fighting It by Ben Folds.

Students were presented beautiful diplomas that included a woodcut design by woodshop teacher and artist John Segar ’72 before gathering with friends and family in the Blue Gym for cake and other refreshments.

On Friday morning, the graduates were welcomed to the Alumni Association at a breakfast hosted by the Alumni Board. They then attended the Middle School Closing Assembly, at which Grades V through VII shared wisdom from the year and songs and a faculty chorus sang a special song for the class. At the end of the Assembly—the end of the 2012 school year—the eighth graders, now alumni, processed off the Green together.