Approximately 240 eighth-graders from South Woods Middle School officially advanced to Syosset High School during their moving up ceremony held at the Tilles Center at LIU Post. Much of the evening was spent reflecting on the sense of respect and community developed during the last three years, as well as the knowledge acquired to become productive, caring individuals.
Graduates Jesse Levitan and Emma Van Dorn served as Masters of Ceremony as Jennie Dapice and Melina Ziambras gave their reflections on their time at South Woods. “We learned that our ideas matter and that students can make a difference,” said Jennie touching on student efforts to benefit the Ronald MacDonald House, Sunrise Day Camp and address the hunger crisis through food drives as well as the many wonderful outdoor educational experiences including Geocaching and fishing in the Long Island Sound that she and her classmates experienced.
Melina added “At South Woods Middle we have learned the skills we needed to make it through the past few years. Hopefully, we will bring [those skills] to high school and expand our horizons and develop new ones as we grow together.”
Just nine years removed from his own middle school graduation from Harry B. Thompson Middle School, Board of Education member Josh Lafazan gave the class members his own words of advice, telling them, “You are absolutely, positively not confined as a learner or as a person.”
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tom Rogers and Principal Michelle Burget also gave inspirational messages to the South Woods Class of 2017, as they were awarded their middle school diplomas and officially confirmed freshmen of Syosset High School.
Musical performances were also given by the South Woods eighth-grade chorus and the school orchestra. Nikita Bijlani, Ben Gruber, Claire Moore and Jacob Rosenberg led the presentation of colors.
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