By: Kara Armellino, Instructional Paraprofessional
The end of 2019 has finally arrived and while new beginnings are on the horizon in the form of new students and new grade levels, we have to say goodbye to our beloved seniors. Graduation is always emotional on many levels. It’s not only saying goodbye but also a celebration of our students’ accomplishments throughout their tenure at OA. This year was no exception.
This year’s ceremony was held at Ocean County Library’s Mancini Hall, a beautiful, intimate venue that we are very much looking forward to using again in the future. Seats were filled by supportive families and friends to celebrate our students’ progress and successes. Our Master of Ceremonies was our very own veteran teacher and favorite among OA students, Mr. Berman. OceanMHS Director of Operations,. Darshan Bhatt, stopped by to deliver an inspiring speech, encouraging students to consider college in their future. This year’s ceremony introduced us to new traditions. We not only celebrated our seniors and 8th graders, but all our students’ achievements this year with an Awards Ceremony highlighting Behavioral, Academic, and Overall Success. The surprise recognition created a sense of gratitude and gave students the acknowledgment they deserved for their progress this year. For some, it was the first time receiving a trophy, for others, it provided encouragement to keep moving in a positive direction. Diplomas were next, distributed with a smile and a handshake from our lovely principal, Ms. Lane while students were introduced by teacher Mr. Goldberg. Each intro came with personal stories about each senior and Ms. Lane delivered a beautiful poem she wrote for our school. Our ceremony concluded with an emotional video of OA students’ messages to our seniors saying goodbye and offering advice and hopes for them in the future. Afterwards, students’ families and friends got to mingle and got to see our OA community for what it is: a family.
This year, our school made great strides in the right direction and our Graduation and Awards Ceremony flawlessly highlighted this positive progress. It was an emotional day filled with school pride, love, and family. As Tony Stark said, “Part of the journey is the end.” However, with every end comes a new beginning and were excited about what the future will bring for us as a school community.
For more moments from graduation visit: FB OceanMHS