Collegiate School Class of 2028 Performs Final Exercises

Interim Head of School Billy Peebles welcomed attendees to the 8th Grade Final Exercises and congratulated the rising 9th Graders, noting that the educational foundation laid for them here will grow as they prepare for the Upper School. 

“Today represents both a significant end and a significant beginning,” he began. It’s important, during moments of great achievement, to take stock of your life. “Today you conclude your Middle School experience. In just a matter of a couple of months, you will begin Upper School. In all of the excitement of today and all of the celebration, try to take time to reflect on what you’ve learned academically and personally as Middle Schoolers.”

Head of the Middle School Jeff Dunnington, presiding over his first ceremony in his new role, also congratulated the Class of 2028, and as he reflected on the students’ time in the Middle School, he acknowledged the various faculty and staff that made this moment possible for the 8th Graders, the tremendous work everyone in the Collegiate community contributed to help shepard the class’s growth. 

 

As Dunnington reflected on the students’ time in the Middle School, he noted that, along with individual growth in each student, the world drastically changed alongside them. All of the COVID protocols they met with a smile and executed with aplomb. “Like everything in their Middle School careers, they tackled all of the obstacles head on,” Dunnington said of the class. “So what did this group really learn? They learned to adapt. They learned to be flexible. They learned to be resilient. They learned to work together.” Of course, those lessons will translate well on their journey to the Upper School and beyond in the great stretch of life that awaits them. 

 

Following Dunnington’s remarks, the two Middle School Co-Chairs, Savannah Harris ’28 and James Ferry ’28, addressed their classmates. 

 

Savannah began her remarks by noting the number of days the Class of 2028 spent together in the Middle School. 720 days filled with laughs, joy and discovery. Packed within those 720 days, the Class of 2028 pursued unique paths of education, but each of them ended up on the same graduation stage together. “There are numerous paths each student took to reach this day,” Savannah said. “Some of us express ourselves through art and music. Others learn different foreign languages. Many found new interests through sports and clubs. Everyone’s path looks a little different. But each step led to the same final destination.” 

 

Finally, James took the podium and began by talking about Scooby-Doo. The characters in the show, he said, resemble the conflicts and achievements of the class. Often in life, as in the show, the journey towards a destination sometimes seems impossible to reach, but the gang, like the Class of 2028, always arrives at their goal, despite some hiccups along the way. “The leader of the gang, Fred, meets every challenge the gang faces with a confident smile and is never afraid to try something new in the years ahead,” James said. “If we, like Fred, go into any situation with a can-do attitude, we will be able to accomplish more. You could say the future is like one big mystery machine. As we journey on to our next chapter of life, we will do well to remember to practice Fred’s can-do spirit, Velma’s humility, Daphne’s willingness to fail and Shaggy and Scooby’s senses of humor.”

 

Dunnington then proceeded with the presentation of Middle School awards. 

Savannah Harris received the Fry Cup.

Kieran Johnston received the Hugh H. Addy Award.

Zoe Hu received the Sue H. Jett Award.

George Cobb received the Director’s Award.

James Ferry and Emily Keifer were recipients of the Citizenship Award.