On June 3, the Unquowa community came together to celebrate another wonderful school year and to honor the graduating class of 2014.

In the morning, the entire school gathered for our Closing Ceremonies – an event filled with traditions including the recognition of summer birthdays and the reading by faculty of tributes written collaboratively about each graduating class member’s most poignant time at Unquowa. After watching a special video tribute to the Class of 2014, the eighth graders formed a receiving line in the front of the gym and Ms. Lauer invited the seventh graders to “take the eighth grade seats.” This symbolic move marked the passing of the mantel of school leadership from the outgoing class to next year’s eighth graders, the Class of 2015.

The morning ceremony ended with our instrumental teacher, David Coe, playing “Edelweiss” as every student and teacher in the school passed by the line of graduates to wish each one a personal goodbye and good luck – ending the ceremony with high fives, handshakes and big hugs.

Awards announced at the Closing Ceremonies included the Unquowa Parents Association Award for a seventh grader who “has shown the most significant growth in intellectual discipline” which was given to Nora. The Costume Closet Key was presented to two seventh graders who have shown a particular dedication to the performing arts – Walter and Mary. Director of Academic and Social-Emotional Learning, JoAn Sabatini, received the Virginia F. Birdsall Faculty Award to support her summer travels to Costa Rica where she will attend a week-long advanced training seminar on Mindfulness and Education. Finally, PreK-3 teacher Janice Shannon presented the Ultimate Unquowan Awards to the two graduates who began at the school eleven years ago with her in PreK-3: Elizabeth and Alex.

Returning to school that evening for Commencement, Unquowa’s graduating class gathered with family, friends, alumni, the Board of Governors and the faculty and staff for a final ceremony of closure and to mark the start of their transition to high school. The Rabbi Evan Schultz offered the invocation and Salutatorian Sasha Starovoitov welcomed everyone to the celebration.

The ceremony included the announcement of several awards. Valedictorian, Conner, received the William J. Grippin Award for the highest academic average. Elysse and Alex were both given the Unquowa Award for significant growth in intellectual discipline. The Board of Governors’ Cup for outstanding school citizenship was given to Sara and the Headmaster’s Cup was awarded to Claire. The John P. Blessington Award for steadfast concern for classmates and the school was given to Elizabeth and the Robert L. Cleveland Award for a keen mind, sound body and unafraid spirit was awarded to Olivia. Eighth graders Derek and Maria were named Class Agents. The Jean Carpenter Winton Distinguished Alumni Award was given to Carolyn Gaines Ruckle ‘53 in recognition of her loyalty to our school and mission.

After receiving their diplomas the graduates heard from guest speaker, Mark Greenawalt – President of the Board of Governors. Mark emphasized the importance of the early years of education in preparing children to be good students with strong character. He reflected back to his own two Unquowans, Marc Thomas ’10 and Danielle ’11, and how much they loved their time at Unquowa.

Valedictorian Conner thanked Ms. Lauer and the Unquowa faculty on behalf of his fellow graduates for their guidance and support saying “today, we, the Class of 2014, graduate not only from middle school but to the next stage of our lives. Today, as we go from middle school to high school, we must say goodbye to the middle school community we know and love and cross the road to the bigger, busier high school where we each will do bigger and better things. I know that some of us might be nervous or even scared about the next stage in life, yet I know that our teachers, families and friends have prepared us well.”

With a closing benediction from Reverend Charles Allen of Fairfield University, we said a final goodbye to the Class of 2014.