2007 Lower School Graduation

The only thing missing was the red carpet as beaming parents, grandparents, siblings and friends processed into the Lower School Gym on Friday, June 1. Two-by-two the 57 members of the class of 2014 proudly paraded past the crowd and took their places on stage.

The program began with a welcome from class member Alejandro Mendoza, who introduced division director Linda Hennelly. As is tradition, it is Hennelly’s duty to make certain that each Lower School class was indeed prepared to go on to the next grade. For the first through fourth graders, she had a series of questions that included topics such as vocabulary, history, math and spelling. All inquiries were met with eager (and correct!) answers from the students.

Next, fifth grade classmates Caroline Kaplan and Leah Mellett shared some of their favorite moments of their Lower School years. Highlights included the Ellis Island simulation, Pioneer Week, field trips and above all, making friendships that will last a lifetime. Their sentimental recollections were brought to a close by the entire Lower School singing, “What a Wonderful World.”

After some sage advice from Yogi Berra via Head of School Don Firke, Hennelly again took the stage to pass along some words of wisdom from the first graders. Their recommendations for the new middle schoolers included: “don’t get lost;” “have fun;” “be brave;” “don’t throw food;” “stay confident;” “be a good friend;” “pass along what you know.”

Hennelly also recognized this particular fifth grade class for being funny, dear, bright and full of promise. And, as always, she assured them that they were favorite fifth grade class…this year!

View pictures of the Lower School graduation.



Middle School Graduation

When the class of 2011 was finishing sixth grade, Middle School Director Deb Sampey took a look at the students’ grades and noticed a pattern – as a whole, the group did extremely well. Uneasy about the possibility of grade inflation, she gathered together teachers to discuss her concerns.

“They warned me that your grade was exceptional,” Sampey told the middle schoolers assembled on the stage in the Wrigley Theatre for their graduation on June 6.

In a ceremony marked by good humor and fond memories of the students’ experiences at Latin so far, Sampey praised the eighth graders, saying, “Your class far surpassed the independent school norms…. Your work ethic and goal-oriented mindset never waned.”

Head of School Don Firke addressed the students and said that graduation from eighth grade is an opportunity for the students to reflect upon their education thus far and to look ahead to their futures as well. He congratulated the students on completing the “middle” of their Latin education, adding that the beginning, middle and end of their education are each important in their own way.

Among the students to take the podium, Class President Michael Malek gave a funny and poignant speech on the “state of [the] graduating class.” He talked about the most valuable lesson he learned during middle school: to listen and to appreciate and respect the opinions of others, especially when they are different from his own. Malek jokingly urged his fellow classmates to “one up” college dropout Bill Gates and “quit school now,” telling a laughing audience that “any more learning…may be redundant.”

Each of the speakers captured the excitement, joy and hope of the event. After recently reading the biography of Albert Einstein by Walter Isaacson, Sampey said she began to think about all that the soon-to-be ninth graders have in common with the man who is known as one of the greatest scientists of all time. While the students certainly might be described as over-achievers, she said that they could learn from Einstein as well.

Sampey urged the students to follow the sage suggestion that Einstein once gave to his son.

“’Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving,’” she quoted.

View pictures of the Middle School graduation.


Upper School Graduation

“You are unique, compassionate, accepting, open-minded and authentic human beings,” is how David Peterson, the student commencement speaker for the class of 2007, described his fellow classmates during the June 7 graduation ceremony in Moody Church.

Peterson, who came to Latin in ninth grade, shared fond memories of how willing his classmates had been to welcome him into their community, which he described as supportive. He told the story of how a particular breakthrough at senior retreat helped uncover his potential as a person. “You deserve celebration,” he told them.

Upper School Director Tim Cronister then took the podium to give his last official address to his senior class. Cronister recalled the inspiring quotes he had utilized throughout the year as a means of helping the students maintain focus and perspective. The moving words came from a variety of sources, including Albert Einstein and Martin Luther King, Jr., and reflected both the personality of the class and immense amount of change they were experiencing. He concluded by describing the 104 students as nice, smart, responsible and talented.

After the awards presentations, Steven Coberly, Upper School science teacher, took the stage for the faculty member address. He talked about celebrations of his 10th, 20th, 30th and 40th birthdays and pointed out how he was in very different places—geographically, professionally, and personally—at each decade. He encouraged the students to be similarly open to going where life takes them, as opposed to constricting themselves to a pre-determined plan. He relied on a Walt Whitman poem to further make his point when he told the students: “You are large. You contain multitudes.”

His parting words for the Class of 2007: “Write your life plan down…in pencil.”

View pictures of the Upper School graduation.

© 2008 The Latin School of Chicago

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