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SPECIAL EDITION | JULY 24, 2018
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Summit's Moving Up 2018 Ceremony & Breakfast
Summit's 8th Grade Moving Up Breakfast and Ceremony was held on June 14.
Attended by family, friends, and Summit staff, the ceremony helped students celebrate their many accomplishments as they get ready to move up to high school. Being prepared to move on, whether as a student transitioning to Summit's Upper School or to another high school, is our main focus for our eighth graders. Moving up to high school is a key transition in a student's life -- a significant rite of passage. It also serves as a process that furthers our students' own self-understanding. Here are some of the highlights of that special day in photos (see below for links to Summit's full gallery of photos and presentations):
Serving as emcee for Summit's 2018 Moving Up Breakfast and Ceremony, John Trainor, Director of Technology, introduced Karen Frigenti, Lower School Principal, who extended a warm welcome to all of Summit's eighth graders and their families to the 2018 ceremony (photos above).
"This year, during our character education curriculum, we covered topics that included respect, empathy, achievement, character, and honesty. I see all of those things in each of you," said Karen Frigenti during her remarks. "When I look around at this eighth grade class, I see these traits stand out most prominently in your friendships. The compassion and concern you show for one another is heartwarming. There have been many occasions where you have advocated for a friend, defended a friend, and/or have gone to an adult to seek help for a friend...Thank you for caring about each other the way that you do and I hope that the friendships you have formed here become lifelong friendships." She concluded her remarks by extending her best advise: "Follow your passion, stay true to yourself, and do what you love."
This year, our ceremony opened with The Pledge of Allegiance led by Avery Anderson and Sanai Harris, Summit's Lower School Student Council President and Vice President, respectively. A newly directed video, "Our Students," featured each Moving Up student personally talking about their experience at Summit and their many aspirations, which was created by Dennis Moeller, Lower School Assistant Principal. Following the student video, teachers Matt Foley, Anne Jennis, and Gloria Ratafia announced our 35 eighth grade students in Classes 20, 21, 22, 24, and 26 and presented their Moving Up certificates.
Also joining Summit staff on the podium this year was Dennis Moeller, Lower School Assistant Principal, who remarked that "As an adult early on in my own parenting career, I am constantly learning about and adjusting to the amount of time, dedication, selflessness, and attention that goes into each and every day in order to succeed while raising children. I want to publicly thank all of the parents, grandparents, family, and friends who are in the room and who have helped guide and support these children to reach this point in their academic career. He also told Summit families and students that "the group of students before us value friendships, looking out for one another, and helping out people around them. Regardless of when you joined the Summit family, I hope that you look back on your time here as memorable and instrumental to the foundation of life's journey. I hope that you always stay true to yourself and make your family proud with whatever you choose to do and don't forget to have fun every once in a while."
As keynote speakers at this year's ceremony, eighth graders Avery Anderson and Sanai Harris returned to the dais to present their own personal reflections -- the important roles their families played, how Summit's staff helped them to further their own self-understanding, and how much their friendships mean to them. Avery Hudgins, Moving Up student, closed this year's ceremony singing "For Forever" from Broadway's musical Dear Evan Hansen. Students were then invited to help Dennis Moeller cut the cake -- which provided a sweet ending to a perfect day. Students also received their Moving Up yearbooks, which were distributed by John Trainor, and they took the opportunity to spend time with classmates to get them signed.
8th Grade Moving Up Trip 2018
On Friday, June 15, students from the 8th Grade Moving Up Class of 2018 proudly donned their commemorative t-shirts and enjoyed the annual tradition of going out together on a special trip. This year's trip took everyone to Coney Island's Luna Park in Brooklyn, where the thrillseekers, the gamers, and those who just wanted to hang out with friends on the Broadwalk, all had a great day and created a memory that will last a lifetime.
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