Mahopac Celebrates
Class of 2023 Graduates
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“It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.” Those were the parting words of Mahopac High School Principal Dr. Matthew Lawrence to the class of 2023.
This year’s graduates endured many uncertainties and turmoil while navigating their freshman year during a global pandemic. Three years later, at Thursday night’s commencement, it was clear they had persevered.
“You’ve finished well,” Lawrence said proudly. “I enjoyed our four years together. Believe me when I say that I will miss you.”
Mahopac honored its 319 new graduates during this year’s commencement, which took place on the 50-yard line of the high school football field. Students were center stage throughout an evening that saw poignant speeches by Senior Class President Jack Edwards, Salutatorian Megan Bloomer, Valedictorian Brett Bergerson and M.O.S.T. President Ava Van Nortwick.
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“Realize now that moments are what matter,” said Bloomer. “You may remember these moments. You may not. But you will remember the people who you made them with.”
“What do you want to be? The better question is: Who do you want to be?” said Bergerson. “I’ll be rooting for all of you. Let’s root for who we are, not what we are. And let’s go Pac!”
It was Van Nortwick, the final speaker of the night, who had the honor of certifying the graduates before each student then had their names called and were awarded diplomas from Superintendent of Schools Christine Tona.
“While the whole world is not Mahopac, it is ours,” said Van Nortwick. “They will be them, you will be you, but we will always be the Class of 2023.”
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Mahopac Middle School's Planetarium Finds New Home |
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The year is 1977, a Mahopac Middle School student leans back in one of the reclining seats in the middle school’s planetarium. He listens to the projector in the center of the room as it clicks and whirs to life. He watches as a projection of the starry night sky lights up the dome of the planetarium. The image rolls, revealing the many wonders of space, seeing the progress of hours passing by in seconds, revealing the machinations of the starscape above. |
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In 2023 that very same student, Chris Wellington, now a member of the Mahopac Central School District staff, examined the Space Race relic, which hadn’t been in regular use for many years, and considered the fact that its time at Mahopac Middle School had come to an end. The old device, with its struts, spheres, and lenses, ironically bore a passing resemblance to a spacecraft itself.
“We used it at a career day seven or eight years ago, but it hasn’t been in regular use for a long time,” said Mahopac Middle School teacher Susan Cotten. “I’ve always been fascinated by it, I think it’s so cool.”
Cotten has been teaching English as a New Language in the planetarium room for 13 years, and in that time, she has become the unofficial steward of the planetarium projector, which she affectionately nicknamed ‘Harry’.
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After 50 years in Mahopac Middle School and many decades of inspiring interest in science and astronomy in the Mahopac community, the projector is no longer useful. The cost to refurbish the planetarium and, particularly, its dome has outweighed the demand for it.
But this is not the end for the 1970s era planetarium.
“I found a gentleman named Steve Pielock, an installation and repair tech for planetarium equipment,” Cotten said. “Steve was very interested in saving our projector because a middle school in Aurora, New York recently had its planetarium equipment destroyed by a sprinkler malfunction.”
This type of 50-year-old projector is exceedingly rare today, giving Aurora schools little hope of finding replacement parts. Superintendent Christine Tona was thrilled to hear that parts of the middle school’s planetarium could be used by another school district to continue educating and inspiring students and greenlit the transfer.
“This was the best possible solution for both schools in my opinion, because we would be salvaging our equipment and benefiting a new generation of students in another district within our own state,” Cotten said.
After 50 years of service, old ‘Harry’s’ time at Mahopac Middle School has come to an end. The planetarium will be replaced with a brand new media center similar to the Mahopac High School Mini Theater.
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Help Us Improve Mahopac Matters |
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This year, the Office of the Superintendent released a weekly email newsletter, "Mahopac Matters." Help us improve Mahopac Matters by filling out this short questionnaire.
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Important Dates For Student-Athletes |
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Save the date, parents/guardians of Mahopac High School student-athletes:
July 21 - Family ID for Fall Sports Opens
August 14, 15, 17 - School Physician will be at Mahopac High School to conduct physicals
(Contact school nurse to make an appointment)
August 21 - Tryouts Begin for Varsity and Junior Varsity Sports
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The first day of school for the 2023-2024 school year will be on September 6th for students in grades 6, 9, and kindergarten and on September 7th for all students. Have a wonderful summer! |
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Mission Statement
To prepare each and every student for college and career readiness, and
to educate all students to be responsible and productive members
of the global community.
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Mahopac Central School District
179 East Lake Boulevard, Mahopac, NY 10541-1666
Phone: 845-628-3415 Fax: 845-628-5502
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