NMS Eighth Grade Moves Up And On

By Eliza Hallabeck

Newtown Middle School eighth grade students walked into Western Connecticut State University’s O’Neill Center on Monday, June 18, as family and friends stood, snapping photos and clapping for the soon-to-be middle school graduates.

“Good evening family and friends of our eighth grade Class of 2012,” said NMS Principal Diane Sherlock after the students were seated before her. “It is so much my honor to welcome you to the Newtown Middle School Moving Up Ceremony.”

NMS students Samuel Omalyev, Gemma Hyeon, Emma Tallon, and Lydia Field comprised the string quartet that played “The Star Spangled Banner” near the start of the event, after which Student Council President Katie Mossbarger spoke and awards were given out to students.

“I would first like to congratulate all of the eighth graders,” said Katie. “You have each worked so hard to get where you are today, but you couldn’t have done it without our amazing teachers and parents.”

On behalf of the students, Katie thanked the teachers and parents in the audience.

“You are the reason we have made it so far,” she said, “and you are the reason why we are here today.”

Katie said it feels like yesterday that the eighth grade students were entering the middle school as seventh graders, waiting to see what the new school would bring them.

“If you think back to our time at Reed,” Katie said, “we couldn’t wait until seventh grade, and now we can’t wait until high school.”

In the two years the students have been middle school students, Katie said, the NMS 2012 graduating eighth grade class has given back to the community through projects.

“These are the years that made us who we are today,” said Katie. “Congratulations. Thank you.”

Later, special awards were announced for students by Ms Sherlock and NMS Assistant Principal Kathy Boettner, before students were recognized as eighth grade graduates.

To view a pamphlet from the ceremony with the full list of graduates, see this story at newtownbee.com.