Shore Road sixth grade students marked their final elementary milestone during the school’s annual promotion ceremony, held in the John F. Kennedy High School auditorium on June 21. This year, the district held four separate ceremonies.
After the flag salute led by select students, music teachers Kelly Brandstadter, Laura Itzkovitz and Jennifer MacVicar played the national anthem.
Principal Patrice Matthews congratulated the students on having overcome such academic adversity during the school year and told them she considered the class to be the “ultimate role models.” Furthermore, she said, “You have proven to be the brightest shining stars that ever passed through Shore Road School.”
Select students also addressed the class with reflections and memories of their time at Shore Road School and their advancement from both the Charles A. Reinhard Early Learning Center and Winthrop Avenue School.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Famularo reminded the students, like the past year, they don’t have 100% control over all situations, but they do have 100% control over the way they react to the things they can’t control. Using a sailing metaphor to relate the message about how leaders react to situations, he said, “You can’t control the wind, but can always adjust your sails.”
Board of Education president Jay L.T. Breakstone addressed each group of graduates. He told the graduating class that they are uniquely endowed with the tools to fix the world and to remember the first lesson about being nice as the most important one. “Find out what’s wrong and fix it,” Mr. Breakstone said. “This is your mission. We have given you all the tools you need – the most important tool, caring.”
During the PTA address, Leslie Cerverizzo and Denise Cerrotta told the students to “Go out there and be bold enough to use your voice, brave enough to listen to your heart and strong enough to live the life you’ve always imagined.”
Under the baton of Laura Itzkovitz, the students then performed the song “Imagine,” using American Sign language.
The graduates were then called by their individual teachers to walk across the stage to receive their promotion certificates from Ms. Matthews, marking their becoming alumni of the Bellmore School District. As the graduates processed out of the auditorium, they were met by peers and family and said their farewell until they see each other at Grand Avenue Middle School in the fall.