001it's my pleasure to welcome you to our promotion ceremony for DOD Middle School class of 2024 it's been yeah it's been a fun year getting to know this group of eighth graders and after a whirlwind of a year I could say it's an honor to send them on to high school before we get started I ask that everyone please silence your devices at this time I would like to introduce the members of our chorus which includes eighth graders Cassidy endis Eliah Wilson Alyssa Williams Z Lano bellais salamini and Levan Scaletti to sing our national anthem please rise and remain standing for our Pledge of Allegiance [Music] St [Music] still St of the and the of the [Applause] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which
002it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all thank you so much to our court that was an amazing performance and to our pledge leaders Ryan plof Joy tanas sham zaj and Nicholas Donovan it's a great start friends on behalf of our distinguished guests superintendent Dr Jeffrey Solen assistant superintendent Mrs Marlene Solano our chief operating officer Vincent masana our Board of Education Miss Marie Broadway our supervisor of special education our special present our DOD staff parents guests and especially our students of our DOD class of 2024 it's my pleasure to welcome you again to the dod Middle School promotion [Applause] ceremony eighth graders are going to take a couple minutes to talk directly to you okay I want you to listen like we're having a conversation in the hallway okay I'm
003incredibly proud of each of you as you bid farewell to DOD Middle School I implore you to seize this opportunity to dedicate yourself to making your high school years even more remarkable today is a day of Celebration and reflection but also a day to look forward to The Incredible Journey that lies ahead of you I'm incredibly proud of your hard work and dedication I want you to reflect on your journey and take pride not in your grades that you achieved but in the effort and perseverance that that you have shown your willingness to try your best to push through challenges and believe in yourselves is what truly matters these traits will carry you far in life know that you can do hard things if you put your mind to it you can achieve anything moving
004up to high school is like stepping into a new level of a video game you've mastered middle school and now you're about to face new challenges unlock new achievements and discover new powers within yourselves remember the time you have spent hours leveling up in fortnite or mastering that really tricky Tick Tock dance life is no different effort is a skill it's not something you're born with it's something you can practice and get better at so whether it's studying for a tough test practicing a sport learning an instrument even making new friends the effort you put in is what matters it's what makes a difference so when things may get tough don't take the easy way out dig in with all that you have because you can do hard things with that in mind as you
005move forward don't be afraid to try new things join clubs try out for sports participate in school plays whatever Sparks your interest think of it like scrolling through Netflix trying to find that perfect new show to binge watch High School is a time to discover what you're passionate about about and start pursuing those passions in the wise words of Taylor Swift this is a new year a new beginning and things will change embrace the change welcome the challenges and enjoy every moment of the adventure that high school will bring in closing I want to remind you that high school is a journey there will be ups and downs victories and setbacks but with effort Integrity kindness a willingness to try new things you will find your way remember you can do hard things always tell
006yourself that and believe in yourself we're so proud of what you have accomplished here at DOD middle school and we can't wait to see all the amazing things you'll do next congratulations class of 2024 now go out there and show the world What You're Made Of oh thank you before before you go show the world What You're Made Of though I'm going to now introduce Mr Murphy our assistant principal who will present our award portion of the ceremony good morning congratulations again to all of our eighth graders along with their family members and loved ones as we celebrate the culmination of their hard work at DOD Middle School over the past two years I would also like to recognize and thank our faculty members and staff for playing such an integral role in preparing these
007amazing young adults for the next step in their educational journey I am proud to continue the dod Middle School tradition of recognizing the winners of three very special citizenship Awards the recipients of these Awards have distinguished themselves over their two years at DOD and will have their names engraved on plaques which are located in our main lobby to introduce the Alon Gro award I'm honored to Welcome to the stage a vital member of the dod Community our PTA president Mrs Denise [Applause] roncari morning I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity to present the alphon Grasso Memorial award this year honoring my late predecessor who served as PTA president here at Dodd Mr grao believed that quality education was not only the right of every student but the responsibility of every member of the community a commitment
008he honored to the very end of his life for this reason the alons gro award is in recognition of citizenship given to the student who in the opinion of the teacher staff best embodies those principles of dedication cooperation dignity for which Al Gro stood it is an award of which the recipient and her and their family should be extremely proud of it is my privilege to present the award to this year's recipient Brendan mundorf [Applause] thank you Mrs roncari and congratulations Brendan next to introduce the Michael Malloy award I'm pleased to welcome our DOD Middle School social worker Mr Ben [Applause] shabach good morning before we get into this I just need to take one last Instagram photo of the 8th grade so please smile everyone hang on one more like and follow if you
009don't already our account thank you the next award is giving in memory of Michael Mallo who is a former teacher here at DOD this student is an incredible young person who takes their part in the dod Community very seriously they participate in numerous clubs work hard in school and always goes above and beyond to help both adults and peers in the building this student brings a palpable desire to make her school community and the world a better place and is always willing to work to act on that goal their truthfulness moral Integrity generous spirit and admirable character are exceptional traits that will surely benefit her as she continues to shine in high school and Beyond it is with great pleasure that I present this year's Michael Malloy award to Camella breno kamacho [Applause] thank you
010Mr shaback and congratulations Camila now to introduce the Nancy kazinski award it's my pleasure to bring to the stage our eighth grade school counselor Miss Jessica [Applause] Trestle good morning it is an honor for me to present this special student sele Ed award Nancy kazinski was an upbeat energetic science teacher who understood the nature of the Adolescent in teaching to the whole child Nancy passed away at a young age but through this award her Legacy lives on students were asked to nominate one Peer who exhibited qualities that Nancy deemed important in the classroom a positive attitude consistent effort support of others open-mindedness self- motivation and conscientious decision making and this student demonstrates all those qualities the classmates of this student nominated him and made the following comments he makes smart decisions in class and knows
011the difference between right and wrong he is a nice person and never excludes anyone he is a kind kid who is always in a good mood he's there for me and always understands the issue he is hardworking funny and always there for someone it is my honor to present the 2024 Nancy kinus award to Adam Shaheen [Applause] thank you Miss Trestle congratulations Adam it is now my privilege to recognize a few students who received some very distinguished Awards throughout the school year as I announce their names I ask them to stand at their seats to once again be recognized please hold your applause until the recipients of all three Awards have been announced first the Connecticut Association of public schools superintendence award was presented to the following four students Joseph dorazios and Katherine Suarez the
012Connecticut Association of boards of Education stud leadership award recognized two students sham zaj and Armen arm medovich and finally the Connecticut Association of schools scholar leader award was presented to Alana little and Joseph [Applause] dorazios today and throughout the year [Music] congratulations to you all at this time I am honored to present our eighth grade class with their promotion certificates our team teachers will join me on stage to read the names of the students we will begin with the purple team and our team leader Mr John runy [Applause] right maybe not oh there we go I'm John runy and this is the purple team Cole kabit [Applause] aan [Applause] ahed eai Alan Daniel Anastasio Nadia [Applause] Anto Ashton Anderson Caitlyn Ashworth Gabriella B Castro Connor Bell Evan bester Cameron Billman Maria bondeno Emily Bowman James
013Bowman Lily Grace Brown Madison Brown Brody kale Valentino Kao veto calado Juliana shandor Bryce Chavez aing Chen yang Chen and at this point I'd like to turn it over to Mr John fusari Evan Chicos Payton coffee stepen Kota Abigail crop Piper the chico Colin Dy Olivia Dixon JC Donovan Grace dueling Nora dueling James fan andreana figol Paul Fiora Avery frankfur hope Gargano Anthony Giuliano Jordan Hart Amelia Hawkins jayen hodling Lucas hu vom Elliot Johnson John William keading Elena King Henry cot and now I introduce Mr Steve leaden good morning morning Riley [Applause] laline Maya alkan Brendan [Applause] Lee Peter liapakis [Applause] Adeline mcol [Applause] Ryan [Applause] McHugh Ethan [Applause] Merritt Michael misset M my bad Brendan [Applause] mundorf Brett Miller Thomas Morris Ryan mly [Applause] Grace Mueller Joseph Jomo Emily Nelson if viua pasame or
014Mungi Sophie erson Justin Peak Archie pallo Leo [Applause] Phillips Drew r Liam Richardson Matthew [Applause] raldi Luke [Applause] RDI and now El Elizabeth wild our m teacher Olivia rzy Alana sapelli Juliana sarasini Levin scalati Ruby Schneider Muhammad Shahed Mason shean Olivia slowski Kristoff samoji Anthony Spinelli Jackson Stevens Savannah Stow Owen Sun Jackson teal Sarah Temple shardul [Applause] thumati there's a reason why I teach math I missed Joy tuse sorry Joy Marcelo Torres AER Vora Emma vong Leo waus Gabriella Williams Mada yokono congratulations purple team well done at this time I would like to introduce our red team leader Mr Fran Connelly good morning very pleased to begin introducing our red team students if alua Adisa Lily akbas zir albizo Giana amatruda Ria Arjun Daniel AZ Arisa azimi Thomas Barrett Caroline BTO Nathan Balco Ethan Bernstein
015Andrew borzenkov Porter Bruno Eda berdick Avery Cal Dominic sedia Raa chowri Connie Chen Rowan coffee the next teacher to present is our math teacher Miss Albert Alina Cordo lisel Cruz Enzo delmastro Matthew desino Ashlin dhy Hayden Dyer Mohammad elawad Maxwell Enders Lily josian Jude Jetro Levi haskis Taylor Haynes Finn Higgins Chloe lavc jovon hodling Robert Giuliano Martin CB Julia Curts and now our English teacher Miss Carly brandom Wyatt [Applause] CTS Z lanio Moren Lee Tyler lentini Evan Les Chloe lesperance Brandy Lewis Alana little Rolando Lopez Charles lucarelli Briana Martinez Isabella Martinez Sophia Martinez Ken McBride Ellie mcmanis Lily mcmellon Dominic [Applause] Malo meline Mullen Jack mudy and now Mr Brian Lopez good morning luchana Nero Raymond Norwood Linda nier Sophia Pang Landon petski Cameron Pani Ryan Pluff user Kashi Madison Reeves aditia regmi Emily Reid
016Eli Rocklin Derek Ruddy kerina rutka paig Sela Kyle shutz Logan siniscalco and it's my pleasure to introduce Miss St J okay Mari Sevin abiam suay Dalton Spyros Eva Stanley Jack Stratton Paige tury Kathleen vea Alexis vber Natalie verbitsky Eli [Music] weed Abigail welburn Alysa Williams Ryder Wilson Justin Zoo sajat laak yusf Sai Michael zitu Brooke Zimmerman and Preston Zuniga [Applause] thank you congratulations to the red team at this time I'd like to introduce our blue team leader Mr Tim Baker good morning Luke Abel Armen amovic Shams Aaj jumana alamer saraphina Alano Caitlyn Allard Matthew amade Kaylee Ates mediana barlay Kylie Barefoot Sheridan Bass Lily bomo Leon Bor Baba Jenna Bren Camila breno Seth [Music] brck Laura buk James Buddha Jack Burton Sarah Cabanas David [Applause] Cala now it's my privilege to send hand it over
017to miss Tony Carson Brooke Cano Sarah chopek Mason simma Kyle Davidson Davison Giana defiz Michael Delany Simon delviso Autumn deeski Avery diois fabiio diois [Applause] Deshawn Dixon Nicholas Donovan Sophia Donovan Joseph [Applause] durazi Cassidy endress Tyler flamio Nicholas Fortune Ethan Gada June [Music] glei Liam Galvin [Applause] and next we have Mrs Beth Curtis Anthony [Applause] janusa Samuel [Applause] giedi Jake gordano Karin Gleason Marley godbout Jake grac Jack Hall Olivia Hall Chloe Hannon Jack Hara Grayson Harris Quinn Hayes McKenzie Haron Daniel Hines Wayne imperati [Applause] [Music] Omar [Music] [Applause] khil T Kim Tan Kim Young bin Kim and now I'll pass it to Mrs Lori coraki okay Ethan kers [Applause] Emma [Applause] clonsky Maria coroli Christopher Larson Caitlyn LESA Sylvia Lou Sonia Loman nelli Loa satos Emma Lopes Gabriella Lucker okay Samantha Madonna Camila Marin Holtz
018Sandra Mayo Simone Mayo Ava mazera Brielle McCarthy Jack mcginness Rip rley Malo and now I'll introduce Miss Mahoney Cody meyerjack Olivia meley Bailey Miller Jack money Nikki Morin Sophia Muzzy Asia Nance Ian Nash Daniel nater Jacob Neil Ryder Newell Adam [Applause] Noam Olivia odonnell luchana okone Hope ostrowski miles Pat Genesis paresi Dylan Patel we miss you Christian Peterson William picillo and now up for blue we have the tremendous Mr Martins Liam Point Dexter Desiree porz Abigail puhalla Ava Quinn advaith ramakrishan Audrey reev Zoe ranker Joseph ricko Cole Roberts mark redy mini House s Adam shahen William [Music] Shaw Preston Shephard Jack skano Tru signor Sera simena Glick Brook Smith Bella salamini and now introducing Mrs Jenna poal Oliver stacei Ella Stratton Leah stuckle Katherine Suarez Mera tataka Aiden Tracy Emma Turner Leila yo Lexis vicory
019delini Watson Bren [Applause] Welter Christiana Williams Presley Williams Sophia Williams Zoe Williams Elia Wilson Ethan Works Livia Jani Emma yorzinski congratulations blue team and to all of our graduate or promoted eighth [Applause] graders well done well done each year uh we have the distinct honor to select a student to share a few farewell Thoughts with the rest of the class please join me in welcoming Levin Scaletti for this year's farewell remarks [Applause] how are we here and I don't mean physically here but I mean here just in your life I want you to think for just a second because all of us came into DOD two years ago and we sat at orientation with no idea of what was going to happen I think every one of us has at least some memory of that
020because we were scared out of our minds now I want you to look back at those two years we spent think of every time you had to struggle for a grade or had to give everything just to get through the day that kid at orientation didn't know about those challenges but that's the thing we don't get to choose our struggles but we do get to choose what we do with them because I know that there were times when every single one of us felt like we couldn't figure this out and it seemed like the challenges were too much for us and yet no matter how hard they got and no matter how many setbacks we all faced our path was not over and we had never truly failed until we chose to stop going and
021in those darkest moments we had to answer a question and we were all asked one thing are you finally done or can you somehow find it in yourself and find the strength or the determination to keep going against doubt against odd and get up it wasn't easy and it wasn't handed to you and maybe you didn't even think you could and yet against all of those thoughts and all of those odds each and every one of you got back up [Applause] and something like that leaves a mark because in doing that all of us answered another question we proved who we were and no matter how tough it got and no matter how hard we fell each and every one of you found that strength and each and every one of you proved that here's
022the thing that kid orientation couldn't have done that but we are not those kids anymore because all of us have changed have grown have struggled to get to who we are today and I know that each and every one of you should be proud of who that is I know High School is just around the corner and soon we're going to feel like that kid in orientation again but have some faith in yourself and in the people that I see every day because I know that our struggles are not over but take a moment because after two years and a mountain of obstacles after challenges so tough you thought it was finally your last one this fight is finally over and we are a whole lot stronger because of it ladies and gentlemen and to
023each and every every one of you congratulations because you finally completed your fight and completed your journey now go show the world just who it was who did and quickly before I close I want to take a second because these were not challenges that any of us had to go through fully alone so from everyone here I want want to offer our Eternal gratitude and thanks to our coaches our teachers our advisors our peers our friends our counselors and every person here today because none of us could have done it without you and now after long long wait let's hear it for the dod class of well on Lin thank you for that very inspirational at this time please join me in welcoming our distinguished guest superintendent of schools Dr Jeffrey Solen for our closing
024remarks thank you yeah I I got nothing how do I follow that great job job Levan thank you Mrs gillo good morning everyone it's my honor to be able to deliver some remarks this morning on behalf of the Board of Education I had the opportunity to attend four sixth grade promotion ceremonies yesterday the four ceremonies were a tremendous celebration of Education in our community and it's really rewarding to see so many people here today to continue that celebration with our eighth grade class the sixth grade transition is an interesting time as a dad I generally recognize it is the last time your kids are excited to see you in public before high school graduation so at the very least our parents are one step closer to that today I'd like to begin by acknowledging our
025parents and families here and not just for surviving Middle School on behalf of all of our Educators I thank you for encouraging your children helping them through challenging homework and reinforcing our messages about academics and character your support is a critical part of your child's and our school district's success thank you I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge all of our Educators as well they've committed themselves to this profession and nearly all of our teachers here today have earned master's degrees and committed many years to honing their craft by a deep commitment to doing their best for the children of this community thank you all so much for what you [Applause] do now for the D Middle School class of 2024 I had the honor of being assistant and then principal at DOD Middle
026School from 2005 to 2012 before serving for four years as chesher high school principal yes that was before Snapchat was even a thing but I do know a little bit about making the leap that you are about to engage in high school will afford you so many incredible opportunities and options my advice is to live them expect setbacks new things are hard they should be persevere for the sense of accomplishment and not the social media post your generation has people your own age who were literally paid to tell you what to want think and feel you be you you will find that much more rewarding than trying to be the social media character that you think people want to see there are so many amazing students and stories As you move on to high school
027look past the social media personas and get to know the people you will leave high school with a deeply connected group group of friends and Rich experiences that will booy you for the rest of your lives we've seen the many contributions you've made as students at DOD and we know you're poised for Success at the next level please accept my congratulations on your promotion and have a wonderful summer thank [Applause] you thank you Dr Solen before we depart I would like to give a few thank yous to to the hardworking staff members who made today's ceremony so special to our custodians Don Rebus and Mike antos who were here early this morning I think even Mr Woods was here blowing uh Leaf blowing the seats so that they would be dry for you today um
028and the many other things thank you gentlemen our amazing office staff including Sharon Peele Jill SEO Lori cmore Melissa vber and Lori man for the care that you all gave to the details for today and every day thank you and a very special and separate thank you to Kim kiano we could not yes thank you Kim we could not have done this without your care thoroughness and attention to detail there are not enough words to properly descries my gratitude for you Kim and for making this today um this event so special for our kids thank you to Lisa rasa and Deb Mankey uh two of Chester's finest retirees who also joined us this morning to label the chair successfully or somewhat successfully um thank you of course to our teachers and our pair Professionals for
029ensuring our students were well prepared for today um and for this moment and to head off to high school last but not certainly not least I extend my deepest gratitude to our families thank you for recognizing the importance of education and entrusting the care of your children to us we could not do what we do without your support we are very grateful for that thank you and with that said um before I actually give one final thank you I would just remind you that today is also High School graduation and this evening um our our high school graduates will uh be here for that really important ceremony and they have practice this morning so as we conclude if you could as quickly as you can um you know congratulate your your child and celebrate uh
030but then make your way out I hate to be a party pooper but um the field is needed for that important um that important process for our high school graduates and now with that said it gives me great pleasure and honor to present to you all and the chesher community the High School class of 2028 congratulations my friends have a wonderful summer [Applause] [Music] I