SUMMER STREET SCHOOL music specialist Benjamin Zavisza leads 87 fourth-graders in a musical performance of “We Are One (Ole, Ola)” by Pitbull during the moving on ceremony on June 14. (Dan Tomasello Photo)

 

 

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — Eighty-seven fourth-graders bid farewell to Summer Street School during the annual moving on ceremony on June 14.

The moving on ceremony took place at the softball field complex behind Summer Street School for the third straight year. The ceremony, whose theme was “Firing Off to Fifth Grade,” featured a large crowd of students, families, educators and school officials. The Summer Street PTO once again rented a stage and a big screen projector for the ceremony.

Summer Street Principal Karen Cronin welcomed students, families and educators to the moving on ceremony.

“Fourth-graders, this is the first of these ceremonies you will go to in your life,” Cronin. “It’s an important moment. We usually do two things in these times. We look forward and we also look back to see where we are going next. It’s important to know where you came from.”

Cronin thanked the Summer Street Moving On Committee, especially co-chairs Lindsay Braley and Lauren Hurton, for “thoughtfully planning today’s events.”

“There were countless volunteers who helped,” said Cronin.

Cronin thanked Summer Street’s faculty and staff for guiding the fourth-graders over the past five years. She also thanked the fourth-graders’ families for supporting their children academically and social-emotionally during their time at Summer Street. She asked the fourth-graders to give their families “a round of applause for everything they do for you.”

The students gave their families a round of applause.

Cronin asked a group of Student Council members to give a yellow carnation to each of the Summer Street School families who are also moving on to middle school.

“Thank you families,” said Cronin. “Please remember you will always have a home here.”

Cronin said the COVID-19 pandemic made the fourth-graders’ “journey” at Summer Street “unlike anyone else’s.”

“You entered kindergarten as we typically do, and then the pandemic showed up,” said Cronin. “Your school closed, then reopened virtually and then opened for you to come half of the time. You then came full-time, but it was just weird. You then ended your school year normally. This will become part of a story you tell. It was just a bump in the road and was just a glitch for a few years. What I really want you to come away with is something we say every day. ‘At Summer Street School, I can share about me, learn about you and celebrate us.’ I hope this lesson will follow you for all of your days ahead.”

Cronin also encouraged the fourth-graders to listen to other people.

“When you truly listen to someone else, especially if they are saying something that is the opposite of what you believe, you are making an incredibly powerful decision that lifts someone else up,” said Cronin. “There is always room for everyone. There is always space for everyone to be happy and accepted.”

Cronin said she was incredibly proud of the fourth-graders’ accomplishments.

“My heart and the heart of all of the adults here are bursting with love and pride for you here today,” said Cronin. “You are moving on from Summer Street, but our school and our hearts will forever be open to you all. Congratulations.”

After Cronin concluded her remarks, Summer Street music specialist Benjamin Zavisza led the fourth-graders in a musical performance of “We Are One (Ole, Ola)” by Pitbull and “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz.

The ceremony’s attendees gave the 87 fourth-graders a round of applause.

After the musical performance concluded, fourth grade teachers Patricia Heldenbergh, Nicole Kinney, Lila Koulalis and Kristine Percoskie presented certificates to the students with the assistance of Cronin and art specialist Yota Kariotis. The fourth-graders were given a round of applause after they received their certificates.

Summer Street Moving On Committee member Sarah Motzkin and her son James announced the class gift will be a new artwork display case for the front lobby.

Attendees watched the moving on video, which included baby pictures and current pictures of the fourth-graders as well as photos and videos of this past school year and previous years.

After the video concluded, the fourth-graders threw their mortarboards in the air to officially mark the end of their Summer Street School tenure.

Moving on

The fourth-graders moving on from Summer Street School are Lana Allen, Sara Almutairi, Rey Anand, Lucas Artsruni, Ellie Braley, Giuliana Bruno, William Butler, Catherine Caggiano, Lachlan Cail, Lila Catinazzo, Josie Charville, Cash Collins, Vivienne Collins, Clara Connors, Jax Corlett, Sydney Curley, Vincent Dailey, Despina Delianis, Colin Davis, Luke Delaney, Valentina DePalma, William DeTore, Kenzie Devroe and Ryan Dupont.

As well as Sienna Elworthy, Reece Farias, Talisa Figueiredo, Sophie Flaws, Devin Flores-Cuvedo, Anna Gallagher, Zoey Gelling, Evelyn Gentile, Jenna Gentile, Colin George, Thomas Godfrey, Zak Hadzihasanovic, Chase Hillios, Matilda Hook, Luke Hudson, Coco Hurton, Vanessa Leahy, Kasey Littlefield, Nadia Lombardo, Ava Long, Callan Luongo, Connor Maciorowski, Addison McGah, Jax Mendese, Sawyer Montalto, James Motzkin, Emma Mueller and Kelsey Murphy.

The remaining fourth-graders moving on from Summer Street are Raymond Nguyen, Tate Ostuni, Kiley Paglicua, Chase Pagos, Mia Paone, Stella Park, Bobby Peterson, Sydney Polansky, Adriana Polcari, Dominic Provanzano, Sam Ragalevsky, Vincent Reed, James Rogers, Lilah Rose, Lucy Sabbagh, Olivia Saccardo, Armani Sadki, Ronika Salehian, Charles Scenna, Phillip Scenna, Greyson Senat, Alex Senopoulos, Tessa Sgroi, Adam Shaner, Jaysen Shieh, Kailee Tammaro, Luca Travaglione, Tim Turkov, Valerie Turkov, Lylah Vitagliano, Brigid Walsh, Charlie White, Madison Wilson and Eshal Zaman.