Published in the June 7, 2018 edition
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING —Commencement exercises for the 61st class to graduate from North Reading High School will be held on Friday, June 8 at 6:15 p.m.
The members of the Class of 2018 have earned the distinction of being the first to have completed all four years of their high school education at the new North Reading High School.
The soon-to-be graduates will receive their diplomas at outdoor ceremonies on the Arthur J. Kenney Field, to which all are invited. In the case of inclement weather commencement exercises will be moved indoors to the high school’s gymnasium with remote viewing available from the air conditioned Daniel H. Shay Performing Arts Center. Admittance to the indoor ceremony is by ticket only which were distributed to the class members in advance.
A MEMORABLE Senior Prom was planned by the senior class officers at the Danversport Yacht Club Monday. Shown with their dates are (from left): Christian Randazzo and President Jerlin Kaithamattam; Vice President Nicholas Carpenter and Rachel Hill; Secretary Abigail Paine and Nick Arena; Noel Riley and Treasurer Justin Hong. (Maureen Doherty Photo)
The graduates will be led onto the field by Class Marshals Victoria Grasso and Michael Luciano while the NRHS Band, under the direction of Eric Forman, plays the traditional processional “Pomp and Circumstance.” The “Star-Spangled Banner,” performed by both the NRHS Band and Chorus, will follow.
Principal Anthony J. Loprete will deliver the welcome address and opening remarks, followed by an address to the graduates from Superintendent of Schools Jon C. Bernard.
The school’s a cappella group, NOTEorious, and the Chorus will sing “Can’t Hold On” by Macklemore, with solos by seniors Madelyn Alter, Samuel Barrette and Preston Lydotes.
The Honor Essays will be delivered by Owen DeCleene, Caitlyn Galvin and Alyssa Galuppo. A performance by the NRHS Band, “An Irish Rhapsody,” will follow.
Jerlin Kaithamattam, whose essay was selected in a competition judged by the school’s faculty, will deliver the Class Essay.
The announcement of scholarship awards will then be made by Principal Loprete, to be followed by the conferring of diplomas by North Reading School Committee Chairwoman Janene Imbriano and Assistant Principal Michael Downs.
The announcement of the senior class gift will then be made by the senior class officers, President Jerlin Kaithamattam, Vice President Nicholas Carpenter, Secretary Abigail Paine and Treasurer Justin Hong.
No graduation ceremony would be complete without the simultaneous tossing of mortarboards into the air by the newly minted graduates, to be followed by the traditional strains of James Ployhar’s “Fanfare and Recessional” by the NRHS band, conducted by Eric Forman. Friends and family will then be welcome to join the graduates on the track and turf field for family photos.
Next week the Transcript will publish its traditional keepsake graduation supplement, including extensive photo coverage, text by the essayists and scholarship awards.
