Cornwall students bid farewell

CORNWALL ­— Cornwall Consolidated School’s eighth grade class marked the end of childhood and the beginning of adolescence with a touching commencement ceremony on June 15.

The evening began with a procession of the 13 grads marching in their caps and gowns beginning at the school, weaving down the winding path, and ending at their seats in the baseball field.

Principal Mary Kay Ravenola, who is also departing CCS at the end of the school year, gave a tearful speech to the class of 2023.

“As you move on to the next chapter of your lives in high school, remember those habits of mind that we focus on as a school, which helps us all to reflect on what it means to be a strong person,” said Ravenola. “You are our future and we all believe in you to make the world a better place.”

Graduates looked back on how they have grown at CCS and the bonds they have created over their time at the school.

“Seventh grade was like moving beyond the bunny hill to blue squares and eventually black diamonds. It was a year to try new things and overcome fears,” said eighth grader Elizabeth Holland.

“I don’t think of my classmates as classmates, I think of them as family,” said eighth grader Daniel Lesch.

Select students received awards from the Dottie Herman Memorial Fund and Veterans of Foreign Wars. The grads then received their diplomas and moved the tassels on their caps from right to left.

Following the cap toss, alumni, friends and family enjoyed salads and slices from Pizzeria Marzano’s food truck on a picturesque spring evening at CCS.