Eighth-graders at NCES look back, and ahead

By Karen BartomioliNORTH CANAAN — It was an evening not just for celebrating achievements, but also the talent and confidence that have been coaxed into blooming. On June 16, the 29 members of the class of 2011 at North Canaan Elementary School spent their last official moments as eighth-graders looking back with tears, laughter and music. The promotion exercise featured six student speakers, a student emcee, and live guitar accompaniment to a slide show of memories. Performing solo were Elizabeth Riccardelli, who sang a revised version of “Goodbye to You,” and Patrick Gordon, who played a moving version of “The Waterfall” on piano.“Memories keep me going. They are also holding me back,” said Shelby Macchi, one of the student speakers. “Once you leave, you can’t come back. You can only visit. I will only be a memory.”Her words reflected how hard it is for her to leave the nurturing cocoon the school has been for nine years. She has made the most of them. Shelby was the recipient of the Rolland B. “Pete” Allyn Citizenship award. Principal Rosemary Keilty said Shelby was chosen by the faculty as the student who best followed Allyn’s example as a model citizen. Allyn was part of the school’s original building committee. He served on the school board for more than 25 years. He was also a selectman and a finance board member over decades of volunteering.“Shelby is always there, always smiling, always lending a helping hand and encouraging others,” Keilty said.Keilty said the class stands out as one that is very supportive of each other. She watched as students watched a slide show of their times at NCES, and said she enjoyed seeing how they cheered for each other as their faces popped up on the screen:in the classroom, being silly, sleeping on a bus trip.She presented the Anthony D. Segalla Scholarship to Theodore Fredenburg, who will attend Oliver Wolcott Technical School. Segalla was a well-known builder who wanted to help students pursuing a hands-on career by paying for the tools they would need for their trade. It is off to Housatonic Valley Regional High School for most of the class. “I know I am excited for high school, but which part, I don’t know,” said student speaker Rachel Shepard. “I know we will all find happiness ahead, but for now, it’s tears that we will shed.”For many, it will be the seemingly insignificant things that will stand out.Sierra Zinke praised teacher Marilyn Schneider as the “sweetest, tiniest, strictest” teacher she ever had. As much of a difference as she made in school, Sierra will always remember an everyday kindness. “I’ll never forget waiting for the school bus every morning and you flashing your lights as you drove by on your way to school.”Juliana Bonett-Arango recalled her earliest days at NCES when they “dreaded the end of the day when we walked the halls alongside the stampede of eighth-graders.”“Now, we stand here ready to catch whatever is thrown at us.”For Jessie MacDonald, it was friends and Drama Club that stand out, and a very supportive family that was the foundation for it all. Those earliest days at school may have seemed daunting at the time, but looking back, Andrew Rosier calls kindergarten through fifth grade “cupcake school.”He spoke of how that time doesn’t compare to the challenges of middle school and beyond, but offered this insight, “The Book of Life is not written and handed out. It’s written as you live it.”Class of 2011Juliana Bonett-ArangoAmanda BierceMitchell BlassEvan BosioNicholas CamardiNichole DeVitoKrista Flynn-PadelliTheodore FredenburgPatrick GordonTristan HeathJames HuftenAlyssa LabbadiaShelby MacchiJessie MacDonaldFayth OngleyTyler PilchElizabeth RiccardelliKayla RonzaniAndrew RosierDillon RothDarius SanchezTyler SebbenStephanie SernaRachel ShepardKatie SoperTristan SouleBreanna SuttonTyler WashburnSierra Zinke2011 AwardsAnthony D. Segalla Award:Theodore FredenburgPete Allyn Good Citizenship Award: Shelby MacchiWriting: Sierra ZinkeLiterature: Stephanie SernaSocial Studies: Katie Soper and Nicholas CamardiMath: Nicholas Camardi, Kayla Ronzani, Shelby Macchi and Andrew RosierScience: Juliana Bonett-Arango and Tyler PilchSpanish: Katie Soper and Kayla RonzaniMusic: Evan Bosio, Elizabeth Riccardelli and Nicholas CamardiArt: Fayth OngleyComputer: Sierra Zinke and Kayla RonzaniPhysical Education: Nicholas Camardi, Stephanie Serna and Sierra Zinke