Joy and magical feelings for 26 in KCS Class of 2019

KENT — The Class of 2019 at Kent Center School received a timely and generous gift from the weather: Friday, June 14, had been gloomy and marked by threatening clouds, but it all gave way to brilliant sunshine and blue skies for the start of the outdoor promotion ceremony that evening.

Family and friends were seated as the class of 2019 processional began with the familiar Pomp and Circumstance march, followed by the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance and singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” 

Principal Michelle Mott welcomed the students and their families and began the gathering with high praise and a personal memory of when she was teaching these same students in fourth grade. 

Mott took a leave to have her first child, and found on her return that the class had made a book for her entitled, “How To Take Care of Baby Derek.”

She still has the book — and fond memories of the class that are equaled by the pride she feels as she watches them move on to the next stage of their education. 

Awards were presented for achievements by many teachers and organizations, including the American Legion, Lions Club  and the D.A.R.

The graduation address was delivered by long-time teacher Leonard Gulotta who, in fact, remembers teaching a grandparent of one of this year’s class. 

“There is something out there for you. Find it!” he urged the students.

He also challenged them to, “Choose one word that describes who you are. It might take a while and differ from others’ choices for you. But it is your guideline for life.”

The eighth grade chorus entertained with some lively and heartfelt tunes.

Final words were given by multiple award winner Linnea Saxton. She described an average 5 minutes of a typical day at Kent Center School, and the “magical feeling” that she gets from those moments and from being in a place where you know everyone and everyone knows you. 

That feeling is surely shared by all graduates: the lasting joy of great memories, the challenges of a new future — and the love of fellow classmates.

Class of 2019

Kayla Elizabeth Archiere, Anna Elizabeth Brown, Aiden Pearce Cherniske, Emery Samantha Coolbeth, Kai V. Davis, George Mason Fink, Zoey Bee Greenbaum, Hank O’Brien Hannan, Isabelle Mattea Houck, Oscar Levi Huerta, Deana Kurze, Jacob Elwood Manes, Jorie Ellen McGurk, Beatrice Money, Carter John Nordland, Alexander Daniel Pascasio, Tyler R. Pennucci, Leila Mária Pongrácz, Audrey Elizabeth Richards, Izaiah Robles, Christopher Andre Sanchez Perez Kuttles, Izabella Raye Sander, Jason Taylor Santiago, Linnea Jane Saxton, Matteo Joseph Taraba, Odessa Marguerite Trabucco, Junkun Zhang

2019 Awards

PTO Citizenship: Beatrice Money

American Legion: Anna Brown, Aiden Cherniske

Lions Club: Matteo Taraba, Deana Kurze

Norman Stoddard: Kai Davis, Tyler Pennucci

Gail Leo Osolin: Isabelle Houck

D.A.R. Citizenship: Isabelle Houck

D.A.R. History: Linnea Saxton

Principal: Linnea Saxton, Junkun Zhang

Ramesh Mali: Emery Coolbeth, Carter Nordland

Kent Education Association: Jorie McGurk

David Armstrong Art: Aiden Cherniske

Classroom Art: Zoey Greenbaum

Classroom Music: Hank Hannan

Chorus: Aiden Cherniske

Drama: Audrey Richards

English: Linnea Saxton

French: Linnea Saxton

Instrumental Music: Linnea Saxton

Math: Junkun Zhang

Physical Education: Kai Davis, Hank Hannan

Science: Hank Hannan

Social Studies: Audrey Richards

Computer: Linnea Saxton

Library: Tyler Pennucci

Viafore-Sanmartini artsAlive@KCS: Linnea Saxton

Essay: Linnea Saxton, Isabella Houck

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