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For 33 in Class of 2021, lessons in perseverance

For 33 in Class of 2021, lessons in perseverance
The Salisbury Central School Class of 2021 posed in front of the school on June 16.
Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan

SALISBURY — There was an abbreviated ceremony to recognize the Class of 2021 at Salisbury Central School on Wednesday, June 16. 

Reflecting ongoing concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony was held outside, in front of the middle school building.

There were areas outlined in chalk on the pavement and grass for the spectators to place their chairs (brought from home). Most brought folding chairs of the camping variety, although one man was spotted toting a stack of sturdier, non-folding patio chairs.

The students began arriving at 4:30 p.m. for the 6 p.m. ceremony. They gathered together in small groups, laughing and joking and making last-minute adjustments to their outfits, until they were called inside around 5:45 p.m.

In the meantime family members arrived and settled in as best they could.

That spirit of making the best of a difficult situation emerged as the theme of the ceremony. Principal Stephanie Magyar told the students that the outdoor event, and the entire 2020-21 school year, was probably not what they expected, unless they had anticipated wearing masks, maintaining social distance, and shortages of toilet paper.

Sara Huber praised her classmates for “overcoming obstacles unlike anything we’ve encountered before.”

Tessa Marks said that as the students worked within the limits imposed by the pandemic, “We saw ourselves as people who could accomplish anything.”

Magyar said the difficult school year proved one thing about the Class of 2021:

“You will not forget the resilience and perseverance you have shown this year.”

 

Salisbury Central School Class of 2021

Jesse Windsor Bonhotel, Kobe Finch Stubbs Brown, Georgette Elizabeth Campagne, Daisy Guadalupe Chavez-Sanchez, Briana Louise Clark, Treasa Fominichna Connell, Ashton Ryan Cooper. Nathaniel Robert Divine, Diarra Bousso Fall, Fatou Ney Fall, Ellis Francis Guidotti, Lou Wilder Haemmerle-Parsons, Sara Kate Huber, Brandon Allen Madeux, Jacob Thomas Marcus, Sam Charles Marcus, Tess O’Shaugnessy Marks, Aiden Marcus Scott Miller, Jassim Ray Mohydin, David Sykes O’Neill, Mason Amos O’Niel, Serena Elizabeth Ratcliffe, Olivia June Robson, Annabel Elizabeth Ross, Wendy Michelle Santiago-Leyva, Taylor Lynn Swart, Gabriela Titone, Dominik Aloysius Valcin, Jayme Harrison Walsh, Jacob Christopher White, Elinor Anne Wolgemuth, Desiree Christina Wright, Michael William Wright

 

2021 Awards

Mathematics: Olivia Robson, Aiden Miller

Science: Jassim Mohydin, Briana Clark

Distinguished Writer: Sara Huber 

Literary Excellence: Tess Marks 

Music Awards 

Chorus: Dominik Valcin

Band: Tess Marks, Jassim Mohydin

Visual Arts: Tess Marks, Gabby Titone

Roger Rawlings Award: Jassim Mohydin

Social Studies: Ellie Wolgemuth 

Spanish: Tessie Connell, Sara Huber

Physical Education: Jesse Bonhotel, Lou Haemmerle

Ned Corkery Perseverance Award: Briana Clark

Caroline Kenny Burchfield Award (SOAR): Tess Marks

Alumni Award: Tess Marks

Hazel Flynn Memorial Award: Tess Marks, Jassim Mohydin

Presidential Excellence: Tessie Connell, Tess Marks, Jassim Mohydin, Gabby Titone, Ellie Wolgemuth

Learning Practices: Tessie Connell, Tess Marks, Jassim Mohydin, Gabby Titone, Ellie Wolgemuth

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Patrick L. Sullivan
Senior Reporter
Patrick Sullivan has been a reporter for The Lakeville Journal since 2004, covering everything from town meetings to local characters and the outdoors. He grew up in Northern Virginia but spent summers on Mount Riga in Salisbury, giving him a lifelong connection to the Northwest Corner. A graduate of Denison University, Patrick is also the author of Tangled Lines, the newspapers’ popular fly-fishing column—making The Lakeville Journal, as far as anyone knows, the only newspaper in Connecticut with a regular fly-fishing columnist. He once received a fan letter from England, which he considers sufficient evidence that his work has achieved international acclaim.

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