It was time to celebrate our Circleville Middle school eighth-graders, before they take on their next big adventure: high school and all the opportunities that await them!

Principal Lisa Hankinson warmly welcomed the students and their families to the celebration.

“I am incredibly proud of all of the growth and achievement I’ve seen in each of you,” said Ms. Hankinson. “It might feel like middle school flew by in the blink of an eye, but what a journey it’s been.”

She reflected on what the past few years have brought – lots of energy, discovery, laughter and lessons. Things that will stay with them all long after today.

“You haven’t just made it through middle school – you’ve built friendships and found passions and shown character in ways that truly matter,” she continued. “You’ve shown what it means to lead with character.”

 

 

Looking forward, she encouraged the students to explore, dig deep into what they like to do, and challenge themselves.

 

“You don’t have to change who you are,” she said. “You just get to keep growing into the best version of yourself.”

 

She ended by challenging the students to do what the incredible Dolly Parton advises: “Find out who you are and do it on purpose.”

Interim Superintendent of Schools Amy Brockner greeted the students, many of whom were at CES when Ms. Brockner was principal. She congratulated families and staff on their tireless work in helping the students get to this milestone. Then she addressed the students.

 

 

 

“This is your moment,” she said. “You’ve arrived at the end of one leg of the journey and you are about to begin another. Over the past three years, you’ve faced challenges, built friendships, discovered your strengths and found your voice. You’ve learned that being part of a team doesn’t mean always agreeing – it means always supporting. It means lifting each other up, sharing the wins and learning from the losses together.

 

“High school will bring new opportunities, new choices and new responsibilities,” Ms. Brockner continued. “But no matter how big the building, how unfamiliar the schedule or how high the expectations, you’re not going in alone. You are part of something greater. And that makes all the difference.”
And so, she said, to the CVMS class of 2025 and the Pine Bush High School class of 2029, “Congratulations on all you have achieved so far, and more importantly, on all that lies ahead. Be proud of your journey, stay true to your values and never forget you are one team with one mission.”

The valedictorian and salutatorian of the CVMS class of 2025, Victoria Islam and Cora Sarmiento, respectively, also addressed their classmates.

Both Victoria and Cora thanked their families and the staff at CVMS in helping them get to this point.

 

Victoria talked about how difficult things can be at times and encouraged her classmates to take action to change that.

 

“Life can get overwhelming,” said Victoria. “We are fighting battles every day. It’s like scrolling on our phones and seeing people with perfect lives. We want to be like them even if it is fake. So we just keep scrolling. Instead of scrolling, get up and do something. Take action in your own life.

“We have the freedom to write our own story,” she continued. “We’re just getting started.”

 

Cora called on her fellow students to celebrate their achievement of completing their middle school years today.

“We all show we are ready for high school through our hard work and dedication,” she said. “More great things are yet to come in the next few years. In high school we can choose our path and who we want to be. It’s up to us to figure out what we want to do with our lives. We have so much waiting for us in high school and later in life. We have to remember to celebrate our achievements and remember what we are capable of.”

 

 

In addition to academic achievement and character awards, several awards were given out to members of the class.

 

The Triple C Award, recognizing the courage, character, and commitment of New York State’s outstanding students, was presented to Donnell Ballinger, Jr. and Naicka Pierre-Francois.

The New York State Comptroller’s Award is given to students who have shown academic excellence and the potential for leadership through involvement in activities that improve their school and community. The CVMS eighth-graders who received it are Nicholas Schade and Kendal Loughlin.

Mrs. Hankinson also presented her Principal’s Award to Leisa Jean-Baptiste.
Congratulations to all our CVMS eighth-grade students who head to Pine Bush High School in the fall! Your future is so bright!!