On June 21, Dodd Middle School celebrated their annual Moving Up Ceremony on the field of Caroline G. Atkinson School. Neither the cloudy day nor last-minute change of plans took away from the radiance and excitement of the students, or the pride of the family members and friends in attendance.
Lourdes Saunders-Blake opened the ceremony with a warm welcome and then led the all in Pledge of Allegiance. Following, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kishore Kuncham congratulated the students, followed by Principal Johane Ligondé, who sincerely praised our students for succeeding through the most difficult of years. Farewell addresses were presented by one student from each eighth grade team: Team MIT - Ashley Benitez DelCid, Team Columbia - Paul Almonte, Life Skills - Dante Williams Jr., Team Columbia - Brandon J. Velasquez; Team Cornell - Brithany Collado Rosario, Team Harvard - Joseline Quintanilla Vasquez, and Team Brown - Elysette Paz.
One by one, the eighth grade teachers read the names of their students, while also imparting words of praise and advice. At the prompting of Principal Ligondé, the John W. Dodd Middle School Moving Up Class of 2021 was presented, and thunderous clapping and cheering followed.
Best wishes and continued success from the district's Board of Education, administration and staff to all of Dodd's students moving up to the Freeport High School!
