Dodd's Class of 2015 celebrated its moving-up surrounded by their delighted family members and district staff members on the Atkinson field.
Students assembled on the field for what was their final moving up ceremony prior to entering high school in the fall, and Dodd Chorus Director Ms. Sherill Spruill led her Select Chorus group in a singing of the national anthem. Students Leah Hochman, Wendy Bermudes and Gabriel Alvarado then addressed their peers, reflecting on their wonderful years at Dodd while recognizing their teachers for motivating them to maximize their potential.
The student address was followed by remarks from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kishore Kuncham and Board of Education Vice President Anthony Miller. Following a choral supplement led again by Ms. Spruill, Principal Ms. Johane Ligondé addressed her students.
"At Dodd, you began to unlock the power that lies within you," Ms. Ligondé said."You learned that your voice and your choices matter because they are expressions of your capabilities. Nurturing the power within you with knowledge will enable you to achieve the very best of yourself. Be an artist with a canvas, and paint the world you'd like to live in - a world full of colors, light and beauty."
Standout students were then presented with awards for excellence in various areas, including English, science, social studies, math, music and athletics. Sixty students were celebrated for their inductions into the National junior Honor Society, 83 students received the President's Award for Educational Achievement and 52 students received the President's Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence.
One by one, students then received their certificates marking their culmination of middle school, and the ceremony came to a close as families celebrated with them.
Congratulations to all outgoing Dodd students and Freeport High School's Class of 2019!