Amity Regional HS Commencement Exercises

Dedicated to all of the Amity “theatre kids,” whose performances I have enjoyed over the years

Be the Change

Woodbridge, CT - I was pleased to be able to attend the Commencement Exercises on June 14, 2019 for Amity High School in Region 5. The graduation ceremony is held on the massive football field on the campus of the high school. The field was dotted with four white tents for protection from the sun and I learned at the end of the commencement that one of larger tents was graciously reserved for the handicapped.

The bouquets of gold graduation balloons that had been ordered by family and friends had already been delivered and tied to the rural mailboxes of many graduating seniors, thanks to the hard work of the Amity PTSO. I passed at least four bunches blowing in the wind on the drive to park my car at Our Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church, my adopted parish.

Because parking at the high school was limited to those with handicapped parking privileges, family members and friends that wished to attend were offered the option of parking their vehicle in the ample parking lots at Our Lady of the Assumption Church on Center Road. A long line of school buses were available to shuttle attendees to the field via a back route that I had never noticed, although I have been a parishioner at OLOA for almost two years. Friendly school bus drivers began the trip as soon as the bus was full, and loading the buses did not take long either way. The bus ride was very short but it saved everyone a lot of walking; overall the transportation issues were handled seamlessly and were much appreciated.

The printed program included a complete list of Amity faculty members, as well as a list of the school staff. Congratulations to the facilities staff Tracy Daigle and Jim Saisa on a job well done. I learned that department chairpersons include Angelo Amato for Science, Julie Chevan for English, Jonathan Furst for Visual and Performing Arts, Cara Haas for Social Studies, Dameon Kellogg for Mathematics, Grace Loman for CTE, Leonard Marazzi for PE/Health and Elena Serapiglia for World Language.

Senior Class Advisors were Visual and Performing Arts Teacher Robert Kennedy, Social Studies Teacher Seth Davis and Mathematics Teacher Greg Twohill. Mr. Kennedy has graciously allowed me to attend every one of the outstanding annual spring musicals since SWEENEY TODD and this year he invited me to review the play THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT, which starred his talented son Ryan Kennedy.

Amity Visual and Performing Arts Teacher Elizabeth Smolinski is the spouse of Dr. Keith Smolinski; he is the dedicated music director in charge of music ministry at Our Lady of the Assumption and a seventh grade earth science teacher at Amity Middle School in Bethany. I must thank Mrs. Smolinski for confirming the date and location of the graduation, assuring me that tickets were not required to attend, and for offering some good advice about attending. Thank you to Mr. Kennedy for quickly confirming the time of the ceremony via email.

The Commencement Program began a minute early by my watch with the processional “Pomp and Circumstance” performed live by the Amity Concert Band under the direction of Philip Dolan. Mr. Dolan has conducted the orchestra for every spring musical that I have ever attended at Amity. School buses continued to quietly shuttle parents and friends to the field in the background. The graduates were led on the field by the faculty in academic dress and invited dignitaries; the students entered in black caps and gowns with a yoke of gold fabric.

The flag salute was led by Martin Gnidula (Uncle Fester in THE ADDAMS FAMILY, Carl Hanratty in CATCH ME IF YOU CAN at Amity) in his role as Junior Class President. I encourage clicking the link to CATCH ME to read about Mr. Gnidula’s stellar performance as Hanratty.

“Everywhere you go, may your cares be few, may the soft winds carry you, for the rest of your life.” - Douglas E. Wagner

The National Anthem was sung beautifully on this Flag Day by the Amity Chamber Singers under the direction of Marcia Rizzoti; everyone was able to hear the singers very well, despite the windy conditions. The anthem was followed by a musical selection with beautiful harmonies performed by the Chamber Singers; the song was chosen as a tribute to the Class of 2019. Amity Principal Anna Mahon then welcomed everyone in attendance to the celebration of the graduates.

“Me and all my friends are poets of the deed…” - Frank Turner

Superintendent Dr. Jennifer P. Byars’ address was next, followed by a speech given by Mr. Christopher Browe of Orange, the Board of Education Chairperson. At least two of the adult speakers began their speeches by acknowledging the dignitaries, faculty and staff and “most importantly, the graduates.”

The first senior class speakers was Mounisha Anumolu. The Senior Class President nicely wove the play OUR TOWN into her well-written speech. Cailey Esposito, who was chosen for her outstanding achievement in extra-curricular activities, assured her fellow graduates that it was “ok not to know what you want to do,” and that change is ok as well. Ms. Esposito has supported students with special needs, often wearing an autism puzzle piece necklace, and presently hopes to become a special education teacher. Jacob Feuerstein was chosen to speak for outstanding achievement in academics and gave an animated speech in which he shared his passion for atmospheric science in a most entertaining manner.

At the beginning of the senior class speakers’ speeches, beach balls began to be batted about amongst the graduates; unfortunately, the strong winds blew many of them to the outer edges of the field, where several young children collected and played with them. The beach balls gave the youngest audience members something to keep them occupied.

Next was the presentation of the Amity Education Award of Distinction that was announced by Jill LaPlante, the Director of Counseling. This award was presented to Rosie Du, who played Reed 1 in the orchestra for CATCH ME. Ms. Du will head to Harvard in the fall.

Once the Class of 2019 was formally presented by Principal Mahon to the Superintendent of Schools, the awarding of the diplomas began to the 355 seniors. Considering the number of students that were awarded their diplomas, it was impressive that the entire event came in at just under two hours.

After every student had received their diplomas and had been photographed holding the diploma case, the Amity principal led the graduates in the turning of the tassels hanging from their mortarboards, and the excited graduates tossed their caps into the air. The recessional was a reprise of “Pomp and Circumstance” performed by the Concert Band.

The new Amity grad Declan Kane is a parishioner at OLOA and recently received a scholarship from the Ladies Guild at the church. Mr. Kane also sings with the adult choir, as does his proud mother Cynthia.

The eleven young Amity performers who graduated on Friday all had been a part of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. They include Jenna N. Aconfora of Orange (an ancestor in THE ADDAMS FAMILY, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, stage crew for INTO THE WOODS,) who was the very first graduate to receive her diploma and Jared Anthony who played Reed 2 in CATCH ME. Sophie A. Benjamin of Orange (THE ADDAMS FAMILY, FIDDLER) also received her diploma.

Carly B. Chervenak of Orange, who was the ACT Publicity Secretary, was awarded the Jamie Hulley Arts Foundation Scholarship, an Amity PTSO Spirit Scholarship and the Brendan Tuohy Memorial Scholarship. Marcelle N. Gagnon covered Reed 1 for CATCH ME, and Hayden Nork (THE ADDAMS FAMILY) from Bethany received the Warren Gohsler Scholarship.

Avital Sutin of Woodbridge (FIDDLER, THE ADDAMS FAMILY, CURIOUS INCIDENT) was awarded a PTSO Special Award for Performing Arts, Lily Swain of Bethany (FIDDLER, THE ADDAMS FAMILY) was awarded the Flaumenhaft Family Entrepreneurial Scholarship, and Samuel X. Zhang played his violin with the CATCH ME orchestra.

Finally, the super talented Lily C. Querker (CURIOUS INCIDENT, THE ADDAMS FAMILY, INTO THE WOODS at Amity) of Orange received her diploma on Friday. Ms. Querker was awarded the Russell K. Adair Scholarship, and the David S. Levine Memorial Scholarship.

Congratulations and “break a leg” to all of these students that I have enjoyed seeing on the Amity stage or listening to in the orchestra.

Sincere thanks to Stephanie Bregman, the mother of one of my former students, for sharing her wonderful photos of the graduation when I ran into her at our second graduation of the week.

Nancy Sasso Janis, writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.

Click here to read about Naugatuck Patch Mayor Nancy Sasso Janis.