Class of 2010 Closes the Book on High School

Editor's note: Since its publication weeks ago, more photos, a video and Lee Keylock's memorable poem have been attached to this article. It's worth featuring once again. Many thanks to volunteer Patch contributor Carla Kron for her additions.

As the blue and white caps fell to the floor of the O'Neill Center Thursday evening, friends, families and faculty members took a final moment to soak in the accomplishments of Newtown High School's Class of 2010.

"You have every right to be so proud of yourselves," Board of Education chairman Lillian Bittman told students.

On a night full of both tears and laughter, five students delivered a speech in front of a crowd of about 4,000 people.

Among those five was Ben Federman, the class president, whose speech left the audience laughing, applauding and craving more.

"Our mothers are crying because their babies are growing up," said Federman. "Our fathers are crying because of all the zeroes on the college checks they are writing."

Federman also made a reference to the new rules implemented by Principal Chip Dumais, which required a supervisor to be at the end of each row in order to eliminate beach balls and blow-up dolls from being tossed in the air, and becoming a distraction during the ceremony.

"Today must be something important because I've been threatened that if I even consider blowing up anything that resembles a beach ball, my boy Freddie will escort me out of here."

, provided the audience with more laughs.

"I saw students give speeches last year while I was in the audience for my brother's graduation," Agashe said. "Shortly after, I pledged to myself that if I ever had to make a speech, I would make it as short as possible."

Agashe then continued on a more serious note, as he recognized his parents for the impact they have had on his life.

"I usually don't like to give shout outs," Agashe said. "But I feel like it's necessary to thank my family for everything they have done for me."

Class salutatorian Zoe DeStories told her classmates, that despite what others may say, our best years are still to come.

"A lot of people have been telling me that high school is the best four years of one's life," DeStories said. "But I think our best years are still ahead. Let's reminisce about the past but look for our best years in the present."

Lee Keylock, an English teacher who was voted by the class to give the commencement address, wrote a poem dedicated to the graduates called "Go."

Using educational references, local attractions and students' stories, Keylock created a poem that vividly described the students' growth from their freshman year to senior year, which in the end, left him with a standing ovation.

A touching moment in his poem came when Keylock remembered Danielle Jacobsen, a senior who was found dead May 30 in Monroe.

"And please remember Danielle Jacobsen who should have been with us tonight," Keylock said.

Dumais started the ceremony with a moment of silence in memory of Jacobsen.

At one point in the ceremony, Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson asked, "do you remember watching your children get on the yellow school bus for the first time and having to wave goodbye to them?"

As graduation wound to a close, parents will have to wave goodbye to their children once again as they start a new chapter in their lives.