'We are Prepared:' CCHS Class of 2013 Enters the World

Their principal said they were needed. Their class president said they're prepared. And their Spanish teacher cracked a joke about strippers -- or, if it wasn't about strippers then some other group known for shaking tassels.

It was all in an afternoon's work for Concord-Carlisle High School's Class of 2013, which held its commencement ceremonies on Saturday, June 8 at CCHS.

In his introductory remarks, CCHS Principal Peter Badalament quoted from the odd couple of Nelson Mandela and Conan O'Brien to urge his former students to "be courageous" and avoid being cyincal.

"We need you now more than ever," said Badalament to his graduating class. "You are our next generation."

Class of 2013 President Andrew Della Volpe said is classmates are quite capable of answering the call. "We are prepared," he said.

As an example Della Volpe cited the group's response after racially charged graffiti was discovered in the CCHS library (aka Learning Commons) earlier this year. "We didn't run from it," Della Volpe said. "We tackled it head on and tried to learn from it."  

You can watch an excerpt from Della Volpe's remarks in the videos above.

Fittingly, a high school graduation would have a bit of college humor. That component was provided by commencement speaker Eric Pohl, a foreign languages teacher.

“You all look marvelous today in your academic robes and finery,” said Pohl. “Hopefully this will be one of the few occasions in your life where you wear tassels and move them from side to side before an appreciative audience.”  

You can watch Pohl's joke in the videos above.

Joking was only part of the entertainment on the afternoon. The award-winning CCHS concert band played several selections from Disney's "The Lion King," which went over well with the audience.

For more from CCHS Graduation, check out:

• Congratulations to the CCHS Class of 2013
• CCHS Graduation: Class of 2013, and the 'Lion King'