IMAGE GALLERY: 8th Graders Moving On Up

Hundreds of family members and friends came out on June 14 to watch the Windham Middle School eighth grade class officially move on to high school in a ceremony held on the school's athletic fields.

Several prominent figures in the district addressed both the students, who were split in their rows by gendeer, and the packed audience.

Superintendent Henry LaBranche told the kids that they will soon face the reality of autonomy as they gear toward the next step in their lives.

"This next adventure will be a transition where you travel from the heavy alliance that you have placed on the significant adults in your life to the realities of independence, and I assure you that this will be a very different expereience for you," he said.

He told students that the goal will be to find a balance between the "reality" of independence while still realizing the need to seek others for guidance and counsel.

School Board Chairman Bruce Anderson became nostalgic as he spoke before the group, thinking about how his own father taught him to grasp that independence that LaBranche spoke of. 

He explained that over the next four years, students will have to make important decisions on their own, such as whether to join the military, work or attend college.

The ceremony culminated with an award ceremony, where students were presented certificates by Assistant Principal Brenda Morrow for a number of different achievements.

Those ranged from math, science, reading, writing foreign language, social studies and art. 

Specific students also received awards for community service, athleticism and citizenship.

Anderson presented each student with a graduation certificate following the awards.