Montville Township's Lazar Middle School Holds 63rd Annual Promotion Ceremony

Three hundred twenty-six eighth grade students advanced to high school on Wednesday, June 22, 2016. Robert R. Lazar Middle School in Montville Township, New Jersey held the sixty-third annual Promotion Ceremony in the gymnasium at Montville Township High School. Almost forty students received scholastic, athletic, community, character and patriotic awards. Representatives from the Montville Township Public Schools district as well as area organizations made presentations.

Class of 2020 Student Council President Christopher “CJ” Arena led the pledge and made the only student speech of the evening.

“We have been prepared very well for the next four years,” Arena told his classmates. He likened knowledge to a tool belt. “We all must have a tool belt, like Batman, to get us out of danger…Lazar has given us the tools.”

Principal Sharon Carr told the incoming freshmen, “You are a class that has set a standard for the entire building that is one of kindness, compassion and success.”

She outlined the many accomplishments the class achieved during its three years at Lazar. She highlighted large achievements such as scholastic excellence for the math and Science Olympiad teams, which secured county and state accolades, artistic and leadership awards, and outstanding band, chorus and orchestra seasons. She also illuminated examples of the class’ kindness and compassion.

“You have helped others in need, whether it was helping pick up books someone dropped in the hallway, or moving to a table in the lunchroom where someone was sitting alone,” Carr said.

The principal noted that as a class the students actively supported many community organizations by raising money, collecting food, dancing with senior citizens at the senior citizen prom, placing flags on soldiers’ graves, and reading to elementary students.

“Simply put, you are exceptional; you are an extraordinary class and you have made a difference.”

She advised the students that over the next four years they will face many forks in the road which will require decisions that may influence a lifetime.

“Make those decisions with courage, honesty and integrity,” Carr said. “Rely on your character and don’t be afraid to stand alone for a cause in which you believe.”

Following the principal’s speech, awards were presented to the following students:

Academic Achievement Award – Andrew Gillie, Kiara Moon; American Heritage Award – Christopher “CJ” Arena, Emili Dimoski; Scholastic Progress Award – Marco Aiello; Robert R. Lazar Service Award - Christopher “CJ” Arena, Rebecca Sherman; Sportsmanship Award – Gianna Palmisano, Rami Zaku, Student of the Year – Julia Mesce; The Nutrition, Family and Consumer Studies Award – Amanda Simon; Concert Band – Ganesh Arunachalam, Evelyn Ki; Chorus – Christine Sun, Jenny Sun; Orchestra – Sehee Son; Art – Melissa Wright, Cindy Xie; Lazar News Network Television Studio Award – Max Kattermann; Spanish – Hailey Quinn; Italian – Julia Mesce; French – Sebastian Roclore; Mandarin – Abigail Leung; Morris County Superintendent’s Middle School Leadership Award – Jacqueline MacStudy; Daughters of the American Revolution Youth Citizenship Award – Steven Aarons, Angelina Hahn; Lazar Citizenship Award – Rachelle Philip, Nick Santosuossa; Lazar Determination Award – Kyle Casarico; Todd Perrella Memorial Award – David Lopez; Michelle Sullivan Memorial Award – Reese Henderson; Heroism Award – Colleen Kelly, Stefan Krysyna, Nick Lizza, Brandon Neff; Carol Lazar Snyder Memorial Award – Ganesh Arunachalam, Claudia Colatrella; Lynette Berdej Memorial Award – Esme Lockwood.

The Montville Township High School Parent Teacher Council also presented the new freshmen class with a check for $100 to begin the Class of 2020 account at MTHS.

Superintendent Dr. René Rovtar confirmed that, “The students before us have successfully completed all requirements of 8th grade and may be promoted to grade 9.”

Montville Township Board of Education President, Dr. Matthew Kayne presented Arena with a ceremonial promotion certificate and joined Rovtar and Carr in congratulating each student individually on his or her advancement to ninth grade.