88 Students Say Goodbye to Knollwood and Hello to High School

The students from will leave behind their elementary school days in pursuit of their High School years.

On Wednesday night, the 8th grade class from Knollwood School had their graduation ceremony at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School. 88 students proceeded into the auditorium and filled the stage.

The ceremony was themed "This I Believe." In the beginning of the ceremony, students stood up one at a time and said things they personally believe in. One student said, "being different is good, this I believe."

The students from the graduating class wrote essays that centered around the theme of believing. Some of the students went up to the podium to read excerpts from their essays. Brenden Thorp wrote about loosing his grandmother and over coming tough obstacles. "We fall from the clouds only so we can soar back through the stars, this I believe," Thorp said.

Following the student speeches, there was a slide show of student artwork. These pieces of art were particularly important for the graduation ceremony because they were titled "identity". The students created works of art that represented their own identities and they were shown in the slide show.

A total of 16 students received awards for excellence in different categories. Some of the students and awards they received are as follows: Andrew Murphy received the Fair Haven Education Association (FHEA) Music Award, Sonia de los Reyes received the FHEA Academic Excellence Award and Bethany Parsons received the FHEA Scholarship Award.

Following the awards, Principal Thomas Famulary gave a speech to the students and audience. "What a fabulous group of young men and women we have here," Famulary said at the start of his speech. His speech centered around having a positive attitude in life which will lead to success. To close his speech, he said to the students, "Boys and girls, I say go for it - and give it all you got."

The students were happy to have graduated and are looking forward to their upcoming high school years. "I have been looking forward to today for a long time," said Nora Ryan. "I can't wait to go to the High School with my friends, it's going to be awesome."

Bethany Parsons was happy to have graduated, but she also had some mixed feelings. "It's bitter-sweet," said Parsons. "I am happy to move on but sad to leave."

Following the graduation ceremony, the students were bussed over to Knollwood school, from where they ran to Sickles School to find their graduation dance. The students cheered and shouted all the way back to Knollwood, happy to have graduated from the 8th grade.