Summer Rings in the Cedar Grove Class of 2011

On Tuesday evening, Cedar Grove High School held its 48^th Commencement on the school’s athletic field. Parents, families and friends cheered from the bleachers and snapped photos as they watched the students march onto the field wearing their caps and gowns.

Shea Sweeney, president of the All School Council, opened the commencement by welcoming the Board of Education, faculty, the graduating class and the audience. After the “Star-Spangled Banner” was sung by members of the music department, Sweeney then gave his speech to the soon to be graduates.

He told the class that there are bigger and better things waiting outside of Cedar Grove. “The world doesn’t end when Route 23 meets Bloomfield Avenue,” Sweeney said. Sweeney also stressed to his classmates that they should “tap” into the quality that makes them a unique individual as they move on to the next stage in their lives. Following Sweeney’s speech, members of the senior choir sang the senior song, “Now & Forever” by Carole King.

Stephen Raum, who was elected into the Spanish and National Honor Society, then addressed the crowd on behalf of the student body. Raum told the crowd that his class not only volunteered their time to CGHS, but also to the community. “What made this class special was that everyone got involved, inside and outside the learning community,” Raum said.

Michael Fetherman, principal at CGHS, told the class of 2011 to sample what life has to offer. “Be uniters not disruptors,” he said. Fetherman then asked superintendent Dr. Gene Polles to give his speech and to present the BOE with the class of 2011.

Polles told the class to be positive, take action, never stop learning and to be honest and dependable.“You have the power to change course of history,” Polles reminded the class.

Frank Mandala, president of the BOE, accepted and approved the class saying, “You have met all regulations needed to graduate.” Mandala mentioned the change in communications and the rise of social networking. He compared the graduating class to a Facebook page. “Some of you might have friend requests from when you went on your college tour,” Mandala said. “If you join sororities or fraternities, you might be added to a new group or ‘like’ a group.” Mandala then joked that Cedar Grove’s page would read, “We are proud of all 98 of you and are officially ‘liking’ you.”

Friends and families showed support for their loved ones as horns, vuvuzela’s and other noise makers could be heard as Joan Oehm and Vincent Cardiello, the class advisers, announced the names of all 98 students. 

By 7:55 p.m., the Cedar Grove Class of 2011 threw their caps in the air and concluded the ceremony as official graduates.