Pines Bridge School Graduates Ready to Move On

Along with balloons and flowers, the gym at Putnam/Northern Westchester’s Pines Bridge School was filled with pride on Friday, as 10 students graduated from the school for students with multiple disabilities.

“This is a momentous day,” said Bob Kelderhouse, Pines Bridge School principal, “as we close one door and open another.”

Family and friends cheered, waved and snapped photos as the students made their way through a flower-draped archway and down the aisle toward the podium, where Kelderhouse warmly greeted them. 

“We are inspired and in awe of all you have accomplished,” said Kelderhouse, indicating the young men and women on either side of him, describing their years at Pines Bridge as “full of rich experiences, both in the classroom and out in the community.”

While staff members read statements for those students who are non-verbal, a few of the students used adaptive communication devices to share their “voices” with the audience. Each expressed pride at their accomplishments and appreciation for all who supported them along the way. 

When a video montage of the students’ lives was shown midway through the ceremony, dry eyes were few and far between.

As Adam Van Der Stuyf, Director of Special Education and Guidance & Child Study Center, prepared to present each student with a diploma, he described the graduates as heroes, who “grace us every day with their smiles.” 

Kelderhouse then introduced the “Staff Song,” a school tradition in which teachers, aides, therapists and nurses sing a song to the graduates using sign language. As they signed the words to Rob Thomas’s song, “Little Wonders,“ audience members found themselves again scrambling for tissues.

Madison Corbett or Croton-on-Hudson, a student who will soon be moving to Seattle with her family, stood at the podium to present some parting words and concluded with an enthusiastic, “Goodbye, BOCES!” 

Following the graduation ceremony, families were invited to a brief reception, where they enjoyed refreshments and posed for photos.  Kevin and Christine, siblings of graduate Katelyn Cook of Lakeland, described the event as “really beautiful,” saying they felt extremely proud of their sister.