Newton High School Class of 2024 Celebrates Graduation - Part I

NEWTON, NJ—Surrounded by their friends, families and teachers, the Newton High School Class of 2024 graduated in perfect hot June weather, on Palmer Field on Monday, June 17. It was Newton High School Principal Kurt Waldron's final ceremony with the Braves.  After 29 years in Newton, Waldron is also graduating to retirement.

After the 164 graduates processed in with the teachers and the Newton Board of Education members, the National Anthem was sung by the senior Newton High School Honors Choir students, followed by the Alma Mater.

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The 2024 Class President, MacKenzie Genung-Snyder gave the welcome speech, which was followed by an Honorary Essay by Valedictorian, Jocelyn Reynolds, a Commencement Poem by Eliza Halteman and the final Honorary Essay by Megon Henry.

Genung started off the graduation ceremony, talking about how the Class of 2024 is so unique.

“Tonight’s ceremony is unique because for almost all of us, this is our first actual commencement. Four years ago, we could only watch our eighth grade graduation from our living rooms on a Youtube video. Parents, I’m sure you would agree that watching names flash across a screen does not even begin to compare to the energy and emotion on our field tonight. Over the past two weeks we have had the opportunity to be a class together. We danced at prom, stuffed teddy bears, rode roller coasters, signed yearbooks, and watched the sunset from this very field. All of these moments were chances to celebrate us, to celebrate the achievements that bring us together tonight and now we share in this ceremony. We share our excitement, our joy, and the bittersweet feeling of saying goodbye. However...this will certainly not be the last opportunity for the members of the Class of 2024 to celebrate our achievements.”

The first honorary essay was said by Reynolds after the NHS Honors Choir Seniors sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

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“1,049,088 pixels on a low-resolution Chromebook screen stare back at me, red, green and blue...pixels on a screen that we graduated on, eighth grade, a celebration we didn’t get to see in person. Freshman year, we met those pixels again and talked to faces that weren’t really there, people who seemed worlds away. A pandemic that tried to take out journey away from us, yet, the beautiful thing about this class is not just that we endured the unthinkable, but rather that we dusted ourselves off and got to work. When it appeared that we were torn at the seams and our normalcy was lost, we did not lose our ability to dream. In our time here at Newton High School; we have imagined, designed and taken action...the compassion of this class is something to be proud of. Seated behind me is a group of individuals who have accomplished much in their short time here...when I look into the future, I see hope. With our unique talents combined, we will move mountains together. We are strong, we are important, and we are BRAVE. We don’t just think-we create and we do. We take action and we make an impact. All of us will continue to change the world, no matter where our journeys take us after we leave this stage tonight. When given the opportunity, we help, we teach, we dream, because taking initiative and doing what is right, not what is easy, is what will being color to a life once defined by the 1,049,088 red, green, and blue pixels on a screen. Today, we close the screens that disconnected us in ways that our NHS class has fought so hard to reconnect. Today, we move to a world where we begin to write our own color filled stories. To the Class of 2024, congratulations, thank you, and Be BRAVE.”

Newton High School Principal Jeff Waldron started by talking about tradition and how the first graduation ceremony took place in 1871, “Here we are 153 years later gathered in the same town for the same reason to celebrate the kids.” He then asked for a moment of silence for one of Newton’s own, school Psychologist Matthew Nack, who passed away unexpectedly seven weeks ago. “While this loss is difficult to bear, we find ourselves inspired by the memory of his work to the students during his 33-year career with the Newton School District,” he said.

Waldron then acknowledged the teachers who are retiring this year, Neil Kozlowski who started at Newton in 2004, Glen Parker, who started in 1998, and Waldron himself, who started in 1995.

Waldron also acknowledged those graduates who will be heading into a branch of the military, Matthew Teets- Coast Guard, Joseph Galante- Army, and Derek Carreon- Marines and asked veterans and active members of the military to stand for a round of thankful applause.

Next up was the presentation of Class Salutatorian and Valedictorian by guidance counselors Theresa Hough and Lisa Casamassina. Salutatorian, the second-highest ranking student in the class went to Henry Fund and was presented by Masamassina. Valedictorian, the top-ranking student in the class went to Reynolds and was presented by Hough.

The commencement poem was read by Halteman and was titled, “On My Own”.

“I have never once done something entirely on my own. It takes a village or a teacher or a friend. I have never once done something entirely on my own. I always seek guidance from a person, or the voice of truth inside my head. And that voice is not foreign. It is just my clever conscience telling me that I should keep going even in the deafening silence. For when the hit of judgment leaves you gasping for air, you should get back on your feet and prove it’s a blow that you can bear. And I have never once done something entirely on my own. but we all know what it’s like to be alone and to feel apart from the rest of the world. For loneliness, the quiet beast can be so silent that its attach only takes a moment. And loneliness, that insatiable beast can be so loud that in its rumble, we can drown. But at this point, we’ve blocked out the noise and learned to swim against the tide. it’s not so hard to take back your life with even one friend by your side,” she continued.

“So when I’m told to speak on initiative I can breathe in...and out… knowing my whole life has been a pursuit of making each step that I take count. We have initiative, which brews in our bodies and does not give into the abuse of any person. We have initiative, which lets us soar above the clouds of deceit, of self doubt which worsens. My head was in the game of life before it even started. A baby born to take her dreams and refuse for them to be thwarted. A child young enough to cry but tough enough to say ‘i will not let it hurt me’. A teenager denying the social norm and taking blows so all can be free. And now, we’re young adults, alive, rising to the challenge. For 18 years may seem small now, but just wait until we make it massive. And I have never once done something entirely on my own because my beautiful, blossoming mind will be by my side forever and you should never have to do something entirely on your own. You can find your village, find yourself, and always find a friend.”

The second, and last of the honorary essays was read by Henry, where she talked about the last four years and the “game of life”.

“Now I know you are all gathered here today waiting for me to give a long-winded speech that’s supposed to encourage my peers and inspire them to be the leaders of tomorrow. But wbfore I start with any of that, I want to first share with you a quote that I admire, it goes, ‘Life is like a game of cards. The hand you are dealt is determinism; the way you play it is free will’. Now a lot of things stand out to me in that quote, but oddly enough… I’m drawn to one, almost commonplace word: game...when I was younger, I spent most of my time playing The Sims… what I liked most about The Sims was the overall sense of power I had over my avatar’s life. There was no sort of surprise or tragedy that could put me off track. No obstacles or circumstances, or even responsibilities to worry about, I had complete control. The same however, could not be said for real life. Real life was not as black and white as The Sims. It was ambiguous and unpredictable. It brought COVID-19 and remote learning during our freshman and sophomore years as well as other unforeseen worries like college decisions and academic pressures and learning to navigate our sense of self as we grew from naive freshmen to experiences young adults. There was no reassuring sense of autonomy in real life like one could feel when playing a video game. No cheat code, reset button or rewind switch when things went wrong… I made excuses for my complacency by blaming it on the uncontrollable nature of ‘life’...obviously this notion was flawed, as well as my perspective, but all it took was a little initiative and a little more courage to realize that, though we might not have total control over our lives, we have something much more important, we have free will. I am here today to tell you that we determine our success and our failures. So we cannot sit around idly waiting for change to come. For success to simply fall out of the sky, no we have to see it, to work towards it, to earn it. I it not going to be easy, rarely anything is, but you can make it happen.”

She finished by giving a message to his graduating class:

“Class of 2024, as we enter college and beyond, don’t let opportunities pass you by. Don’t let your shot at success be clouded by fears and most importantly, remember to lean on your support system… recognize the potential that you have, the potential that we all have. Graduates, the future is ours, and our path to success is undeniable. Today is merely the first step, and you and you alone decide if you want to keep moving forward. If you want to win at this game called LIFE.”

The Class of 2024 was presented to the superintendent of Newton, Dr. Joseph S Piccirillo, as well as the Newton Board of Education members and all the graduating seniors’ families and friends that were present by Waldron after he said a few words to the seniors.

“Yesterday while we were having lunch, Mrs. Waldron reminded me about the three B’s of a great principal’s graduation speech, Be Clear, Be Concise, and then Be Seated. We live in a world that changes very quickly and as educators, it’s hard to keep up. How do you prepare kids for jobs that do not yet exist? We have been asking ourselves that question for years. Now with the onset of Artificial Intelligence, the world will be changing even faster than ever before. So what do we do? What skills will be necessary no matter how the world changes? What will the class of 2024 need to adapt to the fastest-changing society the world has ever seen? There are three skills I hope our graduates will carry with them into their futures and two things they should watch out for. They are identified here as assets and obstacles. Asset Number One is Curiosity. Curiosity drives us to ask questions, seek knowledge, and explore the unknown. It is our curiosity that fuels lifelong learning. As the world changes, it will be your curiosity that keeps your technical skills relevant. Asset Number Two is Determination. Everything in life that is worthwhile is hard. Accomplishing difficult tasks takes determination and a belief that you will succeed. No excuses. Winners are not those who never lose, but those who never quit. Asset Number Three is Adaptability. Change is inevitable. You will need to learn, unlearn, and relearn time and time again throughout your life. Change is hard for most people. If you are able to embrace change, your technical skills will remain relevant. If you have the Curiosity to discover new things with Determination and Adaptability to master what you discovered, you will be ready for whatever the world throws at you. I’ve also identified two obstacles that are the most likely to stand in the way of an otherwise successful young person. Obstacle Number One is the Cell Phone. This can be your greatest ally or worst enemy. If you use it wisely, your cell phone can be a powerful tool for productivity. If you use it unwisely, it will be an endless source of distraction. Obstacle Number Two is Drama. Drama doesn’t end with graduation, it ends when you learn to manage it. Learning to manage your emotions is important. Learning not to let others dictate your responses is critical. Most of you are already pretty good at this. Remember, Drama requires at least two people to survive, so starve it of your attention and you will be immune to its effects. Curiosity, Determination, and Adaptability are often referred to as soft skills. Technical skills will evolve over time, but it is the soft skills that will be your timeless keys to success. Congratulations, Class of 2024! The world is ready for your talents, and I have no doubt that you are ready for the world”.

Once presented, Piccirillo took the microphone and said a few words to the graduating Class of 2024.

“You have each spent 740 days as high school students and over the past many days you have probably spent quite a bit of time reflecting upon how it is all coming to an end. It is the end, after all. Isn’t it? You had your “last day of school” and you’ll soon receive your “final transcript” and schools all across the country just had a week of “final exams.” What better sends a message of finality like the constant use of the word final and end. Words are important. And they do much to shed light on our events, actions, and perspectives. So then why isn’t today called the “Final Event” or the “Closing Ceremony” like it was the culmination of the Olympic games. Or maybe we could call tonight's ceremony, you’re welcome in advance for getting this song stuck in your head the “Final Countdown” – now that would be fun! But seriously it isn’t called the Closing Ceremony, the Final Event, or the Final Countdown. No, today we find ourselves at the commencement ceremony. How strange. How completely bizarre that today we would celebrate the incredible accomplishments of these young scholars, by way of highlighting that this is in fact not the end, but the beginning. The word "commencement" comes from the Latin root "commovere" meaning "to start" or "to begin." Your commencement today does not signify an ending at all, but rather a new start to the next great adventure of your lives. To stay on the Latin kick for a second here and there will be Greek later also – so buckle up, one of my truly favorite phrases is ‘Nunc coepi’ - which means "Now I begin." Say it with me because you will get to know this phrase well in the next few minutes – Nunc Coepi. I first saw it used as attributed to Bruno Lanteri. He said “Do not keep stopping to look back, because he who looks back cannot hasten forward - Say it with confidence - Nunc Coepi - Now I begin.” I remember first reading this and taking great comfort in it because no matter the context it always seems to fit. If you had a terrible day, acted in a way you regret, didn’t live up to your own expectations – well, every moment is a new opportunity. Pick yourself up - Nunc Coepi. If you failed a test, had a broken relationship, or experienced the loss of a loved one, you can still begin anew. Nunc Coepi. And if you just accomplished a great feat, the same message is important. Don’t be content, arrogant, and complacent in staying where you are. Push forward. Begin again. Nunc Coepi. We often think of this type of thing around New Year’s when many of us, myself included, make new year’s resolutions which we probably don’t keep. But Bruno Lanteri said, “Do not content yourself with beginning this year. Begin every day and in each hour of the day.” Doing this sets in motion a constant process of becoming which helps us to focus on directing all that we do, each moment of our lives, each action and each word that leaves our mouth toward becoming the best we can be for ourselves and for others. So, in fact, this constant process of beginning, moves us ultimately toward the end which actually matters, our telos, which is the Greek word which means an end in concert and fitting with our nature, our calling, and our purpose. It is the root from which comes our word teleology. But today is not about ends, it is about beginnings – Nunc Coepi! I had since seen Nunc Coepi used by the former NFL quarterback Philip Rivers. Believe it or not, he used to wear a hat during press conferences which read “Nunc Coepi.” He would say if he threw a touchdown “nunc coepi” and if he threw an interception “nunc coepi.” For Rivers, he was always defined by his next action. It motivated him and also prevented him from becoming discouraged when a task seemed too daunting...Every single moment offers the opportunity to begin anew - to make a fresh choice, to strengthen your character, to grow in virtue, and to become better than you were before. The culmination of your high school years has prepared you to embark on new journeys, whether that be college, career, military service, or whatever bold path you choose next. Perhaps no one knows better the feeling of staring directly at an unknown and new beginning than our high school principal, Mr. Waldron, who will be retiring this month after a proud career of dedicated service to this district. I want to sincerely say, thank you, Mr. Waldron, for your lifetime of selfless leadership and commitment to the education of generations of Newtonians and for reminding us that it is Always a Great Day to Be a Brave. As you begin this new chapter of retirement, may it be filled with fulfillment, relaxation, and well-earned joys. I am sure it will also include some time outdoors and quite a bit of hiking. We wish you all the best. Happy Trails. Nunc Coepi! And graduates, In the spirit of new beginnings and hiking adventures, I encourage you to embrace the mindset that adventures never truly end, but continually unfold into new beginnings ripe with possibility. The great Bilbo Baggins said, "Don't adventures ever have an end? I suppose not. Someone else always has to carry on in the story." Your stories begin today and the story of Newton High School will begin again and continue on for next year’s students, teachers, and administrators, and many yet to come. In the years ahead, you will face innumerable forks in the road – moments that will test your judgment and conviction. I am not one to normally take advice from Disney movies, although I quoted Lilo and Stitch at the 8 ^th grade promotion and just quoted a Hobbit so I am not sure where that leaves me, but in Frozen 2 Ana famously sings that when in doubt do “the next right thing.” So therefore, always strive to take the highest path, for "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." And for your peace of mind that last quote was not a Disney character or a creature from Middle Earth, it was Aristotle. So construct habits of virtue, discipline your minds, and strengthen your characters through right choices, day by day. That is, after all, what we are called to do. Nunc Coepi! Life seldom follows a straight line, but courses through twists, turns, starts and pauses. But whether it stops and finishes depends a lot on you. You can always begin again. Nunc Coepi. “It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door” said Bilbo. “You step onto the road and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.” Yet with open eyes, resilient spirits, and virtuous habits, you can greet each new beginning as an opportunity to grow, to serve, to author your exceptional life stories, and to take you to your telos. Congratulations Class of 2024! Commencement is yours - may your adventures never cease! Now you begin- Nunc Coepi. Thank you and Go Braves”

Dominic Celi and Rachel Porzilli asked in English, while Adilson Salam Chocoj asked in Spanish, that on behalf of the Class of 2024, all applause be held until ALL the graduates have received their diplomas.

Senior Class Advisors Carla Brunelle and Deb Sumowski announced each of the graduates as Newton Board of Education President Stella Dunn and Newton Board of Education Vice President Ed Caffrey handed out the diplomas.

After the class received their diplomas, they processed down the aisles past their families and proceeded to make a circle on the field in front of the field goal posts. They counted to three and threw their caps up into the air together in a dignified and respectful way. Each child went home with the correct cap that night.

Please see Part II of this article with the complete names of all the Class of 2024 graduates and their photographs of them receiving their diplomas.

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