up front
Eighth Grade Graduation:
A Celebration of Community
���Your sense of community truly set the tone for the
middle school,��� Middle School Director Deb Sampey
told the Class of 2014 as it celebrated eighth grade
graduation on June 9. Sampey went on to share her fond
feelings for a group of students who were positive
leaders and helped to create ���a feeling of family��� in the
middle school.
Meanwhile, outgoing Head of School Don Firke
shared some words of wisdom and advice for the future
with the graduates: 1. ���Finis Origine Pendet��� (the end
depends upon the beginning) and to take care with the
decisions they make now because they will influence the
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future. 2. ���Stuff Happens��� and they can���t worry about
it. 3. ���Never, never, never, never . . . never give in,��� a
sentiment Winston Churchill once shared with a
graduating class, and finally 4. ���The journey is the
reward,��� based on a Chinese proverb.
���So, smile, walk slowly and enjoy the day,��� Firke told
the graduates as he wished them good luck.
Eighth grade class president Rohan Pavuluri and
student speakers Caroline Kaplan and Jake Orlin
reemphasized the affection the eighth graders have
for each other. Jake performed a rap that highlighted
the contributions of every single member of the class,
while Caroline called on her peers to ���Never forget
how you feel right now,��� to remember the hope and
excitement as well as ���the love for your classmates.���
