Message from the Director nel-cps construction & career Academy

If you hear nothing else from me this evening, please hear this loud and clear - I am so, so very proud of you. Our school is a school of choice. None of you are here by accident. To get here, each and every one of you decided to do something different than to follow the path laid out for you for high school. This is a remarkable choice at such a young age and a mindset and boldness and a knowing of self that I hope you continue to practice throughout your lives. You don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. Your gift is your individuality and your strength is owning it. The class of 2023 experienced the COVID lockdown beginning in the spring of their Freshman year of high school, a time when you should have been growing more comfortable in a high school environment, enjoying new friendships and wrapping up your academics for the year. Instead, your entire experience was turned upside down as we were told to stay in our homes to keep ourselves and others safe. As hands-on learners, the transition to distance learning presented an immense challenge. The absence of physical interaction and experiential learning opportunities was a void in your educational journey. Learning solely through screens while trying to manage the distractions of your homes made it difficult to fully grasp complex concepts. And let’s face it, placing concrete, building roads and building bridges is not well suited to Google Meet. Adapting to a virtual environment required a heightened level of self-discipline, as staying engaged and motivated became a daily struggle. We know at this time many of you had to work, or were asked to take care of younger siblings or aging relatives. Your families experienced tremendous stress. Some of you lost loved ones during this time, and bore the burden of grief while navigating the uncertainty of each day. And the education that was lost during this time had to be made up once circumstances returned to normal, compounding the amount of work you needed to do simultaneously to get to this point tonight. Despite these obstacles, you all persevered.

My favorite day of the year each year is when we get to sit for your senior portfolio presentations. Many of you take that opportunity to share not only what you have achieved academically during your time with us, but what you’ve come through personally as well. We see what you have accomplished and it is our honor to witness first hand the power of pushing through obstacles, be it a difficult project, a life circumstance, or moments of self-doubt. You’ve learned that setbacks are not failures, but rather opportunities for growth. You have become resilient individuals, unafraid to take risks and rise above adversity. Again, I am so proud of you.

Today, we not only celebrate our individual accomplishments but also acknowledge the collective achievements of our class. The class of 2023 is ready to make an impact in the following ways:

· 7 of you are going to GenCon training as apprentices starting June 20 in Pomfret, CT to continue your training with the Laborers’ International Union of North America and take advantage of a tremendous career opportunity.

· 22 of you are taking advantage of the Promise Scholarship to go to CCRI to earn your Associate’s Degree for no cost.

· 1 of you is attending Rhode Island College in the fall to continue your education and pursue your dreams.

· 1 of you is pursuing an honorable career in the military, looking forward to specialized training and opportunities.

· 2 of you are continuing your education by pursuing apprenticeship training in different trades, earning while you learn and establishing a stable and lucrative career for yourselves.

· 5 of you are joining the workforce during a time in which our country desperately needs workers who will show up on time, every day and work hard.

I know each of you, regardless of your next steps, will do us proud. You stand united as a testament to the strength of your education and the opportunities it has provided you. The friendships you’ve forged and the memories you’ve created together will forever hold a special place in your hearts. We are a community bonded by shared experiences, and as we disperse into the world, let us remember to carry the spirit of camaraderie, lifting each other up and celebrating one another’s successes.

Graduation is not an end; it marks the beginning of a new chapter filled with infinite possibilities. You are the architects of your futures, and it is now your responsibility to shape the world around us. As you embark on your chosen paths, I have my last bit of advice for you as your principal:

1. Expect it to be a little weird right now. You’re embarking on a new chapter in your lives. You’re going to feel a bit disoriented; you may emotionally crash after today, feel uncertain, anxious. On bad days, you might even miss us and wish for what you had before. This is normal.

This is what comes with transitions. This is the in-between before the new reality comes into focus. Your new life will become more known & more comfortable. Expect it; be kind to yourself; keep moving forward. You’ve got this.

2. Remember what you’ve learned. This is less about math formulas and historical dates and more about organization, interpersonal communication and responsibility. Remember that a problem doesn’t go away just because you don’t confront it. Communication is everything. Check your email.

3. Seek out mentors, and always ask for help when you need it. Every single one of you has benefitted from a special person in our school who has served as a mentor for you. There are more mentors waiting for you in your next step. Don’t be afraid to show you care and that you want it. There are people out there waiting to share their knowledge, expertise and passion. And when the time comes, don’t hesitate to be a mentor yourself. You all have amazing gifts to give. Don’t hold back. Pay it forward.

4. Say yes to free training and education. There will be opportunities in your life, starting now, to take advantage of training and education that is of no cost to you. Furthering your education and skills will set you apart in the workplace and increase your value as an employee. Say yes to every certification, every credential opportunity that comes your way. You won’t regret it. Class of 2023, you are ready. The future is bright. Go make us proud!

Thank you.

Graduate Nicholas Aschettino expresses his excitement after his name is called to receive his diploma. Aschettino was one of 38 Construction & Career Academy students who received their diplomas at the Park Theater on June 8

One after the other students took the stage with a smile as they receive their diplomas

Mayor Ken Hopkins provides a few words of wisdom to the graduates moving on out to college, the military or wherever else they may be going. Students raise their heads with pride and expectation while listening to the graduation address

Good evening honored guests, families, faculty and staff and most importantly Johnston High School’s class of 2023. I’m honored to bring you congratulations and best wishes on behalf of the Johnston School Department.

Graduating from high school is one of those major milestones in your life and one you will always remember. Regardless of how you graduated with high honors or by the skin of your teeth, it is an accomplishment. Successfully completing high school requirements is both an ending and a beginning. You are ending a period in your life where you are for the most part under the control and guidance of others. Although you may have protested this, it was a safe place to be because you were well taken care of and had someone there to fall back on and to give you encouragement when you needed it. Graduating from Johnston High School is the gateway to the rest of your life where you get to decide what your future will be and who you are as a person. With this new independence comes great responsibility. You will have to live with whatever decisions you make. My hope is that you always make the right ones and always do the right thing.

As you progress through this journey, you have learned a lot about yourselves and what you have learned will drive how you live your life in the future. As you think back on your school career so far, there have been so many influences that helped shape you as a person. Your family, friends, teachers and other significant members of your community have influenced you in many ways. Their encouragement and support helped you to make life choices. However, a philosopher once said that “No one outside ourselves can rule us inwardly. When we know this, we become free.” These words are critical for us to understand that freewill guides us to be independent thinkers and doers. You will always be judged by your actions. My hope is that you always use that freewill to do good, to contribute to our world and to benefit others.

A sincere thank you to all families for guiding your children to a successful future by supporting them in reaching this milestone. You were their first teachers and you should be proud of your role in their success. Continue to support them as they strive to live productive and honorable lives.

None of this would be possible without our great and dedicated administrators, teachers and support staff who work hard every day to provide quality education for all students. Thank you to all educators from kindergarten to grade twelve who had an influence on each of these graduates’ lives. This is a particularly special graduating class for me as the Superintendent. You are the first class I saw through from Kindergarten to today’s graduation.

So class of 2023, I commend you on your accomplishments. I wish you much success and happiness as you do the things you love. I look forward to you all doing something so great that others can’t take their eyes off you. We will miss you as you move on from Johnston but always remember that this is your home and you are always welcome to come back. Enjoy what’s ahead of you and congratulations on a job well done.