Valedictorian Victoria Comunale ’19

Pictured top row left to right: Brooke Seay ’19, Peter Bowden ’19, Cesar Fernandez ’19, Jason Dykstra ’19, Michael Carandang ’19, Michael Campagna ’19. Front row left to right: Sidney Kuerbis ’19, Maya Espinosa ’19, Grace Winn ’19, and Victoria Comunale ’19. Photo by Courtney Ranaudo.

The afternoon of June 1, 2019 marked a milestone in the lives of 130 Parker students—the culminating moment of their school career—graduation. For 36 of those students, Parker had been their second home since the age of 4 or 5, and on this afternoon, along with their classmates, they walked the campus of Francis Parker School for the last time as students and for the first time as graduates.

As nearly 1,600 family and friends found their seats for the ceremony, Parker leadership, members of the Board of Trustees, and Parker faculty and staff entered the ceremony filled with anticipation to watch the graduates make their way to their seats on stage.

“In this place we have made great friends, learned from the wisdom of our teachers, and cultivated our diverse sets of talents in ways that impacted the communities around us.”

— Valedictorian Victoria Comunale ’19

WE BELIEVE IN YOU

The ceremony began with an address from Head of School Kevin Yaley. His message of belief in the students of the graduating class harkened back to one of Parker’s finest headmasters, affectionately known as “Happy.” Happy charged Parker’s faculty and staff with a simple request:

“Believe in your students to such an extent that they will believe in themselves. For there is no greater gift we can give them than to believe.”

Kevin reiterated to the class, “For as long as you have been a part of our lives, we have believed in you. And on this day— your graduation day—on behalf of everyone here today, I wish to give you again the most important gift captured in four simple words. We believe in you.”

Kevin then welcomed the student speakers, Valedictorian Victoria Comunale ’19 and student speaker Grace Winn ’19 to the stage. Both addressed their classmates with reminiscent reflections of their time together and the family that they have become.

A LIFE OF LOVE AND SERVICE

Congressman Juan Vargas took to the stage to deliver the keynote address. The Congressman shared messages of love and generosity with the graduating class, encouraging them to “choose a life of love and service to others,” emphasizing how a mindset of love and generosity can create a wonderful life.

“Be generous to a fault, forgive others, and love the best you possibly can. In the end, it really does pay off.”

— Congressman Juan Vargas

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Photos by Courtney Ranaudo.

1. Valedictorian Victoria Comunale ’19 2. Keynote Speaker Congressman Juan Vargas 3. Left to right: Evan Morgan ’19, Suraj Srinivasan ’19 and Eleanor Hansen ’19 4. Commencement Speaker Grace Winn ’19 5. Laurent Cotter ’19 6. Left to right: Andrew Brown ’19, Carlos Heredia ’19, and Bryce Dethloff ’19.

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middle SCHOOL PROMOTION

On June 13, 2019, members of the Class of 2023 were promoted from Parker’s Middle School. Surrounded by friends and family, the ceremony included speeches by students Jack Douglas and Kian Mehrayin, as well as musical performances from students of the promoting class. Head of School Kevin Yaley, Head of Middle School Dan Lang, and Head of Upper School Dr. Monica Gillespie each addressed the students, family, and friends in attendance.

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Photos by Nancee Lewis Photography.

1. Jack Dougles, Class of 2023, addresses classmates during Middle School Promotion. 2. Members of the Class of 2023. 3. Left to right: Addison Smith and Emma Anderson, both Class of 2023, perform “Found Tonight” by Ben Platt and Lin-Manuel Miranda. 4. Left to right: Nyla Brown and Aubree Dethloff, both Class of 2023, perform “Best Day of My Life” by the American Authors. 5. Josh Wyly, Class of 2023, performs “Trio in E-Flat,” an original song he composed for the ceremony. 6. Left to right: Shea McGrath and Evan Clark, both Class of 2023, perform “Trio in E-Flat.”

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