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thursday, June 27, 2013 Page B1
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Graduation 2013 A RiveRdAle PRess sPeciAl RePoRt
Photo by Marisol Díaz
JULIE VARGAS stands up and cheers her teachers at the Robert J. Christen, PS 81, fifth grade closing ceremony on Monday.
End of school is a bittersweet goodbye for grads
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By Sarina Trangle • strangle@riverdalepress.com
ozens gathered in Our Lady of Angel Church June 15 to bid its school one final farewell. Nearly 30 students paraded into the sanctuary –– girls in white caps and gowns and boys in blue –– behind a school banner embossed with the words, “Our Lady of Angels School, 1928 to 2013.” Between cheers and tears, faculty, alumni and parishioners urged the graduates to consider the school’s closure an incentive to work diligently and add another success story to the school’s 85-year history.
“You are the last graduating class of OLA and that means you have an obligation to all the angels that have come before you and those that are not able to anymore to carry on this school’s great legacy,” said Anne Crichlow, a 1995 alumna. “OLA is an amazing institution of learning and the impact that it has had on the lives of all the students, faculty and staff will forever live on in their memories and the way in which they live their lives.” Rebecca Cutino read the class’ yearbook dedication to Principal Sr. Mary Cleary, which highlighted her years of devotion to Our Lady of Angels, talent for inspiring youth and uncanny ability to memorize every student’s name. After benediction, graduates gathered on the steps of the church to snap photos. There were the usual jitters — Acerlia Bennett worried about not knowing anybody at The Cinema School next year; Armand Muñoz and Myles Jones said they were proud but didn’t want to leave a place they’d spent “our whole lives.” But there was also concern for the teachers, some of whom spent decades at OLA. “The bond that you have with the school is not very easy to break,” said Indra Ali, who has taught at OLA for 26 years. “It’s like a family.” Our Lady of Angels joined dozens
of schools in the Riverdale/Kingsbridge area in sending off thousands of graduates, from fifth-graders to collegebound seniors. Private schools held their commencements first. At Ethical Culture Fieldston Upper School, the crowded quad cheered as seniors strut down steps in navy robes, carrying white roses. At the June 12 ceremony, Will Cabaniss implored his fellow graduates to help increase financial aid. “We have to work to see that eventually Fieldston educates from the whole city, not just a few streets in Manhattan and Westchester. We need to help Fieldston figure out where it falls in the gray area between prep school and progressive school,” he said. Parochial schools handed out diplomas next. Students at Kinneret Day School spoke about their favorite class memories and performed songs on the Riverdale YM-YWHA stage on June 12. One student played the ukulele and another strummed a guitar while the class of 2013 sang their own lyrics to “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz. “Hey Kinneret, we are so sad that we have to go. We love you so. You taught us everything we know,” they crooned. Public schools then began saluting their students’ achievements. Families packed the Diana Event Oval at Bar-
nard College to watch students graduate from The Bronx School of Law and Finance on June 21. Beny Poy, the class president, kicked off several speeches by unrolling a scroll, which spanned from his shoulders to the stage floor, and joked that he’d keep it brief. After the audience laughed, he pulled out a few note cards and began. “When times seem bad and the sun has completely set on our dreams … remember that the sun rises everyday and if you keep your eyes on the sunrise it’ll be alright,” he said. Robert J. Christen, PS 81 fifth graders heard from elected officials and performed several songs at their closing ceremony on Monday. Assistant Principal Rebecca AvilesRodriguez called each student’s name as they walked across the school stage and received pins. After the ceremony, students hugged in the courtyard and reflected on the transition ahead. “It is fun and exciting,” said Marieteresa Porcher Allen, who is going to East Fordham Academy for the Arts next fall. “But it’s also kind of sad because we’re not going to the same school,” said Faith Mulosmanaj, who is headed to the David A. Stein Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy, MS/HS 141.
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(Graduation lists on page B7)