Eighth-graders Celebrate Moving Up

Eighth-grade students at Grand Avenue and Merrick Avenue middle schools officially capped their middle school careers and their transition to high school during moving up ceremonies on June 12.

Divided into four ceremonies based on academic teams, the students filed into the auditoriums to the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance” in front of parents, family and peers. The transitioning eighth-graders heard from graduating seniors from Calhoun, Kennedy and Mepham high schools, who provided words of advice and encouragement as they prepare to break for the summer before entering as freshman. The audience also heard from student speakers from each academic team, who reflected on their years at middle school and shared their hopes and dreams in high school. Faculty members also took the stage to provide a reflection on the year.

Each student made their way across the stages, receiving handshakes from administrators and teachers. The milestone event was punctuated by performances by Word of Mouth at Merrick Avenue Middle School and the Select Chorus from Grand Avenue Middle School, under the direction of Dana Brandwein and Amanda Cantwell, respectively.

Captions:

1: Grand Avenue Middle School Assistant Principal James Mollica introduced each segment of the eighth-grade moving up ceremony.

2: Students at Grand Avenue were all smiles to receive their certificates to move up to high school in the fall.

3: Merrick Avenue Middle School Assistant Principal John Gibilaro introduced the dignitaries and welcomed the audience to the school’s eighth-grade moving up ceremony.

4: More than 400 eighth graders from Merrick Avenue Middle School received a certificate acknowledging their transition out of middle school and into high school.

Photos courtesy of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District