Last Friday, the Class of 2017 walked the halls for the final time as current students of Old Rochester Regional High School for their farewell assembly. In the presence of the entire high school, the seniors had one last look back on the past four years before they graduated. The concert band played “Pomp and Circumstance,” the classic graduation march, as the class filed into the gymnasium while the underclassmen gave them a standing ovation.
“Today is when we seniors should look at the people around us … these are the ones who helped shape us into who we are today,” Class President Brooke Santos stated of the ceremony during her opening speech. Her words perfectly summarized the assembly, as it focused on celebrating the many aspects of the senior class that had not been touched upon the previous night during the senior class awards ceremony.
This reminiscing began as Class Vice President Jacob Cafarella gave the traditional speech chronicling the highlights of the graduating class’ time at the high school. Included in this recap were the achievements of winning the homecoming skit back to back, and the second annual Powderpuff game between Wareham High School and ORRHS.
Their sophomore year, the boys’ basketball team took home the state championship and the girls’ hurdle squad placed seventh in the nation. Overall, the members of the senior class helped bring home 42 SCC titles and three state championships during their four years.
The first two of many musical performances followed Cafarella’s speech, as Aaron Norcross played “Soulshine” on the guitar and Joe Gauvin’s band “Retro Roots” gave a performance of “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Next, Coleen Garcia and Tessa Camboia, two active members of the American Field Service club at the high school, recognized the two exchange students who joined the ranks at ORR this past year. Garam Darwish from Israel sat amongst the seniors as she was set to graduate with them while Vicente Gonzalez from Mexico was seated with his fellow juniors. The two exchange students were given presents on behalf of the AFS club before a slideshow of the club’s activities this year were shown, including a cross-country trip to California.
“It’s been an experience of a lifetime,” Darwish said.
The mixed chorus took the stage next with an a capella version of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” with solos by juniors Caroline Regis and Julia Melloni, sophomores Kelly Bruce and Lilah Gendreau, and freshman Sarah Melloni. The gymnasium erupted into cheers as Sports Director Bill Tilden performed the “spooky speech” at the ending of the song.
Gabe Noble-Shriver, the president of the junior class, then gave a speech based on the “exchanging of power” from the seniors to the juniors.
“Each and every person who has graduated from ORR … has strived to be the best they can be,” Noble-Shriver said. “We will draw upon the skills we have observed and learned from your senior year.”
Between the music, the senior class government took the time to thank their staff advisors, English teachers Megan Hall and Michael Beson, and gifted the two with bouquets. They also announced that the Class of 2017’s gift to the high school would be the donation of new picnic benches for the courtyard. Members of the senior class are allowed to eat outside in this area (when the New England weather permits it), and more tables would allow for more students in the allowed group to enjoy the privilege.
The final event of the assembly was the traditional “senior slideshow,” although much of this year’s was in video format. The video looked back on the many activities the class did this past year, from the Ned’s Point picnic in September and homecoming in October to Mr. ORR and prom. The recap of their final year closed off the seniors’ farewell assembly in an emotional yet hopeful way as their sights turned toward what lies ahead in their future.
The seniors graduated on Saturday, June 3 at noon. Valedictorian Hannah Guard, quoting Dr. Suess, told the graduates, “With your head full of brains and shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down any not-so-good street.”
Best wishes to the graduating Class of 2017, and good luck in all of your future endeavors.
By Jo Caynon
