Hats Off to SHS Class of 2010

Graduation was a bittersweet day for many Scarsdale parents as we cast a wistful eye backwards, looked into the future and wondered where all the time had gone in between. Somehow the weather gods were with us again, and provided a sunny, but steamy day to witness the end of our children’s Scarsdale education.

Parents arrived as early as eight am to reserve spots in the bleachers and an overflow crowd turned out, leaving some to stand up on the hill overlooking the show of pomp and circumstance. Accompanied by the sounds of the Scarsdale band, the 376 grads marched onto Dean Field in a sea of maroon. Representatives from the class government took the stage as well as School Board President Barbara Kemp, Superintendant Michael McGill, Principal John Klemme and senior class advisors Bruce Henry and Maria Valentin.

The administration had the ceremony down to a science and miraculously managed to laud the class and confer the degrees in just 90 minutes.

School Board President Barbara Kemp told the group that the day evoked memories of her own graduation when as class valedictorian she gave an address on civil disobedience. It also brought back recollections of her son David’s SHS graduation in 2003. He is now serving in a combat unit in the U.S. Marines in Afghanistan and when she asked him for suggestions for her speech, he advised her to “keep it short.”

She advised the class to “put themselves in someone else’s shoes” and learn to be empathetic and supportive of others. Citing many of the charitable activities the class undertook she mentioned the recent trip to Ghana where SHS students supplied and installed mosquito netting to prevent the spread of malaria, as well as Help for Haiti, Katrina relief and even a drive to collect sneakers and to send shoes to those in need.

Kemp closed by asking the class of 2010 to look out for others, use their imaginations to find out where others are coming from and to help along the way. She congratulated them on a job well done and quoting Sinatra said, “If you can make it here you can make it anywhere.”

Class officers Rachel Kourakos and Jack Balter introduced senior class advisors Bruce Henry and Maria Valentine. The teachers looked back on class activities such as bowling night with 80 in attendance, a dance where only 15 students showed up and more successful events such as the Mets Game, the Blood Drive, the carnivals, Junior Olympics, and the senior high school play. Mr. Henry, a math teacher posed some challenging mathematical problems to the audience and miraculously senior Andy Levine shouted out the answers from the crowd.

Ms. Valentin translated words of wisdom from her native Spanish to English ---saying, “There is no bad that without good comes,” and “ what’s yours no one can take from you.”

Amanda Randone had the treat of delivering the Kenneth Rosenberg award, named for a student who died during his senior year in 1976. The recipient is chosen by the class government and rewards a well-liked, helpful, friendly classmate. This year’s recipient was described as respectful, ambitious, kind, loyal- and winner Jeffrey Hassan looked surprised, slightly abashed but pleased to be named the recipient. With loud cheers and applause from the audience, Hassan went to the podium to accept his award.

Lucy Fink won the hearts of everyone in the audience with her speech on staff appreciation. She chose to speak about Sal and the custodial staff at SHS who work long hours and support the students in so many ways. She shared an endearing story about a late night snack she shared with Sal after a play rehearsal when she munched on all the leftovers from a Board of Education meeting.

Her twin sister Allie Fink introduced class president Stan Rosenberg who quoted Vince Lombardi with the words, “leaders are made, not born.” He congratulated Scarsdale with preparing the class for the future and his classmates for doing the best they could. He urged them not to take their Scarsdale education for granted and to persevere in the face of adversity. Calling the class of 2010 “amazing” he thanked the teachers and the administrators.

In the spirit of the 225th anniversary of the Scarsdale Schools, Principal John Klemme shared thoughts on global interdependence and his recent trip to China. Through the eyes of a Chinese High School student Klemme gained a unique perspective on Scarsdale and our place in the world. He was impressed by the Chinese students’ desire to study in the United States, as the Chinese perceive that the best education in the world is offered here. He stayed with the family of Jerry, a Chinese high school student who had private SAT tutoring six days a week and a private college counselor. It seems that parents the world over are striving to get their child into the right college.

He told the students, “You and Jerry are citizens of the 21st century and of the world and share a mutual understanding of complex issues. “ He urged the class of 2010 to use critical and creative thinking skills, to make a commitment to service and to demonstrate perseverance, caring and respect.

Harking back to 1952’s SHS Principal Nelson, he said, the essence of understanding is rooted in a liberal education. He left the class with the words, “be well, be a force of connection and be proud.”

With that Superintendant McGill, rose to the podium wearing a large straw hat and certified the degrees. He sent the group on their way telling them to “Go forth and serve the common good.”