SHS Grad Day
Published on June 9th, 2004
STONEHAM, MA - Under the biggest and brightest blue sky of a mostly underachieving spring, the 179 departing members of the Stoneham High School Class of 2004 held their graduation ceremony last Friday night.
Led by Junior class Marshalls Jenna Gondelman and Christopher Sacco, the blue and white gown-bedecked graduates walked across the football field to their assigned seats, amid a backdrop of painted rocks, supportive friends and family, and a proud staff that helped them get to their "cap and gown moment."
Pomp and Circumstance played -- as performed by Edmund Grammer and the SHS Concert Band -- in the background as each class member shuffled to their seats, with loving hoots and claps cheering them each and every step.
The students then sat down, giving many in the audience the chance to see the spray-painted designs many had placed at the top of their caps -- giving their own unique distinction to many members of the class.
The Spartan chorale opened with a Patriotic rendition of the "Star-Spangled Banner"
Class of 2004 President Jason Feldman gave the opening Speech of Welcome
"When I sat down to right down this speech, it was a lot harder to write it than you think," said Feldman. "To encapsulate all those different highlights into once piece. I'm not going to flood the piece with all kinds of famous quotes from politicians and philosophers...I want every word to come from the heart."
"Who can ever forget September of 2000, when we were said to be the worst class ever to come through the doors of 149 Franklin Street?," added Feldman. "As I look at you all today, there is no way possible I can see what those teachers were talking about. The Class of 2004 was filled with wonderful students, talented athletes, fantastic performers and - most importantly - great friends who have all created their own important special niche at SHS."
Feldman then compared the SHS graduating class to both the 'Saved by the Bell' graduating class at Bayside High School, and also to the experiences and situations that Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler and Ross lived through on Friends.
The Spartan Chorale then performed 'Graduation Day' and graduating chorale member Lauren Murphy sang May It Be.
Class Valedictorian, Drama Club member and Harvard University-bound Dan Pecci then followed with the Honors Address, a speech that announced "the hour is soon approaching, when we will toss our caps in the air, joyful that we have achieved a most difficult goal: earning a high school diploma."
"Enjoy the moment, Trace over your best friend's smile with your eyes, relish in the sweet aroma or otherworldly stench of your neighbor, but in addition to solidifying memories, be aware that our world requires us to become adults more quickly than generations of the past"
Pecci continued on to speak of a fearful new world filled with uncertainty and danger, where "one small person from Stoneham could change a world of terror into a world of peace."
"Surely men have dreamed of world peace in the past, but always thought it impossible," said Pecci. "Each of us has the capacity to sustain a pacifist belief system."
"Let us bring love, let us be the ones to bring peace to our world," said Pecci in closing the simple underlying message in an entertaining and thoughtful speech.
Stoneham High faculty members Mike Kennedy, Paula Sampson and Michael Schiazza presented the MacDonald Medals to students who are "superior in scholarship, of high moral character and be both an active and influential member of the school."
Scott DeAmicis, Marissa Forman and Caitlin Sullivan all accepted the MacDonald Medals with both grace and modesty.
Matthew Reopell then performed "You Raise Me Up", followed by Superintendent Joseph Connelly and Assistant Superintendent Joe Casey presenting each of the SHS Scholarship winners.
Stoneham HighVice-President Kevin Quigley then presented the Class of 2004 gift -- a check to purchase video equipment for classes to come -- to Cheryl Walsh, Chairperson of the School Committee.
"When I look out into the audience, I see a tremendous amount of support from family and friends, support given to you from the time you were a little baby," said Walsh. "Support that has allowed you to grow, make mistakes, learn, and support that has made you who you are today."
Stoneham High Principal Thomas F. Ryan then awarded the William M. Nadeau and Wendell W. Horton Memorial Awards to two members of the Stoneham High Class: Claire Connelly and Matthew Reopell. School Committee member Marc Grimaldi then handed out 179 diplomas to each member of the Class of 2004.
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