Bloomfield Jr/Sr High School graduates 41
Bloomfield seniors turned their tassels the evening of Friday, May 25. The ceremony was held at 7 p.m. in the gymnasium and featured performances by the Symphonic Band, a presentation of colors during the national anthem by the NJROTC Color Guard and an invocation by Grace Ganster. Salutatorian Wyatt Hasler talked to his graduating class about the future; Valedictorian Kelsey Moody spoke to her class and the audience about the importance of leadership and the vital role that passionate teachers played in helping her and her classmates to eventually walk across the stage. Moody then had the honor of introducing Most Memorable Teacher, Sarah Melamed. "Forgive me, parents, because I'm going to encourage your kids to be defiant," said Melamed. Although the term defiance has developed a mostly negative connotation, Melamed stressed that our country was built on defiance, that the most beloved figures in our history were brave enough to defy unfairness and tyranny. She spoke about a teacher in high school that she defied, due to what she considered unfair rules about food and drinks in her classroom that the teacher herself did not follow--later, she discovered her teacher ate in her classroom because she sacrificed her own lunch period every day to help students. "That's when I realized I was defiant, just to be defiant," said Melamed. She asked graduating students to be aware of their motivations, but nonetheless to be defiant and do the right thing when the situation calls on them. "Take that energy you have, that defiance, and use it to do something great in the world," she said. The diplomas were presented by Superintendent Jeff Gibboney, High School Principal David Dean and Assistant Principal Stella Royal. After the last student from the last row returned to her seat, Moody once more approached the podium and permitted herself and her classmates to turn their tassels. It was a smaller graduating class than usual, said Gibboney. However, it was a strong class. Of the 41 students who graduated, 11 students will leave for college with nearly 30 college credits under their belts. "They're similar in being part of the Cardinal family, but everyone in this class is so unique," said Gibboney. "They've had their triumphs and their tribulations, but they came out on top like they were bound to do."