Rites of Passage

 P.S. 89

The P.S. 89 ceremony featured speeches from all the graduates, who were asked to use metaphors from their study of the Oregon Trail. Andrew Chow compared fifth grade to “the vast, swift Missouri River…those who swim across may be soaked and tossed around, but they will be ready for anything….” Others compared their last year to “a buffalo stampede,” “a bear that found a large supply of honey after a long journey,” and “swimming across the Pacific Ocean.”

“Pack your wagon carefully,” said their principal, Ronnie Najjar. “Bring your tools, your wisdom, your knowledge, your sense of humor and above all, your respect for differences.”

Alec Benter collects a handshake and diploma from his teacher, Christine Mulligan. Photo by Carl Glassman.

I.S. 89

“You have been changing over these three years. Unfortunately, the world outside changed on Sept. 11,” principal Ellen Foote told the departing students as she lauded them for the adversity they overcame in the wake of the terrorist attacks.

In her graduation speech, Nicole Goodkind summed up the thoughts of many. “I wish I could see into the future to see if everything would turn out all right,” she said.

Nairi Esayan is congratulated by teacher Chi-Man Ng at I.S. 89’s graduation ceremony. Photo by Carl Glassman.

P.S. 150

The 23 kids wowed their parents with demonstrations of the ballroom dancing they learned during their final semester. In her speech to parents, Natasha Appleweiss presented a “top 10” list of why she loved this year, including all the stairs which kept her “blood flowing,” the kids who were “nice, funny and sarcastic,” and most important, “all the dudes who are my friends who I plan on keeping in touch with past college and graduate school.”

At the graduation, first-year teacher Allison Sheniak says good-bye to her tearful fifth graders. Photo by Carl Glassman.

P.S. 234

Following assistant principal Maggie Siena’s short speech on the importance of remembering the ordinary, everyday things in life, principal Anna Switzer bid farewell to the 92 students and to the school, which she leaves after 17 years.

“Make sure that you measure yourselves by kindness, generosity and the spirit you bring to everything,” Switzer said. “Leave things better.”

Each fifth-grade class, including Pat Carney’s, above, performed its own farewell presentation. Photo by Carl Glassman.