They had already enjoyed an end-of-year class party earlier in the week, but there was one more event to go before they closed the book on their Middle School experience. Looking very mature in their Game Day Dress, Ravenscroft’s eighth-graders celebrated the milestone in an afternoon ceremony on Wednesday, June 5, in the A.E Finley Activity Center’s Main Arena. Family and friends were on hand to wish them well.

In the invocation, longtime teacher Jimmy Cox asked for three things each student needs to succeed:

A strong backbone to encounter adversity with courage,
A wishbone for the ability to pursue their dreams
And a funny bone, because the world needs more laughter.

Head of Middle School Denise Colpitts welcomed family and friends to the ceremony and shared a list of this class’s many accomplishments: “learning to live” the framework of Lead From Here, embracing — through experiences such as the Ravens in Action project — what it means to change your world, and becoming more confident and secure in their ongoing journey of identity. She also looked to what lies ahead for them, including working with older students in Upper School and becoming student leaders in that division.

In closing, she asked them to do three things: to slow down and take time to reflect on who they are and what they believe, embrace empathy and make their time in the Upper School count.

Eighth-grade dean Sarah Baker then shared a narrated slideshow of memories from this year. Moments captured in photos and video included advisory groups bonding, friendly competitions, service learning projects, dressing up for special theme days and even small moments such as eating lunch together. Baker commended the students for being both team players and individuals with a strong sense of personal values. She called them “genuinely curious” and applauded how they’d made the most of opportunities to hone their Lead From Here competencies.

Head of School Doreen Kelly and Head of Upper School Peter Bogue joined Colpitts in presenting certificates to all of the eighth-graders. Students then joined their families for a reception.

Congratulations and best wishes to these students!

See photos from the eighth grade closing ceremony here.