CHARLEMONT — Unlike many schools in Massachusetts, the Academy at Charlemont held its graduation in person on Saturday, albeit with allowances for social distancing.
On the school’s field, family members and friends of the 12 students being honored sat in clusters spaced at least 10 feet from one another, all of them wearing masks.
Much farther away, at the front of the field, Associate Head of School Nora Bates Zale delivered a speech that touched on the extraordinary circumstances of her students’ last semester of high school, and some of the non-academic lessons she hopes they will bring with them into the rest of the world.
She then called each student one at a time to collect their diplomas, and gave each one a very wide berth to walk the stage.
Zale commended her students for being “models of exemplary leadership and stoicism during these last few challenging months.”
But she still acknowledged their disappointment of not being at school, in person, for their final months of high school, and at missing out on a traditional graduation.
“Truth is, we are lucky to be able to do even this, all things considered,” she said. “And that emanating love from your broader community is here. It is that strong that it can be felt across the miles between us all.”
Zale, who is herself an Academy at Charlemont alumna, noted how “this tiny, warm place that insists on civility and respect” teaches its students to accept differences of opinion.
“There was no flying under the radar, putting your head down and sliding through unnoticed, or only talking to people you really like,” she said. “You have had to bring energy, enthusiasm, effort, respect, tolerance and celebration, no matter what else you had going on in your lives. I can’t tell you how invaluable that skill has been for me in my adult life, over and over again.
“Your high school years have occurred at a remarkable time in our nation’s history,” Zale continued. “Together you have reckoned with so much unfolding in the world around you. You will need each other to remind yourselves of what it took to make it through these years, to imagine impending adulthood together.”
Solomon James Shaw Chase; David Amaya Chávez; Claire Rose Grunberg; Nicholas Edward Hallenbeck (This student may or may not be earning his diploma, but is invited to participate in the ceremony); Aislyn E. Jewett; Lane Gwyer Moore; Reilly John Osborne; Talos Amadeus Prophet; Kathleen Yi Rong Strachota; Rory Noah Rosenfeld Sweeting; Katarina Michaela Tobits. Post-Graduate: Ethan Scott Brossard.
Academic Awards: 7th grade — Mayzie Whitaker; 8th grade — Lachlan DeAtley; 9th grade — Rachel Friedman; 10th grade — Juliet Corwin; 11th grade — Cristy Kasbo; 12th grade —Lane Moore.
Kerlin Conyngham Fine Arts Award for Work in Performance: Solly Chase and Katie Tobits.
Kerlin Conyngham Fine Arts Award for Work in Visual Arts: Ethan Brossard.
Outstanding Lower School Athletes: Paloma Hsiao-Shelton, Ole Brenizer.
Outstanding Upper School Athletes: Ruby Chase, Will Draxler.
Ellen MacLeish Zale Community Service Award: Cristy Kasbo, Ruby Chase.
Jane Grant Honor Council Award: Eli Catanzaro.
Robert Jaros Citizenship Award: Solly Chase.
Will Sparks Award: Sabine Mauri, John Schatz.