TURNERS FALLS — Though their senior year was disrupted by the pandemic, seniors at Turners Falls High School got to graduate in person Friday night.
Fifty-one seniors were celebrated in a ceremony held in the school gymnasium. Each graduating student entered the gym and posed for a photo under an archway, then put their mask back on for the majority of the ceremony.
“We must not wallow in the past,” said Class President Catherine Reynolds. “Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that nothing is guaranteed, and the world changes in the blink of an eye.”
Appropriately, her address to her classmates mostly did not wallow in the past. Reynolds spoke fondly of her classmates, who she described as “loud, spirited and vocal in our opinions.”
“Our class contains artists, musicians, dancers, quite a few comedians, athletes and even some state champions,” Reynolds said. “Because of the perseverance of our class and the many talents we hold as a group, we have accomplished major successes.”
Principal Joanne Menard similarly highlighted the graduating class’ boisterous personality.
But Menard also noted that the students in that grade were the first ones to approach her when she started as principal two years ago.
In their proactive efforts, she said, members of the class helped the school to organize events the students wanted and made the school more inviting for everyone.
She remembered how the class organized a red carpet for the first day of school, painted their parking lot spaces, decorated the hallways and played a fiercely competitive game of musical chairs with the teachers.
“All of these unique experiences I hope you look back on fondly. I know I would,” Menard said.
“And your senior prank? I haven’t gotten down to the culprits who shrink-wrapped (Assistant Principal Tom Gaffigan’s) and my cars together,” she said. “And I was the lucky recipient of a toilet plunger in multiple places in my car.”
She also left the class with some advice.
“Continue on your unique journey to change your part of the world wherever you might go. Respect and celebrate the differences you see along the way. Find your voice, but make sure to listen, too. Really listen to someone else’s point of view, and try to understand it. Remember to be kind. Try to always live to the best of your ability with an open heart and open mind. In your travels, always remember that your community here at Turners truly loves you.”
For more graduation coverage, including graduates’ names, award winners and speeches, see the Recorder’s June 30 special section commemorating the Class of 2021.
Reach Max Marcus at mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.