The New England Laborers'/Cranston Public Schools Construction Career Academy graduating class of 2009 took to the stage at Hope Highlands Elementary School June 11 for their own commencement exercises.

For some, graduation was only a dream until they found their place and their love of learning at the Charter School. The school offers a different style of education through hands on experiences to a general focus on the world of work. The ceremony was mixed with celebration, laughter and fond farewells.

Not only did the class say goodbye to their beloved teachers and staff members at the school, but also to one staff member in particular who is retiring this year – Jackie FitzGerald, who has taught at the school for the past five years. She had spent 30 years in the field of education.

The school also bid a fond farewell to outgoing Superintendent of Schools Richard Scherza; he was awarded with a specially designed “Oscar” statue, which he said he will always treasure from his years spent in the Cranston School System. The man behind the Charter School initiative, Armand Sabitoni of the New England Laborers, awarded Scherza with the “Oscar.”

At graduation, hundreds of family members and friends attended the graduation ceremony of the 2009 senior class. The class consisted of 29 students who may not have graduated any high school in a traditional setting, yet at the career academy they excelled and have set goals and are realizing their dream.

One hundred percent of the 2009 graduating students are either entering the New England Laborers’ Construction Career Academy in July, attending college in the fall or have already gained employment. For the graduating class, the Charter School did not just provide them with a solid education and sound work ethics, but also set a path for them to follow beginning the day after graduation. They had goals and they had plans.

“I am extremely proud of this graduating class because it overcame additional academic challenges mandated by the Rhode Island Department of Education in order to graduate,” said Dr. Michael J. Silvia, executive director at the school. “They were also challenged by the Academy's expectations regarding their performance in a school to career curriculum. I am proud of each and every one of them. I think of them as my own kids and I know they will carry on in life with much success.”

Students listened to the evening's guest speakers, who included Jay Sabitoni, Armand Sabitoni of the New England Laborers, Mayor Allan Fung, Scherza, incoming Superintendent of Schools Peter Nero and Chairman of the Cranston School Committee and Chairman of the school Board of Directors Michael Traficante. Also speaking was School Committeewoman Paula McFarland, who also sits on the board of directors at the charter school.

The keynote speaker was Sandra Powell, director of the Department of Labor and Training for the state of Rhode Island. She recounted the story of a woman who many years ago worked in factories and cleaning for a living. The woman dropped out of high school but did get her GED. She went on to work for the Department of Employment Security. That woman was Powell’s own mother, who now directs the same department her mother worked in, although the department is now under a different name.

Powell’s message to the students was to work hard and enjoy the dignity of the work.

“Seek out role models,” said Powell. “Find those people and pay attention and as you watch them, repeat the good things they do in your own life. When you find work you love to do, you will find out then what matters most in your life.”

When senior class speaker and class valedictorian Carl Croft came to the podium, he received a loud welcome from his classmates and guests in the audience. Croft had already received the Catherine Ciarlo Award for Excellence and is a robotics enthusiast. Just this past year, Croft took part in a First Discovery Program at Brown University as he worked on hovercraft technology.

“Live your lives with respect for others and yourself,” said Croft to his classmates. “Hate less and love more often.”

Graduating from the New England Laborers'/Cranston Public Schools Construction Career Academy were: Michael Baccaire, Mathew Brown, Brian Champagne, Carl Croft, Matthew Crosby, Andrew Dias, Anthony Ford, Nicholas Ford, Elaine French, John Greene, Zachary Jackson, Joseph Jones, Sean Kent, Peter Lawrence, Antone Lewis, Louis Marocco, Eric Justin Micke, Michael Moore, Arsenio Muniz, Anna Murphy, Wendy Lee Olson, Franco Jarrod O’Neill, Mario Perez, Roderick Saez, Scott Santos, Justin Souza, Italia Stanley, Amanda Lee Taylor and Zachary Wilson.

“I ask that when you leave this school tonight,” said Silvia as he addressed the graduating class at the closing of the ceremony, “please leave with peace and non-violence in your heart and go out and use your skills to change the world and make it a better world for all of us to live in.”