Graduation 2016

'The heroes of Cranston on this day': West holds 54th commencement ceremony

By Jen Cowart
Posted 6/15/16

On Saturday afternoon, the skies over the Providence Performing Arts Center cleared just in time for Cranston High School West's big event - the commencement exercises for the 54th graduating class. Philip Lachance led the processional as

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Graduation 2016

'The heroes of Cranston on this day': West holds 54th commencement ceremony

Posted

On Saturday afternoon, the skies over the Providence Performing Arts Center cleared just in time for Cranston High School West’s big event – the commencement exercises for the 54th graduating class.

Philip Lachance led the processional as 365 graduates in red and gray caps and gowns filed into the auditorium. Class president Kimberly Kluglein carried in the banner, which was created for this year’s graduation by Adriana Rose Saccoccio. The banner embodies the spirit of the class of 2016 and will be hung in the school along with banners from past years’ graduation exercises.

Student Council president Aurora Mazza led the salute to the flag and the Cranston West Senior Choir members sang the national anthem.

Principal Thomas A. Barbieri, introduced as the class’ “favorite falcon,” welcomed guests to the event. He asked for a round of applause for the graduates.

“Welcome to another great day at Cranston High School West,” he said.

Barbieri took a moment to acknowledge the honored guests present at the ceremony, including members of the Cranston Public Schools central office and School Committee, Mayor Allan Fung, the Cranston West administrative team, as well as the faculty and staff, and the West Parent Board. He recognized several retiring staff members, as well as Assistant Principal Alex Kanelos, who will be leaving to open the new Hope Highlands Middle School for the fall.

Barbieri introduced Fung, who also requested a round of applause, not only for the students, but also for their parents, family, and friends. He noted that he graduated with both Barbieri and Superintendent of Schools Jeannine Nota-Masse.

“This is your first life lesson as you leave high school behind,” the mayor said. “Sometimes life comes full circle. In high school we didn’t necessarily know what we wanted to do after graduation either, and here we all are each as leaders here in the city of Cranston.”

Fung said he had been heavily influenced by boxer Muhammad Ali, who recently passed away.

“Ali famously said that, ‘Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact, it’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration, it’s a dare. Impossible is potential, impossible is temporary, impossible is nothing,’” Fung said. “I sit here as living proof that everything you want in life is possible, and that you can’t let the word ‘impossible’ ever stop you from pursuing your dreams. A decade ago, I chased ‘the impossible’ when I first ran for mayor of our great city. There had never been elected a person of color at the chief executive level in our city or any other major city in Rhode Island. So-called political wonks whispered incessantly that the city’s demographics would make victory impossible for me. Well, here I am today, proudly serving as your mayor.”

Fung congratulated the students again and wished them well in their future endeavors.

“I know that you will accomplish much in life. You have been armed with all the necessary tools and support, especially from your loving parents and family behind you today, to succeed,” he said.

Janice Ruggieri brought greetings from the School Committee, congratulating the students on their big day.

“A few years back, one of our fabulous teachers, Mr. Edd Spidell, gave a speech to our students as the class advisor. He told the students to ‘look up,’ and that has stuck with me,” she said. “We are all slaves to our devices these days. It isn’t real until we Instagram it, tweet it, Snapchat it, or if you are a mom like me, put it on Facebook and tag it and share it. Attend any event and all you see are people holding up their phones to record the event, but are they really present? Are they looking up?”

Ruggieri encouraged the students to “look up,” dream big, and make each day count.

Nota-Masse welcomed the audience, and noted that it was her first graduation as superintendent. She said as a former English teacher, she considered the students’ educational journeys as being similar to a great novel. She encouraged the students to think about their stories as they get ready to leave their high school years behind and begin their next chapters, and to identify their story’s hero.

“A hero or heroine, is a person or main character of a literary work who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through impressive feats of ingenuity, bravery, or strength, often sacrificing his or own personal concerns for some greater good,” she said. “To me, you are the heroes of Cranston on this day. I wish you all good luck, many joys, and exciting continuations of your stories.”

The Cranston High School West Concert Choir performed two selections, “We Can Be Kind” and “Time to Fly,” with senior Katherine Stein accompanying them on piano for the first selection.

Kim Kluglein, president of the class of 2016, followed the performance.

“Everyone in this room right now has the potential to change the world some day, and we are going to do this by making the effort to be the best people we can be,” she said.

Barbieri recognized salutatorian Zachary Lachance and valedictorian Sarah Alam, presenting them each with a commemorative medal.

Alam took to the podium, introducing herself along with her “better known half” – her floral printed backpack.

“I bought this backpack the summer before freshman year, so yes, I am really a senior with a freshman backpack. When I first bought this backpack, frankly, I hated it. The colors and floral print seemed too childish for high school,” Alam said. “Yet, over the years this backpack has come to mean more to me than I ever thought it would. It has become an integral part of my life journey. As we all march on in this procession we call life, in many ways, we each carry backpacks with us both tangibly and mentally. These vessels allow us to store not only important possessions but also memories that would otherwise fade with time.”

She continued: “There will be times when our backpacks may feel too heavy to bear. Our baggage may weigh us down both mentally and physically. My advice is, do not let it. Confront your struggles and let adversity empower you rather than hold you back from your potential. Push yourself beyond your limits, for you will be amazed at what you are capable of accomplishing.”

Following Alam’s address, Barbieri announced the designee for the Ideal Cranstonian Award.

“Each year, our faculty selects a student who best embodies the characteristics of what we feel is an ideal student. The Ideal Cranstonian Award is considered one of the most prestigious honors a student can receive in recognition of their achievements and contributions to Cranston High School West,” he said. “The individual receiving the award exemplifies what it means to be a ‘true’ Falcon. This student always exhibits school pride, always serves the community, and always acts as a role model for others by supporting the school creed with dedication and integrity.”

Barbieri announced Kimberly Kluglein as this year’s Ideal Cranstonian, citing her academic strengths, athletic abilities, and leadership qualities, as well as her participation in school events, sports and activities. Kluglein has set an example for others in her community service endeavors, helping with Habitat for Humanity, Hunger Awareness, and the “Running for Remission” student-run 5K road race.

“One of her history teachers stats that she works tirelessly to make Cranston West a better place for herself, her classmates, and future generations to come,” Barbieri said.

As Barbieri prepared for the students to receive their red roses and diplomas, he reminded them of their early days at West and congratulated them on their collective successes as the first class he has seen all the way through high school.

In a moving moment, Ziad and Ahnise Kassab, brothers of Eva Kassab, received her high school diploma on her behalf. Eva was a senior classmate who passed away earlier this spring, leaving a hole in the hearts of her close-knit senior class and the entire Cranston West community.

Barbieri then acknowledged those who were joining the military after graduation, and the students gave their peers a standing ovation. He shared other graduation statistics with the audience.

“This year we have 92 percent of our graduates attending post-secondary schools or joining the military,” he said. “Collectively they have accepted nearly $7 million in first-year scholarship money and received 750 college acceptances, attending 70 different post-secondary institutions nationwide. You have set the bar high for future classes and have truly been an amazing class. I can honestly say that in 26 years in education, you are the best class I have ever had.” 

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