GRADUATION2024
Conant graduates begin new journey
By ASHLEY SAARI MonadnockLedger-Transcript
Atotalof83ConantOrioles walkedthegraduationstageinthe PrattAuditoriumJune7toreceive theirdiplomasandbegintheirlives intheadultworld.
“We’veallaccomplishedoneofthe majormilestonesinourlives--high schoolgraduation.Thisisamajor stepinthejourneyofeachofour lives,andshouldberecognizedits significance,”saidValedictorian TimothyMacKay.“We’veallworked hardforthisday,andourworkdid notgotowaste.However,ourgraduationisnotanendgoal,butabeginningofalargerjourneyoflife,where doorsofopportunityareopentoall ofus.”
MacKayspokeofthechallenges facedandthewillpowerneededfor hisclassmatestoentertheirhigh
schoolcareersamidthechallengesof COVID,sayingthatgraduationisalreadyachallenge,withouttheadditionalstumblingblocksofremote learning.
But,hesaid,itisthoseexperiences thatshapedwhotheyaretoday.
“Eachobstaclewe’veovercome overthepast18yearsorsohas shapedusintotheindividualsweare
today,”MacKaysaid.Whetheritwas learningtocookandbakewithout startingfires,orlearningthatthemitochondriaisthepowerhouseofthe cell,MacKaysaidtheknowledge giventothembyConantwillcarry themforward.Andheencouraged hisclassnottolettheirgraduationbe theendoftheireducation,inwhateverformthattook.
“OnetipIwouldleavemyfellow graduatesistokeeplearning, whetheryoucontinueyoureducationintocollege,takeupatrade,go intoanewcareer,letuscarrywithus thelessonswelearned,thefriendshipswe’veforgedandthememorieswe’vecreated,”MacKaysaid.
ClassPresidentHaileyDuboissaid theclasshadarockystarttotheir highschoolcareer,losingtheir eighth-gradegraduationeventsto COVID,andfacedthosechallenges together.
“Wehaveshownitdoesn’tmatter whatishappeninginourlivesand
STAFF PHOTO BY ASHLEY SAARI
Class President Hailey Dubois gives the farewell speech to her class.
Conant High School Class of 2024
ThefollowingstudentsaremembersoftheConantHighSchool Classof2024:
DustinJamesAdams,Irelynd TenaAuCoin,MadisonGrace Bellofatto,MadelynAvaBergeron, OliviaJadeBlanchette,KiriAna CherylArohaBroussard,Travis MarkBurrell,EllieJuneCassidy, JonathanRolandPingWuCiglar, KadenJohnColby,ThomasDaniel Cotzin,AvaElizabethCruz, BronsonHiramCutter,Elizabeth AnneDevens,JoshuaRoccoDiPasquale,JonathanHosmer Driscoll,HaileyElizabethDubois, SeanClaytonFarmerandRyan KimberlyFavart.
Also,OdinQuinnGauthier,Sam LeeGerrard,RileyBelleGoddard, GeorginaMarieHamblen,Haley DianeHannon,BellaEllieHart, JonathanHartnett,Thomas MatthewHarvey,AubrieRosana Hendrickson,GriffinClark Hofmeister,BillyHolmanHorne, MaxLynneaHorton,DylanReese Huard,MikaylaPrudence Johnson,MichaelRyanJohnson andGraecenDeborahKirby
Also,AmarahJeanLapinsky,NatalieRaeLambert,PatriciaMarie Laura,IsabelCelesteLazo,Lane
PatrickLeClair,GraceLillianLewis, MylieAnnLoughlin,ZachTravis Lovett,AmrielOliviaLucier,TimothyJosephMacKay,LiamKorben Mathews,AlexisNancyMayer, LiamPaulMcNeill,Nicholas
CromwellMedders,Dante AlexanderMelodino,DiegoEduardoMenjivar,MeganLynnMiller andMatthewThomasMuilenberg. Also,AidenRobertNault,Bryan ManuelNelson,MeganAnn Newton,AvaReeseNordahl,Noah JosephOlivo,JadeKealyPatterson,MaiceeEstellePeard,Maya LynnPressman,AbigailSophia Quill,BenjaminJoseRamirez, AustenAlbertRichard,JacobRyan Rockhill,D'metriAlexanderRodriguez,KimberlyMoiheRomba, HaydenJanRowland,Caleb MatthewNoahSalter,EliWalter Sawyer,BrinleyAnnSeppala,Paige JocelynSmith,LanceAragonSpruill andKamrenSophanSras. Also,CalebJamesTremblay, KayleeRachelTruong,Emmett RyanTwombly,JocelynLaneVaccaro,AryannahAlexandraVayens, AustinMichaelWagner,Nobley FionaYvonneWalker,Katharine NicoleWeidnerandEllaMaeWeinhold.
STAFF PHOTO BY ASHLEY SAARI
Principal David Dustin presents a diploma to Ella Weinhold.
Seniors honored during awards night
By ASHLEY SAARI MonadnockLedger-Transcript
Afterayearspentinonline learningthroughVLAX,Conant valedictorianTimothyMacKayreturnedtoin-personlearningatConantasasophomore,andoneofthe firstthingshedidwasjointhe school’sroboticsteam.
MacKay,18,ofRindge,hasalove forscience,technology,engineering andmath(STEM)courses,soit seemedanaturalfitforhim,hesaid, butatthetime,theclubwasnot drawinginmanystudents.MacKay wasonlyoneoftwostudentsonthe team,butoverhishighschoolcareer, theteamwasrebuilt,inpartdueto therecruitingeffortsofMacKay.
“WhenIjoined,Ihadnoideawhat Iwasgoingtodo,butafterjoining,it hasbecomesomethingthatIlikea lot,andbecameapassionofmine.I
startedtothinkthisiswhatI’mgoing todoafterhighschool,”MacKay said.
Inthefall,MacKaywillbecarrying thatloveofroboticstohischosen school,WorcesterPolytechnic, whereheplanstodouble-majorin roboticengineeringandmechanical engineering.Hesaidit’shisdreamto buildthings.
“Maybe,I’llbebuildingmoresustainablesolutionstotheproblems wehavetoday,”hesaid.
Inadditiontotheroboticsteam, MacKayisalsoamemberofthe school’sInteractClub,wherehehas doneabout70hoursofvolunteer work.Heisthepresidentofthe school’sNationalHonorSociety,and isamemberoftheConantGame Crew,whichvolunteersatsports games,withMacKayspecifically helpingtorunthelivestreamforthe school’sbasketballgames.Heis alsoamemberoftheLinkCrew, whichhelpstomentorincoming freshmen.
Duringthesummers,heworksat Kimball’sinJaffrey,whichheintendstodothissummerbefore leavingforcollege.
Irelynd Aucoin is salutatorian
Three-sportathleteIrelyndAucoinofRindgeisthisyear’ssalutatorianatConantMiddleHighSchool.
AlifelongresidentofRindge,Aucoinhasplayedsoftball,basketball andsoccerforallfouryearsofher highschoolcareer,withsoccerbeing hermainsport,asastarterforall fouryearsandteamcaptainfortwo.
AucoinisalsoamemberoftheNationalHonorSociety,theInteract ClubandtheStudentCouncil. Duringthesummer,shevolunteers atbasketballclinics,teachingskills tograde-schoolchildren,andvolunteersforWreathsAcrossAmerica, whichmakesandlayswreathson veterans’graves.
Duringherhighschoolcareer,she hasbeenontwointernationalser-
vicetrips,oneamissiontripto Guatemala,wheresheassistedinthe constructionofanorphanage,and
STAFF PHOTO BY ASHLEY SAARI
Valedictorian Timothy MacKay.
flectedonmemoriesofherown graduationfromhighschoolin Manchester,andthelifelongimpact ofeducatorsinherlife,including herschoolthebanddirector.
“Nevermissanopportunityto thankthepeoplewhohaveinfluencedandhelpedyouinyourlife,” Martinsaid.“Alltheseyearsin school,youhaveallhadreport cards,tellingyouhowyou’vedone. Butwhatallifyoudowithourlives fromthispointon that’sourre-
portcard.AndIknowweareallin goodhandsasyoumoveintothe nextstageofyourlives.Youwill changetheworldwiththedecisions youmake.”
SalutatorianandClassPresident AmeliaSmith,anHonorsgraduate, amemberoftheNationalHonorSociety,anda NewHampshire scholar,whowillbeattendingDartmouthCollege, encouragedher classmatesto“gooutandtrulylive yourlives.”
“We80yearstobeadults,and
only18yearstobekids,”Smithsaid. “Thispastyear,thingsgotalotmore seriousforus,aswehadtomakebig decisions.Iwanttoremindallof youtoalsohaveagreattime.”
ValedictorianandClassSecretaryEmmaSchaumloffel, an Honorsgraduate,amemberofthe NationalHonorSociety,andNew Hampshirescholar,whowillattend theWentworthInstituteofTechnology, thankedthemainte-
ourschool.”
Reflectingontheyearsofhard workittooktobecomeValedictorian,Schaumloffelquotedmusician SnoopDogg:“Iwanttothankme, forneverquitting.”
ClassAdviserJeremyTaylorencouragedgraduatesto“embracethe new”throughouttheirlives.
“Youhavereachedtheedgesof youknowledge now.Challenge thoseedgesasyoumoveforward,” Asyouexpandyou knowledge,yourcallingwillcome.”
STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS
A Mascenic senior hugs a loved one during graduation.
STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS
Angelina McCabe gives the Class of 2024 welcome address.
MASCENIC
GRADUATE ‘GARDENS’
Class of 2024 urged to remember lessons from ‘Frog and Toad’
By ASHLEY SAARI MonadnockLedger-Transcript
UnderacloudyskyJune8, ConValRegionalHigh Schoolvaledictorian
NathanKloneltookhis classbacktogradeschool,reading hisclassandtheirassembledguests astoryfromArnoldLobel’sclassic children’sbooks,“FrogandToad.”
Specifically,Klonelread“The Garden,”fromthe“FrogandToad Together”collection.
“WhenIstartedwritingthis speech,Iwentthroughmanydrafts, strugglingtofindsomethingthat feltlikeme.Ifeltpressuretosay somethingprofound,yetIcouldn’t thinkofasinglethingmeaningful enoughforthismoment,”Klonel said.“ButifI’velearnedanything overthepastfouryearsofclasses, clubs,workandsports,it’sthatseriousthingscanbenefitfroma touchofunseriousness.”
Inthetale,FroggiftsToadsome seeds,afterToadadmiresFrog’s garden,lettinghimknowwithsome hardwork,he,too,canenjoya garden.Toadbeginshisgardening adventurebytryingtoberatehis seedsintogrowth,butaftersome guidancefromFrog,insteadtries readingstories,singingandreciting poetryuntiltheysprout.
“Thirteenyearsago,withthehelp
ofparents,teachersandfriends,we eachplantedourgardens.Walking intothefirstdayofkindergarten, webeganthehardworkofcoaxing themtogrow,”Klonelsaid.“Today, aswelookaround,weseethebeautifulgardenwehavecultivated, eachuniqueandflourishing.Aswe embarkonnewadventures,maybe wecancarrythelessonsofFrogand Toadwithus.Bepatient,bepersistent,andmostofall,takejoyinthe
process.Here’stoallthefuturegardenswewillgrow.”
PrincipalHeatherMcKillopalso usedapropinherfarewellspeech totheclass–acommemorative “ConVal2024”pillowthatshepurchasedatacraftfairintheclass’ sophomoreyear,herfirstyearas principal,withthenamesofthe prospectivegraduatesstitchedon theback.Shesaidsheinitiallyhesitatedtopurchaseit,becauseitcom-
memoratedaspecificclass,butthen saidsherealizedthesignificanceof thisclass.
“Irealizedthesharedexperience andthejourneywewereaboutto undertaketogether.Thispillow, withourgraduatingclass’snames, allofthem,stitchedonthebackof it,hasbeenaconstantreminderof alltheindividualsandtheincredibleresiliencyofthisclass,”
Ryann Carol Shippee
ConVal Regional High School
“Above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who do not believe in magic will never find it.”
-Roald
Dahl
Congratulations, Ryann! We know you will find the magic in whatever you choose!
So much love from Mom, Dad, Evan, Grace & Maddy
Our caps are off to the teachers!
For all your hard work throughout the years to ensure a successful graduation for so many students. Thank you from the
STAFF PHOTO BY ASHLEY SAARI
Valedictorian Nathan Klonel recites the “Frog and Toad” tale “The Garden” as part of his graduation speech.
ConVal High School Class of 2024
Thefollowingstudentsgraduatedfrom ConValHighSchoolin2024:
NariyahAcorn,BrookeAdelman,EvanAho, JakeAlonso,IsabelAndres,RileyBatty,Drake Bay,HannahBeisang,LoganBergeron,Briar Bethel,HaydenBickes,JustinBorges,KyaBourgoin,GillianBouthillette,JackBreda,Aiden Brissette,JackBurt,AnthonyCadwallader, AidanCampbell,ConnorCampbell,FaithCaron, EmilyCaseyHughes,RuthCassidy,SeanCattigan,SamuelChamberlin,AddysonCharron, AutumnCharron,RonanClough,Matthew Coburn,HunterContois,KalenaCooperand ChristopherCrowell.
Also,AidaDavis,AidenDemetrion,Jennae DeShane,TimothyDesmarais,Abigail Desrosiers,WilliamDodge,HenryDomingo Theriault,AugustenDreher,MakaelaDrummond,LandenDube,JoshuaEllis,TroyFedison, RoyceFerland,SethFowler,BrodenFrosch, MargaretFry,HunterGochee,ChristianHall, HunterHall,RoenneHanley,JohnHarris,Wyatt Harty,CharlotteHenderson,JaydenHendrickson,JacksonHenley,JessicaHenrikson, MilesHiggins,JenniferHopkins,DelaneyIngalls,JackIngram,LucyJackson,Francisco Jaimes,EstherJanisandSamuelJohnson.
Also,ZacharyKanawah,LibertyKemp,Caleb KleineNorford,NathanKlonel,KailiKozlowski, ElijahLacroix,SophiaLake,AllisonLarson,Aria Laurent,IvanLavoie,HannahLeahigh,Aidan
Learn,FrancisLeBlanc,AbigailLussier,Adeline Mackensen,AlexanderMacKenzie-Hartwell, TashaMacNeil,DavianMarshall,Andrea Mattson,EmeliaMayhew,AidanMcClusky,Eric McGrath,TaylorMcGrath,AeronMcKinnon, AlejandraMorales,EllaMorrisandMackenzie Mullins.
Also,MorganNorby,RyanO'Connor,Beau Olesky,SolomonPage,OwenPalmer,Henry Paradise,WilliamParker,ZacharyPease,Colin Pellettieri,DeseanPenny,ElizabethPetrov, LauraPhillips,KermitPope,GabrielleRamsden, WyattRautiola,CadenRobbins,EliseRobbins, EmmaRodenhiser,AlecRogers,MackenzieRoy, EllenRupp,CohenSanborn,CharlesSavage,Mia Schwab,MakilaSestito,SerafinaSeymour, SkylerShawgo,RosemaryShifflett,Ryann Shippee,ColtonShort,AshlynSlossar,Hunter Slossar,AdysonSpiller,AndrewSt.Cyr,Paytra Stacy,IsabellaStarr,AverySteere,Isabella Stehly,KiaraStephenson,ShaelanStetzer, KaitlynStone,RobertStoneandAnnikaStowell. Also,BrodyThompson,LiasiahTorres, DaniellaTracy,EmmaVanGemert,Madeline VanBlarigan,EmilyVanderpool,SarahWalker, NatashaWarren,JasonWay,ColtonWebb, HunterWheaton,ZackeryWheaton,Griffin Whelan,ChloeWhicker,LucilleWhite,Uilliam Wilmoth,SavannahWilson,EvanWloszczyna, JasmineWoodhouse,JosephYoungandPaige Yusza.
ConVal salutes student excellence
ConValHighSchoolhostedtheannual AwardsandScholarshipNightJune5atConVal HighSchool.Thefollowingstudentsreceived awards:
Salutatorian–ElizabethPetrov.
Salutatorian–EmmaRodenhiser.
Valedictorian–NathanKlonel.
ConValLibraryAward–AbigailDesrosiers, LauraPhillipsandMakilaSestito.
CougarCourageAward–AbigailLussier. FemaleAthleteoftheYear–TashaMacNeil. MaleAthleteoftheYear JackHarris. SportspersonAward–BrodenFrosch. SportspersonAward–EmmaRodenhiser. VolunteeroftheYearAward–KimPage. NHIAAThree-SportAthlete–JakeAlonso, AbigailLussier,JackIngram,NathanKlonel, TashaMacNeilandKalenaCooper.
AchievementBookAwardSeniors–Laura Phillips,RuthCassidyandMargaretFry.
ArtAwardJuniors–JackBurt,BriannaMyers andKyleAustin.
ConVal salutes excellence
ArtandDesignaward--KalynRoss. RochesterInstituteofTechnologyBusinessandLeadership–RomanCadwallader.
RochesterInstituteofTechnologyHumanitiesandSocialSciences–ElizaBull.
RochesterInstituteofTechnology ScienceandMathAward–Suki Zhang.
RochesterInstituteofTechnologyWomeninSTEM–Maya Bennett.
RochesterInstituteofTechnology ComputingAward–JasonBouyounes.
RochesterFrederickDouglassand SusanBAnthony–ZoeyLazzaro. RochesterGeorgeEastmanYoung –KaiReitnauer.
RochesterXeroxAward–Dylan Farrell.
SalemStateUniversity–Riley Pitchard.
SocietyofWomeninEngineering MeritCertificate–ElizabethPetrov. SocietyofWomeninEngineering
MeritCertificate–HaydenBickes. SocietyofWomeninEngineering
MeritCertificate–LucyJackson.
StLawrence–LibbyNadeau.
StMichael'sCollege–GraceM. O’Brien.
StMichael'sCollege–Evan Martus.
St.Anselm's–EllianaHoward.
StetsonUniversity–Brooke Johnson.
SuffolkUniversity–ClaraChristensen.
TulaneUniversity–AbigailRodenhieser.
UniversityofVirginia–Maeve Finn.
WilliamandMary–Isabelle Jobin.
WorcesterPolytechnicInstitute (female)–MerritKotula.
MarineAward:musicMatty Palmer.
MarineAward:music–Gabriel DuPuy.
MarineAward:achievement–SamMoritz.
MarineAward:achievement–IsabelleSchmidt.
MarineAward:athletics–Garret Rousseau.
MarineAward:athletics–Avery Moore.
NationalHonorSociety–Aida Davis,LucyJackson,LauraPhillips, JennaeDeshane,NathanKlonel, EliseRobbins,JackHarris,Sophia Lake,EmmaRodenhiser,Charlotte Henderson, ElizabethPetrovand CharlieSavage.
Big day for small class
Class of 27 students remembers adapting through COVID
By CAMERON CASHMAN MonadnockLedger-Transcript
Wilton-Lyndeborough’sgraduationceremonyJune7wasspecial forthisyear’sgraduatingclass, whoendedtheirmiddleschool journeyatthebeginningofthe COVID-19pandemic,quarantined athome,andthereforemissedout onaformaleighth-gradegraduationceremony.
Theclass’adaptabilityintheface ofuncertaintywasforemoston speakers’mindsduringtheceremony.
“Iwon’tsayit’salwaysbeeneasy –butman,wasitajourney.Ican’t overlookoneofourgreatestchallenges,COVID,”saidTylerGill,
Compassionate Cremation Services of New Hampshire
presidentoftheClassof2024.“I cantellyouwe’reoneofthemostadaptablegroupofstudentsyou’ll evermeet.Imean,wemadeit throughoneoftheworld’scraziest, unknownmomentsandwe’resittingherebeforeyoureadytotake ontheworldandwhateverchallengesitthrowsatus.”
Gillemphasizedtheclass’resilienceinspiteofitsunusually smallsize;WLCisgraduatingonly 27seniorsthisyear,towhichGill commented,“I’msurewe’rethe smallestgraduatingclassmanyof youhaveeverseen.”Forthepast fouryears,theWLCgraduating classhashadmorethan30seniors,
Locally owned and operated, caring for your family with compassion Peace of mind worry free cremations The only green crematorium in New Hampshire
COURTESY PHOTO BY CONVAL HIGH SCHOOL/HELFRIED ZRZAVY
Mathematics Department leader Sam Winslow presents the Senior Math Award to Jack Harris.
CONVAL
Tu e s d a y , June18 , 2024
Big day for small WLC class
exceptin2020,whentherewere 29.
SchoolBoardChairDennis GoldingechoedGill’scomments.
“AstheClassof2024,you’veenduredquiteabitduringyour journeyatWLC.Youdid,likeTyler stated,havetodealwiththeCOVID pandemic,”hesaid.“You’vebeen throughfourprincipalsandteacher turnoverlikewe’veneverexperiencedinourdistrict.Yetthroughall ofthisyoukeptworking,moving forward,persevering.”
SalutatorianAudraRizzutohighlightedherloveforthesmallbut tight-knitWLCcommunity.
“Inthissmalltown,notoneofus couldhavereachedthispointalone. Itrulybelievethatit’soursmall communitythatmakesusunique. Wearepiecedtogetherbytheencouragement,belief,empathyand kindnessfromthosewhohavesupportedus–whetherit’ssomeone whotaughtustodream,explainthe world’scomplexities,orsimplytold uswecoulddoitwhenitseemed impossible.Weoweyouourgratitude,”shesaid.
Rizzutosharedsomeofherfa-
shesaid.“AtWLC,theteacherscare aboutyouasapersonbecauseitisa smallschool–theyhavethetimeto giveeachstudenttheattentionthey need,andthey’lltakethetimetoget toknowyou.Comingfromabig schoolinFloridatoourlittletownof Wilton,thesemomentsweresomethingIdidn’texpecttoexperience.”
TheClassof2024presentedclass giftstoseveralstaffmembers.They recognizedschoolcounselingsecretaryandregistrarSharonCoffey, AssistantPrincipalKatieGosselin, PrincipalTomRonning,administrativeassistantLindaDraperand middleschoolEnglishteacherLaura Bujak.
voritememoriesfromhertimeat WLC,includingsixth-gradeecology schoolatFerryBeachinMaine, where“TyandLevigotuskickedoff theplayground,”orinsophomore yearwhenshe“smuggledbabybunniesintoschoolinmybackpack.Or junioryearwhenAlexblewupMs. Clark’smicrowavewithhismacand cheese.”
ValedictorianKayBozarthdescribedherexperiencemoving fromalargeFloridahighschoolto WLC,amuchsmallerschool.
“Iwouldlovetolookbackatallof thefunmomentswehadasaclass thisyear,liketheMonadnockhike andtheskitrip.Ithinkweallgotto bondasweclimbedthatmountain andlearnedtoskiandsnowboard,”
RonningalsorecognizedRobert Hanniganforhisplanstoservein theNavy,andfamilyandconsumer scienceteacherOlympiaClarkfor her30yearsofservicetoWLC.
“Duringthistime,she’scultivated manystudentrelationships,”he said.“Justtheotherday,Ihadparentsinquiringiftheirchildwould haveMs.Clark.Havingtaughtthem, theywerehopefulthatshewould teachtheirchildren.”
Formorephotos,seeledgertranscript.com.
WLC FROM PAGE 17
PHOTO COURTESY LYNNE KENNEDY CROUSE
The Wilton-Lyndeborough Class of 2024.
PHOTO COURTESY LYNNE KENNEDY CROUSE
WLC PrincipalTom Ronning hugsretiring instructor OlympiaClark after presenting her with a gift.
DickDunning,whowasthenprincipalofSouthMeadowSchooland happenedtobeSilegy’sformer baseballcoach,interviewedSilegy fortheposition.
“Dickhiredmeonthespot.He askedifIcouldalsoteachP.E. (physicaleducation),andItoldhim IhadaB.A.inteachingP.E.,”Silegy recalled.“ThenhemademeA.D. Therestishistory.”
Silegy,whocoachessoccer,basketballandsoftball,hasledtheSMS boys’soccerteamtothefinalsor wonthechampionshipeveryyear since2004.In2011, hewasnamed MiddleSchoolPhysicalEducation TeacheroftheYear,andhehas beeninductedintotheConValAthleticsHallofFameasanathlete, coachandcontributor.
In2012,Silegyreceivedthe ConValSchoolBoardChairman’s AwardforoutstandingcontributionstotheConValSchoolDistrict. In2024,hewasawardedtheTriCountyLegacyAwardbytheNH Tri-CountySoccerLeague,where hechairedthecommitteeformore than20years. Silegycameupwith theleague’sslogan:“Developing YoungAthletes.”
SilegysayscomingtoSouth MeadowMiddleSchooltransformedhislife.
“Ihadbeenworking12,14-hour daysatFranklinPierce,sixorseven daysaweek,for22years. Bythat point,Ihadthreereallyyoungkids andwasleavingmywife,Beth, alonethemallthetime,andit wasn’tworking. Gettingthisjob wasalifesaverformeandformy family,”Silegysaid.
Silegysayseveryoneaskshim aboutwhatiswasliketotransition fromworkingwithcollegestudents toworkingwithmiddle-schoolers.
“Coachingcollegepreparedmeto besuccessfulasamiddle-school teacher;Icouldjustpassmyexperienceontothekids.Youhaveto haveahigherlevelofexpectations; youhavetoknowhowtocommunicatewiththem.I’mahugerelationshipperson. Kidsneedthatwithan adult.Onceyouhaveagoodrelationshipwithakid,youhavethem forever,instantrespect,”hesaid.
Silegysayshisphilosophyof physicaleducationisthatbeingactiveis awaytodevelopself-confidence.
“Wehavealotofstudentswith socialandemotionalissues.Idon’t
careifakidcan’tkickaballamile oriftheynevermakeabasket,as longastheyfeelsuccessfulinmy class,”Silegysaid.“Forsomekids, theonlysuccesstheyhaveinschool alldaylongisinmyclass.P.E.isreallyimportant.”
Silegy’simpactontheregionalso includestheSilegySoccercampsat SouthMeadowSchool,whichhe hasrunsincecomingtoSMS,and hisWinterSlambasketballtournaments,whichraisefundsannually forSouthMeadowSchool.Silegy saidheisgoingtorunSilegySoccer Campagainthissummer,andthen decidewhatwillhappengoingforward.
Atthecloseofthefall2023 soccerseason,theSMSStudent CouncilhonoredSilegywitha trophyforhiscontributionstothe school.For22years,healsoledthe all-schoolpeprallies,supporting teamsandathleticsatSMS,andwas belovedforhiswildcostumesand indefatigablespirit.
“I’m71,andIstillteachand coachalldaylong,andIdon’thave anyproblemswithit.I’mleaving whenthegoingisstillgood.”Silegy said.“I’veenjoyedeveryminuteof mytimehereatSMS.I’veneverhad
onebadday.” Walkingthroughtheschoolgym thathisbeenhishomeawayfrom homeforthepast22years,under thedozensofchampionshipbanners, Silegysmileswhenhepoints outtheSMSPumalogointhe
middleofthegymfloor.Theartist, Silegy’ssonSam, signedhisname–“Sil”–whichwillserveasanother permanentreminderofSilegy’s timeatSMS.
“Nowit’stimeforsomeoneelse tohavealegacy,”Silegysaid.
STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS
Championship banners from Tod Silegy’s 24 years as athletic director of South Meadow School.
STAFF PHOTO BY JESSECA TIMMONS
Tod Silegy points the SMS Puma logo created by his son, Sam.
Students bid farewell to long-time counselor
By ASHLEY SAARI MonadnockLedger-Transcript
RindgeMemorialSchoolcounselorDianeBushcappedoffher25yearcareerintheJaffrey-Rindge SchoolDistrictthisyear,headingto aretirementwhereshehopestofulfillhertravelingdreams.
DuringthelastweekofMay,the schoolheldamomentofappreciationforBush,comingtogetherin theschoolgymtocelebrateheras shepreparesforherretirementat theendoftheyear.ChildrenpresentedBushwithcardsandbooks.
Bush,originallyfromNewYork, firstfoundherinterestincounseling atSyracuseUniversity,whereshe workedwhilegettinghermaster’s degree.Shehadanundergraduate degreeingeographyandurbanplanning,andwasworkingasanadministrativeassistantatSyracuse.She eventuallystartedworkinginthe studentservicesofficeswithstudentswhoneededacademicguidanceorhelpwithfinancialaid.
Sheworkedherselfuptoanadministrativecounselorwhile earninghermaster’sincounseling andguidance–earningtheaccolade solongagothatherprofessionwas stillreferredtoas“guidancecounselor,”nowanoutdatedterm,Bush joked.
Followinghergraduationfrom Syracuse,Bushworkedforayearas adrugandalcoholcounselor,before
movingtoNewHampshireand workingasaschoolcounselorin HinsdaleElementarySchoolfor eightyearsandthenbecomingthe counselorforwhatwasthenJaffreyRindgeCooperativeMiddleSchool. Sheheldthatpositionforabout20 years,beforetheschoolrestructured.
Bushcouldhavebecomethehigh schoolcounselor,butbecausethe elementarycounseloratthetime wasretiringandherpreviouselementaryschoolexperience,sheinsteadbecamethecounselorfor RindgeMemorialSchool,whereshe hasbeenforthepastfiveyears.
Bushsaidthesaddestpartofretirementissayinggoodbyetothe manychildrenshehashelpedadvise overtheyears.
“Thelearners,thestudents,hands down,”Bushsaidofwhatshe’llmiss themost.“I’vemetsomanywonderfulyoungpeopleandmadeso manyconnections.Iwillsomiss them.Theysurprisemeeveryday withtheirpotential,caringandcuriosity.Ijustenjoyworkingwith children,Ilikethatone-on-oneor smallgroupwork.”
Bushsaidthatinherretirement, she’llbetraveling,aloveshehas longheld,butwasoftenhinderedby havingtoworkaroundschoolvacations.Shealreadyhastwotrips planned,oneatourinOctoberthat willincludeBosnia,Albania,MontenegroandCroatia,alongwitha visittoIndiathiswinter.
“Ilovetotravel;that’smygeographydegreekickingin,”Bushsaid.
Realtors honor local students
TheContoocookValleyBoardof Realtorshasawardedfive$1,100 scholarshipstomembersofthe Classof2024:SophiaLakeofConVal HighSchool,ArudraRizzutoof Wilton-LyndeboroughCooperative MiddleHighSchool,MadelynBergeronofConantMiddleHighSchool, MadisonLaneofHillsboroughDeeringHighSchoolandEmma SpencerSchaumloffelofMascenic HighSchool.
Mason students graduate from Milford
ThefollowingMasonresidents graduatedfromMilfordHighSchool: HaileyMarieCrooker
Thescholarshipwassetupto commemoratetheworksof LawrenceDugginofDugginsRealty inHillsborough,thefirstCVBR president,andGeorgeSullivan,who wasapartnerintheMonadnock TitleCompany.Applicantsarereviewedforworkhistory,community andschoolinvolvementandentrepreneurship.Thisawardisopen tothosecontinuingintradeschool orpost-secondaryeducation.
HarleeLynneDeVincentis
CameronMichaelHarris
MollySuzanneOlson
KaileyAnnSte.Marie
MadysonReneWiggin
TroyCoadyWilliams
LoganRussellWoods
Dublin School Class of 2024
DublinSchoolgraduateswiththeirpost-highschoolplans,fromleft,(front)Grace Wolaver(CurryCollege),AnnalesePatrick (UniversityofRhodeIsland),Hannah Rothenberg (Colby College), Samantha Wicknertz (Ringing College of Art), Gejun Liao(Ohio StateUniversity), QixuanTang (Schoolof VisualArts), HenryMackin (Universityof Denver),Margaret Chioffi(BowdoinCollege), ClaraSmith (Connecticut College), Rachel Hoffman(Connecticut College), Grace Burnett (University ofNew Hampshire), SamanthaKaufman (Smith College),Talita Jada (Cottey College),Clementine Wilson (Universityof St.Andrew’s), Alexandra Beltran (Royal Holloway, University of London), Ellie Hradecky (Hofstra University),Madison Lefebvre(Northeastern University),Campbell Meyer (Elon University),GraceBornhorst(UniversityofVermont),EveHicks(UniversityofNew Hampshire), Eleanor Snyder (UMassAmherst), Lucas Blohm-Villanueva (Oberlin College), MarinaDu Verlie(Connecticut College),Fae Rosica(University of Vermont),Mara McQuirter(OccidentalCollege),(middle) BennettParnell (gap year),LilianneTullio(OberlinCollge),AlessandraSalve(UniversityofConnecticut), DylanTeper(UniversityofMichigan),VivianBohan(OccidentalCollege),ZoeOrtiz (Boston College),Mekoya Sandback (Syracuse University),Ava Rondeau (University of New Hampshire), Katherine Berube (University of Kentucky), ShannonCooper(Dickinson College),JudyLi(UMass Lowell),(back)Christopher Allaire (MuhlenbergCollege), BlakeFriesen (Universityof Connecticut), Isaac Fikru(Northeastern University),Ethan Doane(ElonUniversity), MericGrenier (Dickson College), Connor Roberts (gap year/UNH), Owen Caron (Plymouth State University), Jianxiong Sun(University of California, Davis),Juniper Fiffer (Rochester Institute ofTechnology), Maximilian Franceschi (Universityof St. Andrew’s), Oliver Wilson(Bates College), Luca Bacigalupo(NASCAR Technical Institute), Benjamin Goldmark (Syracuse University), Jack Roche (University of Vermont) and Mazeo McCray (University of Colorado Denver).
Diane Bush has been with JaffreyRindge School District for 25 years
COURTESY PHOTO
COURTESY PHOTO
Rindge MemorialSchool studentsgive cardsand giftsto schoolcounselor
Diane Bush during an assembly of appreciation.