South Hadley High School
153 Newton Street, South Hadley, MA 01075
June 2011
www.southhadleystudentpress.com Volume 91, Issue 6
'Talented and driven' Class of 2011 graduates Melanie Young and Ashley Willis, Staff Writers On a warm, sunny afternoon earlier this month, a collection of young adults, who had come to know each other through friendships and hardships, successes and setbacks, made their first step into the outside world. The South Hadley High School Class of 2011 graduated at the Gettel Amphitheather at Mount Holyoke College in front of hundreds of families, friends, and past alumni. The ceremonies began at 4 o’clock on June 5, as the graduating students proceeded down the stairs of the outdoor theater towards the stage, the last place they would be recognized as high school students. Following the national anthem by members of Vocal Roar, the high school’s a cappella group, Superintendent of Schools Gus Sayer welcomed the audience to the event, emphasized his pride in the students, and eventually yielded the podium to Principal Dan Smith. In past years, Smith would have introduced the two students who earned the title of valedictorian and salutatorian. However, for the Class of 2011, the award of valedictorian was a tie between Morgan Provost and Chloe Sabbs, and the award of salutatorian was a tie between Melanie Demakis and Julia LaMontagne. All four gave speeches discussing the future and upcoming challenges the graduates will face, along with the memories they have made as a class. “Things went very well, I was glad the weather held out, and it was overall a really great day,” said Vice Principal Bill Evans. “There are a lot of talented and driven students in this class, and I
think they can have a tremendous impact if they utilize their talents in a positive fashion.” As is custom with any graduation ceremony, President of Mount Holyoke College Dr. Lynn Pasquerella performed the role of key note speaker for the graduates. Pasquerella compared one’s life to a book and talked about the many chapters in a person’s life, emphasizing the importance of living in the moment and not getting bogged down by regrets of the past or worries of the future. “It was very intriguing to think about how you are not your past, and how you can make your own future, and I believe that was very good advice for our students,” said Evans. After more than an hour of speeches, words of thanks, and batting black beach balls about the stage, the diplomas were presented to the Class of 2011. Vice Principals Ted McCarthy and Evans shared the responsibilities of handing the certificates of graduation to the overjoyed recipients. Families and friends cheered as they proudly watched the members of the Class of 2011 walk across the stage and into their futures. “It was a very bittersweet moment for me, as I knew a lot of them outside of the classroom as well,” said English teacher and 2011 class advisor Tina Daponde. “It was almost like seeing my own children walk across that stage." Though their paths may split from this point forward, each and every one of the Class of 2011 will always carry a piece of the high school, and of each other, as they go on to make their impact on the world. [Editor-In-Chief Peter Lambert and Contributing Writer Jiayin Sperry contributed to this report.]
Photo by Brett Reardon
MOVING ON: An overjoyed Class of 2011 celebrates its formal graduation from South Hadley High at the Gettel Amphitheater at Mount Holyoke College.
School district to install wireless Internet in classrooms Jon Melhorn, Staff Writer Danielle Venne, Staff Writer
Photo illustration by Brett Reardon
INSTANT ACCESS: Wireless Internet routers installed throughout the high school will allow students to connect to the Web anywhere in the building.
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With the installation of wireless access points in three of the district’s four schools, South Hadley has positioned itself as one of the first school systems in Western Massachusetts to make the Internet available for learning in all of its classrooms. The installations began in May, and will continue through the end of the school year. School officials said the wireless system should be up and running for the start of the school on Aug. 30. Mosier Elementary School, Michael E. Smith Middle School, and South Hadley High School are slated to have the devices, which will allow for seamless access to the World Wide Web. The current Plains School will not have wireless Internet installed due to plans to replace the school in the near future. The idea for wireless Internet began two years
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ago, with the school committee acknowledging that as technology advanced, so too did the need to incorporate it into the classroom. ”We know that mobile devices such as iPads will soon be very important in our work, and wireless access is key to their successful integration into our programs,” said Assistant Superintendent Christine Sweklo. Upon learning about the installations, students expressed excitement for the new wireless Internet devices. “I think it would be cool to use our computers in school. I’m just wondering if we’ll be able to use them all the time,” said sophomore Rebecca Towne, who said she hopes to be able to use a laptop when the wireless is installed. Many students have questions about what devices would be allowed for student use with the new wireless system. Technology Coordinator Bill Collins said that the long term goal for this project is to allow students to use their devices all around the campus, and said he believes more wireless technology is “on the horizon."
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