The Roslyn Times, Friday, July 22, 2016
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C O M M UNITY n ew s
The Buckley Class of 2016: Standing, from left: Harrison DellaVecchia, Cameron Perry, Jack Davis, Dennis Coppin, Akshay Narang, Andrew Mazza, Andrew Simeone, Theodore Brita, Annie Mulholland, Despina Tsiamtsiouris, Anamaria Manu, Maya Neckles, Jade Killikelly, Kevin Ross, Parker Jones, Max Lunievicz, Ansh Amin, Kenneth Silver, Robert Mark, Iman Ghanchi, Alex Petion. Seated, from left: Katherine Gage, Audrey Barr, Diana Turner, Cybelle Can, Naomi Nishimura, Portia Inzone, Sulekha RamJunnarkar, Olivia Kim, Deirdre McNally, Charlotte Bolling.
8th graders graduate Buckley School Buckley Country Day School sent off its graduating Class of 2016 with an outdoor commencement ceremony for its 31 eighth-graders on June 15. Rabbi Todd Chizner of Temple Judea of Manhasset opened this year’s ceremony saying the graduates should think of “their special gifts as a source of inspiration, mostly for the purposes of enabling peace in our world.” Chizner was welcomed to Buckley’s commencement exercises by graduate Kenny Silver, who studied with him for his Bar Mitzvah. President of the Board of Trustees Valerie DiFebo presented this year’s Trustee Bowl, the School’s most prized academic award, to the student who achieved the highest grade point average. The Trustee Bowl was presented to Ansh Amin this year. The Scholarship Medal for the second highest academic average was awarded to Jack Davis, while Bobby Mark earned Honorable Mention for the third highest average. Four faculty awards were presented at graduation. Despina Tsiamtsiouris presented the Teacher of the Year Award, selected by the members of the graduating class, to fourth grade teacher Lynn Knox, whom she described as “a gracious and compassionate teacher who brightens her whole classroom.” The Thomas J. Reid Excellence in Teaching Award, selected by the Headmaster and the Assistant Heads based upon recommendations from the faculty, is an award recognizing outstanding teaching, demonstrated by concern for each student, quality of instruction, and commitment to Buckley. This year’s award was presented to music teacher Elizabeth Glennon. The G. Robert Gage Award for Excellence in Teaching, named and given in memory of Mr. Bob Gage’s late father, is given annually to a faculty member in recognition of his/ her excellence in teaching. The award is funded every year by the investment income earned on the endowment gift made by the Gage family. The 2016 recipient was 2nd grade teacher Stefani
The 2016 Trustee Bowl was presented to Roslyn Harbor resident Ansh Amin for having the highest grade point average in the class. He is with Headmaster Jean-Marc Juhel and Board of Trustees President Val DiFebo.
Rosenthal. An endowment gift from Linda and John Powers made possible the presentation of an additional faculty award at graduation. The Powers Family Teacher Recognition Award is given annually to a faculty member in recognition of his/her embodiment of the school’s character and spirit, care and nurturing qualities, and excellence in teaching. This year’s recipient was kindergarten teacher MaryBeth Horne. Cybelle Can and Andrew Mazza, student council copresidents, then presented the gift of the class of 2016 to Buckley Country Day School: a new printer and office space for the eighth grade lounge. American History teacher for seventh and eighth grades Mercer Hall was selected by the graduating class to be their faculty speaker. He was introduced by gradu-
ate Andy Simeone as a “Renaissance man, who can speak multiple languages, write like a journalist, comprehend literature, and hold a conversation regardless of the topic.” Simeone highlighted both his intellect and his sense of humor. Hall spoke about the Class of 2016 as “together, a formidable force proving the axiom that the smartest person in the room is the room, gifted beyond their grins, mature beyond their blazers, a high-functioning mishmash of equals.” He concluded his remarks by saying how lucky the graduates’ teachers were simply to wait, watch, and say “we knew you when.” David Gage, of the 2011 graduating class, was this year’s alumnus speaker. Gage was introduced by his sister Katherine, a member of this year’s class. Gage focused his remarks on friendship and told a personal story about a classmate whom he now considers one of his greatest friends. “Do what it takes not to drift out of touch – don’t wait,” he said to the graduates, because “there’s something wonderful about a friend whom you grew up with, and that’s worth holding on to.” Diplomas were then awarded to the members of the graduating class, with the help of newly-elected student council co-presidents, Isabella Marrale ’17 and Max Brown ‘17. Charlotte Bolling introduced this year’s musical offering: History, by One Direction, in celebration of ‘the times that have brought us to this day, the greatest team the world has ever seen.” Rabbi Chizner concluded the ceremony with a blessing, congratulating the graduates and praising their teachers for the love and concern they demonstrate, not just teaching a subject, but teaching a child. The members of the Class of 2016 will be attending: Blair Academy, The Chapin School, Collegiate School, The Dalton School, East Norwich, Friends Academy, Garden City High School, Groton School, Long Island Lutheran High School, Loyola School, Loomis Chaffee School, The Mary Louis Academy, The Packer Collegiate Institute, Phillips Exeter Academy, Portledge School, Regis High School, and United Nations International School.
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