Harborfields High School Graduates Leave Their Mark

Family, friends, faculty, members of the board of education, administration, staff and other special guests from the community shared an important day in the lives of Harborfields High School’s Class of 2016 at the school’s 57th annual commencement exercises on June 25.
Leading up to the final moment in the graduation ceremony, students heard speeches filled with hopes, dreams and sage advice delivered by HHS Principal Dr. Rory Manning, Superintendent of Schools Diana Todaro, valedictorian Sabrina Qi, senior class president and salutatorian Trevor Jones and featured speaker HHS Assistant Principal Tim Russo.

Board of Education member Nicholas P. Giuliano made a special address to congratulate the Class of 2016 as well as to honor Superintendent of Schools Diana Todaro, since this was the last graduation she would be part of as superintendent, in lieu of her retirement. In her greeting, Todaro expressed her delight in the success each of the members of the Class of 2016 achieved during their time in the Harborfields school system. Additionally, she conferred the first diploma to Dr. Manning, who will be transitioning to the role of assistant superintendent for administration and human resources, effective Aug. 1.

In his final speech as high school principal, Dr. Manning shared with students highlights from his personal life journey, through which he told by “connecting the dots,” an analogy coined by Steve Jobs. “Have faith that your dots will connect in ways that you can’t image,” he said. As a reminder of the story, Dr. Manning placed a packet of mints under each graduate’s chair with the message. The mints represented the “dots” or events that they have already experienced in their lives.

To conclude her valedictorian speech, Qi advised her fellow graduates, “Miss the person you were yesterday, celebrate who you are now, and look with curiosity and excitement toward the version of yourself that you’ll be tomorrow.”

Upon receiving their diplomas, the newly conferred Harborfields graduates turned their tassels and cheerfully tossed their caps in the air. As the high school band performed the recessional, the graduates took their first steps as official Harborfields alumni. Congratulations to the Class of 2016.

Photo:

HS1: Members of the Harborfields High School Class of 2016.

HS2: Harborfields High School Class of 2016 valedictorian Sabrina Qi and salutatorian Trevor Jones.

HS3-4: Members of the Harborfields High School Class of 2016 received their diplomas.

Photos courtesy of the Harborfields Central School District