Sullivan Middle School broadcasts virtual promotion

Sullivan Middle School eighth graders were celebrated with a virtual promotion ceremony Tuesday, June 9. Featuring messages of encouragement by school administrators, teachers, district officials and fellow students, the hour long video showcased the promoting students and their accomplishments.

"I want to tell you how proud I am of each of you," Principal Dr. Shaunte' Knox told the students in the video. "Your time here at Sullivan has been a time of learning, growing, applying, newfound knowledge and making friends. In this time, you have navigated obstacles, found your strengths, and cultivated ways to improve upon areas of needed growth. The next chapter of your life will be a new adventure, one in which you will excel. If you apply what you have learned and dedicate yourselves to ongoing learning, just as when you were new sixth graders, you will also feel the same feelings when you begin high school, but take comfort in knowing that you will succeed and you will accomplish all that you set out to achieve."

She then recited a poem.

"... Be courageous and lead because this is why you were uniquely made. As my mother once told me and now I will tell you, there is nothing that with faith and hard work that you cannot do.

"Congratulations, class of 2020. I'm so proud of you."

Superintendent David Jones also sent a message to the students and thanked the school's administrative teams and teachers for a great year.

"It certainly has been a challenging year in many ways, especially second semester," he said. "I really appreciate your care and concern and continued dedication to the learning of our students all the way through their eighth-grade year.

"Students and families, congratulations on your promotion, and getting ready for high school. And this time is a really good reminder now, and as we move forward, to do the best that you can to be a good friend, to be a good neighbor, to be a good family member. And let's all do our part and do the best we can.

"As we move forward to make Bonsall High School, our Bonsall community the best it can be, showing compassion, kindness, and doing the best we can to be a good person and a good student. I hope you have a lot of fun this summer. Take some time to rest. Congratulations again, and I hope to see you in the fall at Bonsall High School."

Eight-grade ASB President Riley Moi was next to address the students.

"We've made it through middle school and three months of distance learning and Governor Newsom's stay-at-home order," she said. "We are pioneers at the forefront of a new and innovative form of education. And we encountered many obstacles, obstacles that would prepare us for any barrier that we may face during our journey throughout high school.

"Our turn as the class of 2020 to take this ingenuity out into the world and with us on our high school journey to be the world's next pioneers and lead the way for those who follow. We are the future innovators, motivators, leaders, and caretakers. Remember always to have faith and never give up, find what you love and love what you do. And most importantly, learn to dream big."

Student Makenna Fore also spoke to her classmates.

"I still remember the first day of middle school when we were all wide-eyed sixth graders excited to make the transition between elementary school to middle school," she said. "We were a little nervous, but we soon realized that after a little bit, we are all a part of a big family. The next year we were in the middle of middle school and we welcomed even more sweet, enthusiastic classmates into our family. Now we are in eighth grade and we are the leaders in examples to the sixth and seventh graders.

"I think I can speak for most of us when I say that I'm excited to be going into high school because I get to meet so many new people and start new journeys. I'm also sad to be leaving all the people that made middle school a great experience. I would like to think all the teachers, staff, Dr. Knox, and of course our parents for a wonderful Bonsall Middle School experience."

Eighth-grade staff teachers Tamara Miller and Michelle Allen also congratulated the graduates.

"I just wanted to say that I am proud of you and congratulations on your promotion," Allen told the students. "I'm proud of your efforts, your kindness, but most of all, I am proud of your resilience and perseverance during these very strange times. I've been hearing and meeting with some of you through zoom and knowing that you are staying positive. The eighth-grade team just wants to say congratulations."

After all the speeches were done, each student's name was spoken over a slide show of their class photo, name and a message about the student from a teacher or their parents.

After that, the eighth-grade teaching team and coaches on a conference call talked about the school's sports seasons and announced the students of the year in each subject.

The video ended with a slideshow of photos submitted by students and staff, along with a performance from the Sullivan Middle School Band, with each member recording their individual parts from home.

Jeff Pack can be reached by email at [email protected].