WORTHINGTON – R.H. Conwell Elementary School hosted a first-of-its kind celebration on Friday: a sixth grade graduation of students who were the first kindergarteners in the public school district.
Six of the seven children graduating from sixth grade were students in that first kindergarten class in 2015. Also remaining from that time is Gretchen Dobosz, who became principal of the school when it became a public school then, and now serves as the school’s principal/superintendent.
“I’m ecstatic that we have this school,” Dobosz said. “And it’s still growing.”
After the Gateway Regional School District closed Worthington’s school in 2010, the school was re-opened as a private school, the R. H. Conwell Education Center, that same year. However, the goal always was to reopen it as a public school and, through legislation shepherded through by former state Rep. Steve Kulik, D-Worthington, the school was reopened as a public school with its own district in 2015.
Kulik was one of the people who spoke at Friday’s graduation. Other speakers included former School Committee Chairman John McDonald, former school employee Nanny Gail and state Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley.
“Never have I seen a community more bent on finding a way,” Riley said.
Riley also led the graduating class in a rigged game of Simon Says, before awarding them a future pizza party.
But the stars of the graduation were undoubtedly the seven children: Telyn Kelly, Amanda Clemeno, Sidney Hawkes, Grace Sampson, Malcolm Todd, Ava Cleveland and Charlotte Niswonger.
Each of them were complimented by fifth graders in the class below them, before the sixth grade class gave their recollections of their time at R.H. Conwell.
“One time, Mr. Cleland fell backwards in his chair and spilled coffee all over himself and we all laughed hysterically,” said Clemeno, recalling a moment from first grade, one of a number of lighter moments the class chose to share.
Ava Cleveland shared another one of those memories, this one from kindergarten.
“Telyn and I claimed to go the Kid’s Choice Awards and meet SpongeBob and Henry Danger,” she said. “It was a false claim.”
Hawkes, meanwhile, did the recollections for sixth grade, and talked about how they had fired rockets, built tiny homes, and participated in running field day over the course of the grade.
“We are excited to graduate and not just for the cake,” Hawkes said.
The students also were treated to a slideshow, as well as poem from their sixth grade teacher Alec MacLachlan where he shouted each of them out by name.
“So fly away young rocketeers,” MacLachlan said, as he concluded his poem. “Aim for the stars, release your fears. Your future is bright, the blue skies are clear. But remember, you’ll always be welcome here.”
When the students finally walked they were given their certificates, before passing through a foliage-covered archway.
Amanda Brooks-Clemeno is both a School Committee member and the mother of graduating sixth grader Amanda Clemeno.
“These guys have been together since pre-school as a tight cohort,” Brooks-Clemeno said. “And they’re good people.”
“Incredible little beings,” Dobosz added.
All seven of the graduating sixth graders are planning to attend Hampshire Regional next year, although Hawkes may be attending Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.