Friday, July 18, 2025
Merrick Avenue Middle School’s Class of 2025 celebrated its moving up with two ceremonies on the school’s turf field on June 13.
The ceremony began with a performance from vocal group Word of Mouth, under the direction of Dana Brandwein.
Principal Katelyn Dunn then took the stage, along with Assistant Principals Nicole Rhodes and Nathalie Job, as well as Superintendent of Schools Michael Harrington and Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Eric Gomez.
She expressed her “adoration, gratitude and hope” for this year’s graduating class.
“You’ve shown us time and time again what it means to be a community,” she said. “Not just in the way you cheer for each other or help others with their lockers or greet teachers with a smile, but in a way that you carry yourselves with kindness, empathy and respect.”
Dunn added that this class “kept her on her toes, but in the best ways.”
“You asked the important questions, you spoke up when something didn’t feel right, you included others, you set up lunch meetings and appointments to talk about ways you want to raise money, you laughed easily and you showed how you care very deeply,” she said.
Hope Brugge, Grace Colapinto, Liam Mahoney and Emma Makowsky, student speakers from their respective teams, also addressed the crowd.
Sophie Reese, a senior at John F. Kennedy High School, and Samantha Chaiken, a senior at Sanford H. Calhoun High School, both provided insight into what is to come in high school.
