Thursday, October 1, 2026
Nearly 300 South Side Middle School eighth graders marked the completion of their three-year journey during a moving-up ceremony in the school’s auditorium, celebrating their academic growth, lasting friendships and readiness for the transition to high school this fall.
Student speaker Antonio Mitchell opened the June 26 ceremony by reflecting on the challenges and growth that defined the class’s three years at South Side Middle School.
“Middle school is about finding yourself,” he said, joking that “judging by the overflowing lost and found, some of us are still working on that.”
Mitchell recalled the transition from elementary school, when students suddenly found themselves juggling lockers, multiple teachers and a larger campus.
“For many of us, opening our lockers were harder than some of our assignments,” he said.
He also reflected on the friendships formed and strengthened over the past three years while thanking teachers, staff and families for their support.
South Side High School Student Government Association President Addison Wilson encouraged students to embrace the opportunities ahead and to step outside their comfort zones as they prepare for high school life.
“Don’t be afraid to try new things,” she said. “It’s okay to feel a little uncomfortable when you’re trying something new. That’s how we learn and grow.”
Principal Shelagh McGinn, who was concluding her tenure in the role, expressed pride in the graduating class and the school community, describing South Side Middle School as “a tradition of caring.” She emphasized values of kindness, responsibility, and community, and reminded students of the importance of support systems as they move forward.
Board of Education Vice President Erica Messier encouraged students to define success by their own personal growth.
“The distance between who you are and who you were is the only measure that will ever tell you something true about yourself,” she said.
Student farewell speaker Sydney Lamparello urged her classmates to embrace the next chapter without rushing through it, encouraging them to make the most of every experience along the way.
“Don’t read the last page before you even finish the first few chapters,” she said. “Your story is still being written.”
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates.
