Hillside 6th graders embrace ceremony

Richard Tedesco

The sixth graders of the Hillside Grade School solemnly marched into the school gymnasium to Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance” for their Moving Up Ceremony on Friday morning – as solemnly as sixth graders can – as family and friends who filled the space looked on.

“Embrace all your new experiences and have fun. Hold onto your dreams,” Sophia Leeds, vice president of the student council told her classmates at the outset of the ceremonies.

New Hyde Park-Garden City Park Superintendent of Schools Robert Katulak offered advice about making the most of their opportunities, concluding, “Most of all dance, live and love.”

“Build upon each experience to grow in your talents. You must make every effort to continue to achieve,” Karen Olynk, Hillside Grade principal, told the students. “Aim for the stars.” 

The school band followed her remarks with an enthusiastic rendition of “Watermelon Man.” And some of the students’ achievements were celebrated during the awards ceremony that followed the band’s performance.

Jocelyn Paulose and Lisa Lo received the Town of North Hempstead citizenship award from Town of North Hempstead Clerk Leslie Gross. New Hyde Park Fire Commissioner Richard Stein presented Matthew Corrigan with the school volunteer award. Student council awards were given to Sophia Leeds and her fellow officers, council president Dave Dodson, secretary Michael Maino and treasurer Kevin Langan.

Nassau County Legislator Richard Nicolello presented the award in his name for community service to Emily Price and drew a few laughs about a fashion faux pas.  

He said he’d noticed as he got out of his car that the top button was missing from his jacket. He told himself no one would notice, but the first person he encountered remarked on it.

“So I’m just here to prove that you can still present an award if you’re missing the top button from your jacket,” he said.

Proud family members of those receiving awards were focused on the children, and the ceremony continued, with pauses for picture-taking. 

Allison Gonzalez  received the Valli Family Spirit Award. Kenneth Yu received the Big Brother/Big Sister Kenneth Mancuso Award. Joseph Caccavale received the Maria Fulgieri Achievement for perseverance. The Inter-School PTA award for effort went to Joseph Dampman. The SEPTA Awards for citizenship and outstanding Achievement went to Xiomara Palacios and Ryan Young, respectively.

The Teachers’ Association awards for academic determination, academic dedication and academic spirit were given to Luke Tesoriero, Steven Polito and Devon DiVello, respectively. The Triple “C” Awards for commitment, character, and courage went to Kathryn Abramo, Ryan Cooney and Ninabeth Palces. Carol John, Dylan Ng and Christina Jacob received the New York State Comptroller Awards for achievement and service.

Tatianna Dugue  and Jennifer Moffa were recognized with the PTA awards for citizenship and merit, respectively. The Palma Pursino Memorial Award for love, passion, and humor went to Ahnaf Rahim. The silver Presidential Awards went to Alan Abraham, Jerrin Mathew, Ryme Bakar, Kezia Jacob, Allison Gonzalez and Sylwia Vilbig. Steven Polito, Anooja John, Aashish John and Danielle Schwartz took home the gold Presidential Awards.

The scene turned nostalgic as the sixth graders sang a Miley Cyrus tune, “I’ll Always Remember You,” that included the words, “Yesterday’s gone, We’ve got to keep moving, So glad I got to know you.”

The theme for the day was the Dr. Seuss story, “Oh the Places You’ll Go,” which includes the verse “This is your day, You’re off to great places, You’re off an away.”

Delivering the farewell address, David Dodson told his classmates, “As we leave today, we will remember that Hillside Grade School gave us our roots, but also gave us our wings.”

The students then filed out of the gym a bit less solemnly than they were on walking in, as a slide show played against the wall behind the stage. And when they got outside the gym, they whooped it up a bit, like kids headed for a new adventure.

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