JOHN READ MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASS of 2012

12A Pilot, Redding, Conn. June 28, 2012

Henry Mound, Student Council president, welcomes the audience.

Christopher Burns photos

From left are Jack Mucahy, Liam Rego, Max Mossa, Oliver Hesketh-Tutton and Ben Herrera,.

Eighth graders are recognized

by Christopher Burns Pilot Intern Boys dressed in shirts and ties, the girls in sundresses and high heels, members of the John Read Middle School eighth grade class filled the Joel Barlow High School Gym last Friday, June 22, for their Recognition Night. As the eighth grade class filed into the gym two by two, family and friends applauded and cheered. Music teacher Tom Cruciani and students from the John Read Middle School Orchestra opened the ceremony with The Star-Spangled Banner. Twins Daniel and John Dolan were then recognized as co-winners of the Redding Education Associations Scholar Award, which is given to the students with the highest grade point average throughout their middle school careers. The awards were presented by Maria Frederick, Redding Education Association treasurer. Student Council President Henry Mound welcomed parents and students before introducing the student speakers Amanda Duffy, Matthew Svenson, Grace Smaritano, Jacob Mars and Emma Sanders. They recounted their personal stories of success and hard work that brought them through John Read Middle School. Amandas speech told of both her first and last experiences in the school she has called home for the past three years. She recounted the highlights of each year whether it was a dance, field trip or special course that was offered. She thanked her teachers, and reminded the audience that her class has great expectations. Amanada recognized her personal growth from being scared of the dreaded eighth grade hallway on her first day of fifth grade to saying proudly that she is from the eighth-grade hallway. In her speech she said: For the past six hundred seventy days I have been in the middle of the flying paper, the loud lockers, and the running children. But really, we arent too bad. Matthews speech was filled with good-hearted humor that drew laughter from both parents and students. He said that time in the classroom is what he will most remember about John Read. I have gone through ... 850 math classes, he said, 680 history classes, 680 science classes, 530 Spanish classes, and 850 language classes ... all of these classes and events alone were amazing. Grace addressed moving from another school district and settling into a welcoming environment at John Read Middle School. Grace had moved from Chicago where, as she said in her speech: You can actually see the sky without a thick canopy of trees covering your view... But while the rest of the town seemed so different and strange from what I was used to, John Read was the little bit of normalcy amongst this giant forestthat-they-call-a-town sort of thing. Jacob used his speech to discuss the transition he experienced from being home schooled to John Read Middle School. On his first day at his new school, he was very anxious, he said. By coming to John Read Middle School, I have learned a valuable lesson. I have learned about getting worried. Does it do anyone any good to worry about anything, instead of handling it calmly? During my time here I have discovered the answer: No! Lastly, Emma spoke about the memories she will have of John Read Middle School for the rest of her life. I have learned so much since my first day here. I have learned the obvious, algebra, chemistry and Spanish, but I have also learned something a little closer to the heart. I have learned that life does not have to be that constant circle of hello and good-bye ... I have learned to be more optimistic. I have learned that with my memories by my side I can conquer every good-bye life throws at me. Following the student speeches and remarks by Dr.

Daniel Dolan, co-winner witih his twin brother John, received the Redding Education Associations Scholar Award from Maria Frederick.

Members of the John Read Middle School eighth grade class walked in pairs into the Joel Barlow High School gym on recognition night on June 22.
Jess Gaspar, Redding Board of Education chair, Dr. Bernard Josefsberg, superintendent of Easton, Redding and Region 9 school district, and Diane Martin, John Read Middle School principal, presented

certificates to students. Each student was officially recognized as an eighth grade graduate. At the end of the ceremony students filed out the same way they had filed in, but this time as high school freshmen.

Amanda Duffy was one of the speakers.

From left are Megan Sideman, Aice Lee, Emma Sanders and Maddie Whitt.

John Read Middel School Class of 2011

Charlotte Louise Abrams Gabrielle Dominique Agnes Anders Karl Ahlberg Ashley Rose Allgood Alexandra Abshire Amente Melina Amstutz Geordie Jacob Anderson Elizabeth Tillie Ashton Madelyn Christine Asplund Olivia Rae Beaulieu Grace Elizabeth Blackwell May Frances Blumenfield Westin Davis Bodkin Zachary Joseph Boland Lia Bauer Bozzone Kristin Anne Bruhin Gabrielle Deanna Campano Bianca Mary Capomolla Allison Elliott Carey Anna Clermont Carpenter Dylan Michael Carter Mason Michael Colby Emma Shirk Coppock Ryan Parker Corr Samuel Martin Cox Lydia Kendall Cross Trevor Dale Crow-Knight Emily Rose Cumings Gloria Michelle Davey Jack Douglas Delaney Allison Grace DeSpirito Patrick Michael Devine Noelle Caitlin DiCamillo Bridgette Amy Dight Chase Sebastian DiMiceli Daniel Joseph Dolan John Thomas Dolan Nicole Elizabeth Dolcimascolo Caitlin Rose Dotson Amanda Nicole Duffy Alexandra Elisabeth Eastus Lilly Ximiao Fisher Janel Marie Fitzgerald Samuel Louis Fletcher Leah Elizabeth Foodman Kendall Elizabeth Frank Ryan Francis Freeman Joshua Henry Friedland Emma Grace Gallagher Maya Panessa Geick Rose Mary Giannicchi Nicholas Gunning Gilchrist Devon Kendal Grey Andrew David Hamlll Hayley May Hansen Deirdre Marie Heggie Robert Paul Hermenze Benjamin Edward Herrera Oliver Harold Hesketh-Tutton Kaitlyn Rose Hirsch Emilie Constance Hocter Erin Margaret Holder Olivia Noelle Ivaldi William James Jasensky Sarah Emily Jorgensen Dylan Karpas Kennedy Willem Scott Klein Wassink Ryan Thomas Kloiber Kristen Cathy Kocher Nadia V Koltchine Katherine Margaret Kwiatkowski Alice Rosalind Lee John Randolph Linderman, Jr. Wendell Phillip MacNea lV Bradford Chandler Makara Jacob Ryan Mars Connor Jardine Martin Chandler Harrison Marx Jarrod Thomas Marx Jack Michael McCaffrey Avery Attridge Melville Paxton John Meny Connor Mark Mignone Nada Naixuan Mohtares Cole Robert Montefusco Zachary Wolf Morgan Haley Alexandra Mossa Maxwell Jake Mossa Henry Oliver Mound John Murray Mulcahy Eva Simone Mullineaux Caroline Wrenn Murphy Liam Myles Brancha Murphy James Patrick Neumann Samuel Ruben Nogueira Sidney Elizabeth Jean North Olivia Katherine Pelzar Kayla Ann Joy Pennell Elisavet Petridis Gracee Marie Piazza Sophia Maria Pirro Maya Aileen Pitre Zuri Elizabeth Pompea Halle Naomi Portman Theodore John Price Jerry David Prince Brennan Scott Prusak Emily Ann Quinn Maura Elizabeth Quinn Anna Katharina Rakich Liam Douglas Rego Anna Yasmin Rhymaun Dylan Alexander Rhymaun Shayne Katherine Rivard Anja Ursala Roudenis Lindsey Dorothy Ryan-Jones Gabrielle Beatrice Saluzzi Grace Francesca Samaritano Emma Abigail Sanders Ariel Martine Sarullo Alexis May Schachter Justin Howard Schachter Hollind Jiselle Schuurmans Noah Jalaluddin Siddiqui Megan Christine Siedman Adrian John Silich Donald John Sniffen Jessica Danielle Stewart Allyson Clarice Stillman Peter Conrad Stone Gillian Kendall Storey Jake Eagan Sullivan Gina Elise Sundlof Thomas Matthew Sutton Matthew Harlan Svenson Daniel Robert Taylor Elisa Mikhailovna TaylorYeremeeva Ellen Jacqueline Thome Matthew Sheehan Tomaszewski Elizabeth Frances Tower Kain Tuttle Upson Marin Ann Valentine Victor Perri Ventricelli Hannah Kristine Walsh Jake Dylan Warshaw Thomas Quinn Whelehan Danielle Elizabeth Williams Nicholas Kent Williams Peyton Samantha Williams Madelyn Elizabeth Witt Marissa Lynn Wolf Samuel Reed Zuckerman