Moving on: Charter School, Class of 2009
Although rain threatened all morning, it was an afternoon of sunshine and celebration at this past Saturday's graduation ceremony of the Martha's Vineyard Public Charter School, Class of 2009.
The graduates' procession: (from left) Ryan Antolick, Zoe Benjamin, Koko Sanfilippo, Gus Paquet-Whall (partially shown)
Annie Wirtz, Sydney Dunbrack, Jessey Myers, Dylan Huck (partially shown), and Whitney Fulp. Photos by Ralph Stewart
Graduations at the Charter School are unique. Following in their own tradition, the graduations are shaped by the individuality of the graduating class.
The welcome address delivered by director Bob Moore referred to each graduate by their first names, one of the many demonstrations that this was an intimate, individually oriented event.
Praising the graduates' work in the community, Mr. Moore cited their volunteer efforts, ranging from work done at an orphanage in Mexico, to dinners served at Elderly Housing.
"For us to learn about ourselves, and to better understand our community, we extend ourselves to others," said Mr. Moore. "We embrace others, their ideas and beliefs, by engaging our time, minds and hearts with them. You have shown us a caring way to do that on many occasions."
Enjoying the tributes are Charter School graduates Dylan Huck (left), Gus Paquet-Whall, Ryan Antolick, Sydney Dunbrack, Koko Sanfilippo, and Zoe Benjamin.
The Charter School encourages students to do more than meet academic requirements. There is an emphasis on developing trust, respect, self-determination, choice, responsibility, and community. Before graduating, students complete independent projects, both within and outside of mentorships. While giving students so much control over aspects of their education inside of school, the Charter School also encourages them to seek knowledge outside of the classroom, and outside conventional channels, if the spirit moves them. The goal is to ensure that education does not end with graduation and to promote life-long learning.
Science teacher Jane Paquet, mother of graduate Gus Paquet-Whall, was chosen by the graduates to give the commencement address. Ms. Paquet noted that the door of the Charter School would never be closed to these graduates. Citing Newton's First Law, "Matter is neither created nor destroyed," she said, speaking about the way things transform without anything being lost.
Ms. Paquet's remarks expressed the sense of the occasion: "Public schools were started not to celebrate students in the moment, but to make them better citizens in the future. Most schools follow this paradigm and view the students as empty vessels to be filled. The Charter School is a different kind of school. Learning is a journey. We are a family. This group of graduates truly represents a microcosm of the diversity we find in any family."
Ryan Antolick and Sydney Dunbrack show their approval at last Saturday's Charter School graduation in West Tisbury.
The graduates did much of the planning, choosing both music and menu. A wreath of flowers adorned the heads of each graduate. Their casual processional into the large tent behind the school where the ceremony took place, was done to the upbeat guitar riffs and rolling wind instruments of "A Punk," by Vampire Weekend. The food, catered to the graduate's specifications, included selected delicacies such as whoopie pies.
One Charter School tradition carried out at graduation was the giving of gifts. Each graduate was given a gift from one of the lower grades, and the graduates collectively gave a gift back to the school. Gifts were tailored toward each of the graduates, often reflecting either an area of study or an endearing habit.
During her time at the Charter School, graduate Whitney Fulp developed a reputation for using the phrase, "Yeah, but..." For her gift, she was given a handmade book created by the Charter School's six- and seven-year-olds called, "Yeah, but Whitney."
For the graduates younger schoolmates, seeing their friends graduate was an emotional experience. As one teary first-year high school student put it, "I went to the graduation wearing a ton of eyeshadow, and I left with none."
The close relationships that developed at the Charter School were also reflected in the awards given to the graduates. Each award was carefully chosen in recognition of the individual personalities and interests of the graduates: Annie Wirtz received the Jodi Picoult Award, for her pursuits in reading and writing; Gus Paquet-Whall, the Morihei Ueshiba Award, reflecting his interest in Aikido; Dylan Huck's Alain Lourens Award, (the treehouse designer), for his construction ability as well as think outside the box; Jessey Myers, the Chief Wilma Mankiller Award, for her leadership and individualistic pursuit of education; Koko Sanfilippo, the Susan Sontag Award for her artistic abilities; Ryan Antolick, the Harry Potter Award, for his sense of humor and school involvement; Sydney Dunbrack, the Jack Kerouac Award, for her deep thinking and car mechanic skills; Whitney Fulp, the George Angell Award (the founder of the MSPCA), for her love of animals and sense of justice; Zoe Benjamin, the Julia Butterfly Hill Award, for her social activism and ability to speak her mind.
Jessey Myers received two scholarships, the Albridge C. and Margaret Righter Smith Scholarship and the Betty Ann Lima Bryant Scholarship, both administered by the Permanent Endowment Fund of Martha's Vineyard.
The graduates in turn gave the school a large, finely crafted, permanent "Welcome" sign to be installed, ensuring that even as they move on to what their futures hold, something of their presence will stay behind.
Ben Williams is a regular contributor to The Times.
