In Review: The End of the Year

 

As the calendar turns to May each year, Marlborough community members and their busy schedules really lend meaning to the adage “it’s a marathon, not a sprint.” The last month of school is always filled with a packed lineup of celebrations, traditions, and momentous milestones. Each of these events add to the celebratory air around campus as the days get longer, the weather heats up, and we prepare to send the next class of graduates on to their next chapter with endless well wishes. Here is a recap of some of the hallmark events Marlborough hosted as the 2021-2022 school year drew to a close.

 

On April 28, 2022, 198 students from Computer Science, Robotics, Project Invent, Honors Research, Entrepreneurship and Social Justice Capstones, 8th Grade Science, Physics, and the CEI Makers & Tinkerers gathered across campus to proudly present their work to parents, friends, fellow students, staff, and faculty members. Hosted annually by the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI), The Celebration of Innovation showcased the talent, creativity, and passion of the roboticists, coders, entrepreneurs, activists, makers, tinkerers, researchers, and innovators among the Marlborough community. Now in its sixth year, what started as a small gathering in 2017 has grown into a full-blown symposium, showcasing the collaboration and creativity embedded in our community thanks to the interdisciplinary nature of the CEI curriculum.

 

Head of School Dr. Priscilla Sands, 11th Grade Dean Anna Robinson, and 11th Grade Class President Sheridan H. ’23 presided over the Class of 2023’s Ring Ceremony on May 19, 2022, marking the class’ transition into their final year at Marlborough. Alumnae relatives and junior class Advisors helped celebrate the Class of 2023 by lighting each student’s candle as they processed onto Booth Field, forming a candlelit ring around their loved ones as the sun set. This beautiful and long standing school tradition utilized the imagery of the class ring to emphasize the unity and cohesive journey of the class through their time at Marlborough.

 

The Class of 2025 celebrated their transition from Middle School to Upper School at Pin Ceremony on May 24, 2022 with their families, Head of School Dr. Priscilla Sands, Director of Middle School Dr. Sean Fitts, and 9th Grade Dean Maxime Salzburg. After receiving their pin on a braided lanyard of their class colors – forest green, navy blue, blush pink – students, family, and friends gathered in Smidt Family Plaza for a celebration featuring live music played by members of the Class of 2025. This traditional ceremony was a festive and fun evening, with many of the students opting to ceremonially wear their new black skirts, further emphasizing their promotion into 10th Grade by donning the Upper School uniform.

 

Throughout the year, our students’ accomplishments are many. To celebrate these successes, an end-of-year award ceremony honors those who have exceeded expectations to go above and beyond. This year, Middle School and Upper School students gathered together for one united ceremony on May 25, 2022. Over 100 awards were bestowed, spanning academic departments and co-curricular activities. 20 seniors were recognized with Senior Awards including Valedictorian and the Head of School Award. There was no better way to spend the last day of school than being together as a community to celebrate the excellence of our students.

 

Family and friends of the Class of 2022, along with faculty, staff, alumnae, and members of the Board of Trustees, excitedly gathered on Booth Field on May 26, 2022 to witness the final culmination of a Violet’s journey at the school: graduation. All in attendance looked on proudly as the Class of 2022 processed onto the stage, ready to officially take the next step in their academic and personal journeys. Opening the ceremony, Art Ochoa, President of the Board of Trustees, congratulated the Class of 2022 on this momentous occasion and also tipped his hat to another “graduate” present on the stage: Dr. Priscilla Sands,, who will retire after seven years as Marlborough’s Head of School. Dr. Sands echoed his congratulations in her remarks to the class, along with some advice and aspirations that these graduates go out into the world and continue using their voices to enact positive and meaningful change. Senior Class President Eva Rodriguez ’22, Student Body President Sophia Miller ’22, and Valedictorian Ava Louise Winer ’22 addressed the guests and their fellow graduates. The throughline throughout all three speeches was one of gratitude and affection for their classmates and their time together at Marlborough. That gratitude and affection was reflected back to the Class of 2022 as each class member’s name was called to receive their diploma and they recessed off the stage to uproarious applause and a standing ovation.