The warm evening could not put a damper on the celebration as more than 400 eighth-graders from Copiague Middle School were recognized during an official moving-up ceremony. Held on June 21 in the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School gymnasium, the students were led into ceremony by their guidance counselors amid applause and cheers from members of the Board of Education, administration, family, and friends.
During the evening, the students were treated to speeches filled with pride, congratulations, and words of wisdom from Superintendent of Schools Charles A. Leunig, Principal Andrew Lagnado, Valedictorian Dawn Gioia, and Salutatorian Karla Lopez. During his address, Mr. Leunig congratulated the students and their parents on the achievements the class had attained and discussed the various opportunities afforded to the students once they enter high school. “I urge you to take advantage of the opportunities available, break out of your comfort zone, and challenge yourselves,” he advised. “The bar has been set high.”
Continuing with similar advice, Mr. Lagnado remarked, “As you enter this next phase of your educational and adolescent lives, be sure to remember to stay involved in all of the positive things that are offered at the high school. There are so many wonderful academic and extracurricular opportunities for you to take advantage of. Stay motivated, focused, and goal-oriented. These next few years will lay the groundwork for your futures, so remember that the decisions you make will certainly impact your futures.”
As the ceremony concluded, the eighth-graders gathered together with friends and families to document the joyous occasion with photos and individual celebrations.
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