Last Day of School a Time for Celebrations, Joy

On Tuesday, June 13, Shore's last day of school was filled with celebrations, sing-alongs, Field Day games, and plenty of time for good-byes before the start of summer. Many students and parents made it a point to seek out Head of School Larry Griffin for one last hug or handshake before he retires July 1 after 30 years at Shore.

[Eighth and ninth grade families, view photos from the Celebration Dinner.]

The special events on this sweltering, mid-summer-like day began in the library, where sixth grade architects showed off to their parents the model houses they'd planned as part of their math curriculum and completed during Project Week.

Soon after, Lower School students poured into the Trustey Family Theatre for their beloved sing-along, which featured a choreographed Kindergarten version of the Jackson Five's "A-B-C 1-2-3" as well as the legendary faculty lip sync competition.

Immediately after Lower Schoolers left the Theatre for their grade-level moving-up visits, Upper School students arrived for their own celebration on stage. Head of Upper School and Assistant Head of School Ben Kennedy shared reflections on his time at Shore as he departs for a new role as Head at Friends Academy in North Dartmouth. Next year's interim Upper School head, Walter Morris, read selections from the latest issue of the student literary magazine, Driftwood. The final highlight of the morning was the recognition of students who earned academic Honors or High Honors distinction.

All students enjoyed bag lunches with classmates or Upper School advisory groups, and then it was time for the traditional all-school sing-along. Shore's "House Band" entertained the excited crowd that filled the Theatre, and followed the lead of third grade teacher Sam Hamlin as he encouraged the audience in a special Shore House-themed version of "The Cat Came Back."

To end the all-school occasion, Head of School Griffin shared his hope that someday one of those students in attendance would become the President of the United States. Fittingly, one student ran onto the stage dressed-down in a "Future President" t-shirt.

At the all-school Field Day that followed the assembly, children ran to participate in their favorite games and activities, including a "Gaga" pit for Upper Schoolers, and a bouncy house for the youngest students. Faculty members joined in the fun, and Mr. and Mrs. Griffin took their time visiting many out on the fields. 

By the end of Field Day, the unreleting sun had driven Upper Schoolers to get as wet as possible in mammoth games of "drip-drip-drench," and Lower Schoolers were jockeying for position in front of Mrs. Parkhurst's hose sprayer and seeking cups of water to pour over their friends', or their own, heads.

When parents arrived for pick-up, they found their children drenched, happy, and thrilled at how special Mr. Griffin's last last day of school had felt.

Celebration Dinner

Just a few hours later, eighth and ninth grade families returned to campus, dressed their best for the annual Celebration Dinner for graduates. Chef Scott Flanagan and his experienced catering team transformed Shore's Dining Hall into an elegant event space, and served carefully presented salads, family-style entrees, and tempting desserts to nearly 300 guests. 

For the most part, the evening was a chance for graduates to laugh and reminisce with family and friends about their years at Shore. A slideshow highlighting trips, performances, and special events recapped a great 2016-2017 school year, and a second slideshow at the end of the evening brought on either hilarity or tears, or both, by juxtaposing baby pictures of this year's graduates with their latest yearbook photo. 

As is traditional, faculty members offered parting words of advice for the students. Spanish teacher Pamela Torres recognized the significance of the evening, noting that this year's Celebration Dinner would be Larry and Cathy Griffin's last. "I adore you and the time we have gotten to spend together at this amazing school," she said. 

Reflecting on the way people's memories often seem to hold on to bad experiences to the exclusion of the good, she said, "It makes me think about what you will remember about Shore. ... Will you remember that trip to Yarmouth when you got to jump off a cliff into the ocean, or will you remember running out of water and having to dig a new six-foot hole each day to use as a bathroom? Will you remember how you finally understood the difference between the preterite and the imperfect tenses in Spanish or the declensions in Latin, or will you remember that one grade you wish you didn’t get?"

After offering a number of other examples that surely rang true for many students in the audience, Torres asked, "What will you remember, and how can you hold on to the good memories? What do you need to do to not forget them? ... I want you to know that I will remember the good about each and every one of you, because I will make the effort to hold onto these memories."

Remember the good, Torres advised, and, "As you prepare to leave tomorrow, I want you to remember that no matter if you were here for one year or for ten years or for some number in between, Shore was once your home, and please remember to come home."

Following Torres was history teacher Pat Coyle, who had the audience laughing from the start with his introduction to internet "memes," a phenomenon undoubtedly more familiar to his students than their parents. "What better way to deliver a message to a room full of teenagers," he began, "than the not so ancient art of 'memes.' A meme is defined as a brief, humorous image, video, piece of text, etc., that is copied (often with slight variations) and spread rapidly by internet users."

Coyle then cleverly used several memes to share his words of wisdom. "'We need is greater than I want (We need>I want).' I want to encourage you to remember this fondly and try to put it into practice often. Considering the feelings of others and putting others’ needs before your own is not only critical to being a good person, it is important to creating a positive environment."

Coyle also reminded students, "There is a difference, a big difference, between wanting something and actively pursuing it. This applies to more than just school. ... When you find yourself spending time each day or seeking advice for improvement or going beyond what is expected, then you have probably found something worthy of your dedication and effort. It is also worth saying that you should consider the fact that some things that you are required to do may not give you the same amount of joy as your chosen activities. However, putting in the needed effort to succeed in these areas (instead of just wishing for success) is a valuable and necessary part of life."

Quoting Denzel Washington, Coyle said, "'Ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship.' When I was your age, I thought things were universally easy to those who had supreme talent or knowledge. The truth is that skill and understanding can make things easier, but few things worth working for take little effort."

Returning to the topic of the internet, he then shared a final important reminder with students. "Consuming information is so quick and easy that it should provide ample time to unplug, go out, and experience life outside of the digital realm. So finish up that tweet or Insta that pic - and then - put down your phone and be with your friends or family. Go someplace new. Be mindful of enjoying an experience more than recording it. ... If you find those times to enjoy the moment and truly be present with others, then maybe, just maybe, when you return to the internet (which we all do undoubtedly), you can have something meaningful, thoughtful, and positive to add to the wide range of content that zooms across our screens every day."
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    • Relief from the sweltering heat during Field Day

    • A hug for Mr. Griffin

    • Sixth grade architects in the library

    • Mr. Hamlin leading the singalong

    • Shore's House Band

    • Field Day friends

    • Mr. Griffin enjoying the spotlight

    • Pamela Torres speaking to eighth and ninth grade families

    • Pat Coyle

    • Ben Kennedy speaking at the Celebration Dinner

Shore Country Day School

545 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA 01915
(978) 927-1700
Shore Country Day School’s mission is to provide an education that inspires a love of learning and encourages children to embrace academic challenge. We seek to build character, cultivate creativity, and value diversity as we help our children become healthy, compassionate citizens of the world.
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