Presenting The Staples High School Class Of 2026!
Seniors take their last walk onto the football field as students. They will leave as graduates entering the next great phase of their lives.
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Staples High School principal Stafford W. Thomas, Jr. leads VIP’s including town and school officials including Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice and First Selectman Kevin Christie onto the field.
As always, it was a very full house as excited parents shared in the joy of the moment with many parents no doubt remembering their own graduation ceremony and younger siblings possibly envisioning their own memorable moment to come.
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The audience in the east side bleachers had to spend a bit of time shielding their eyes from the sun on a nearly cloudless evening.
Some parents made sure their pride and enthusiasm was noted by their child and others in the audience.
After “Pomp and Circumstance” was played, the National Anthem was sung by the Staples Orphenians followed by “The Road Home” performed by Sonora, Choralaires and all senior choir students.
Above, Lauren Pine, Director of Choral Activities at Staples High School since 2023 conducts the choir.
Following the welcome address by Principal Thomas were the Valedictory Address by Isabel Sungloo Jo, left and right and the Salutatory Address by Uma Roy Choudhury, center.
Staples faculty created imaginative mortarboards to celebrate the occasion.
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Students are called row by row to the stage to receive their diplomas. Two friends give each other a celebratory “high five”. Some smiling students took advantage of the time for calling of the more than 400 names to get their snaps.
Several mortarboards were created to express the sentiments of the student and others displayed their college destination including one student happily about to become a member of Husky Nation at the University Of Connecticut.
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The class of 2026 was filled with high achievers including 37 members of the National Honor Society and several who were proudly wearing their Seal of Biliteracy, a prestigious academic honor awarded to graduating high school students who demonstrate high proficiency in speaking, reading, listening, and writing in two or more languages—one of which is English.
Finally, the grads are called and make their way to the stage to receive the diploma they have worked so hard for 4 years to achieve from Principal Thomas and receive congratulations from Superintendent Scarice and administration officials.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
There were many high fives by students including Staples Girls Basketball stand-out Freya Harvey, above.
Diplomas firmly in hand, students proudly head over to have their official graduation photos taken against the Staples logo backdrop, indeed a time-consuming process which went off without a hitch.
At the conclusion of the ceremony and the moment arrives, Senior grads Kala Levine and Elijah Falkenstein announce the “Turning Of The Tassle”, a graduation tradition symbolizing the transition from a degree candidate to a graduate. Moving the tassel from the right side of the cap to the left represents closing one academic chapter and officially stepping into a new phase of life or professional career. Moving the tassel closer to the heart publicizes your hard-earned credentials and academic achievement.
The Final Seminal Moment - Caps In The Air!
The grads joyfully throw their caps into the air a classic celebratory tradition that symbolizes the end of a long academic journey and the transition into a new chapter of life!
The stands empty out as delighted parents seek to rendezvous with their children in the crowd on the field for hugs, kisses, photos, selfies and congratulations from friends and family.
The parents of “Molly”, below, were taking no chances on any delay in her finding her family in the crowd. They provided a giant poster wishing her “Gratulerer!”, which is congratulations in Norwegian.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Among the hundreds of happy families on this very special day in their lives is the family of Sam Clachko, Wreckers star basketball point guard who scored more than 1,000 points at Staples and will be playing for Division III school Connecticut college.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Lulu & Bianka share their joy in dramatic fashion when they find each other in the crowd.
Jennifer Alexandra Londono is one of four Staples Grads who have opted to serve their country in the United States Military. Jennifer will be joined by Finn Joseph Martens in serving in the US Navy. Rhodes Edison Redd will serve in the Marine Corps and joining the US Army is Alessio Zhy’mier Ramirez.
Above, left, Board of Finance member Danielle Dobin snapping pics of her son Jonathan and their family.
