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.