RMHS Graduation 2024
Good evening, Reading community, members of the Reading School Committee, Principal Callanan, Staff, Families, and most importantly, Class of 2024. Class of 2024 – I am honored to take a few minutes to congratulate you on your graduation day and to wish you well in the next chapter of your journey.
First, a huge congratulations is in order to you, both individually and as a collective. You are a class that has demonstrated excellence in so many different ways throughout your journey in RPS. Your academic excellence as a class includes 9 National Merit Scholars, 16 students demonstrating biliteracy across five languages through the MA Seal of Biliteracy, and 93 students participating in the National Honor Society. In the Arts, you have been major contributors on the back-to-back-to-back state championship marching band and color guard and in drama club’s state semifinalist recognition in the 2024 drama fest competition. You have been captains and leaders of the field hockey state championship team, boys lacrosse state championship team, various league championship teams, and in launching our first-ever unified basketball team. You’ve been the drivers behind our Robockets team winning the “Excellence in Engineering Award” at the FIRST North Shore District Event and the role models, advocates, and champions in creating a positive and inclusive school and community culture through your leadership as Rocket Ambassadors and in A World of Difference. Prior to RMHS at Coolidge and Parker, you excelled on award-winning science and math teams, served on student councils, shined on stage in musicals and acapella groups, and led in our community through service initiatives such as Coolidge Gives Back and Parker Leaders. These recognitions reflect your true commitment to excellence, both as a class and as individuals. We recognize these are just a few of your many collective accolades as a class and that each of your journeys are marked with your own individual accomplishments and successes.
Our community of RPS staff are not in the least bit surprised by what you have achieved during your time in the district. In reflecting on the class of 2024, one of our beloved Kindergarten teachers, Mrs. Manna, expressed “They truly are an unforgettable class. I can remember the first day they walked into kindergarten like it was yesterday. They were a grade that quickly bonded and became leaders in their kindergarten community, so I am not surprised to see all of the ways they are now leading in our community! They adored every minute that they could spend building in the block or Lego area of the classroom. I’m not surprised at all by how many of these students are going on to study their love of engineering! They were also an athletic group that learned how to play cooperatively (most times) at kickball, touch football or Off the Wall…again not surprised this class has received so many athletic awards. #RocketPride They sang and danced, moved and grooved their whole way through kindergarten. They were movers and shakers who have now put on amazing plays, concerts and performances, hence now receiving so many awards in the Arts. They were smart! Their young minds always wanted to learn more. They challenged each other and never gave up on their abilities to do their best work. Again, their dedication and drive to learning has paved the way for them to now achieve so many academic accomplishments as HS seniors!” Mrs. Manna, like so many of our other staff members, could see these accomplishments and successes coming throughout your journey in RPS. As one of your former teachers shared, “I remember when they were in third grade thinking, these kids are going somewhere and no matter where they will be, they will be successful.” In addition to your noteworthy accomplishments and successes, your current and former teachers have been just as impressed in the way in which you have done it. In describing your class, your current and former teachers use phrases like “caring and compassionate,” “filled with grit and determination,” “masters of small acts of kindness that makes others feel seen and valued,” and “no matter the challenge, they push ahead.”
As a result of all that you have accomplished over the years, our community is very excited to follow each of your paths in the years to come. We know that for some of you, you’ve somehow had your path mapped out brilliantly since elementary school. Check out a few who called their shots back in 2017 here in the Killam yearbook – Charlie Mace, who said he wanted to be in the military when he grows up, and will be enlisting in the Marines next year. William O’Connor, who said he wanted to be a scientist when he grows up, and will be pursuing engineering at Tufts. And Aubrey Sout – who said she wanted to be a vet when she grows up, and will be pursuing a pre-veterinarian track at Umass Amherst.
Whether you had your next steps mapped out since elementary school, or if your next steps remain a bit more unclear (which is totally fine and expected!), your plans for the future will undoubtedly change time and time again. Wherever these plans and plan twists may take you, we can say with confidence that the future is extremely bright for the class of 2024. As you step into the future, push forward with the strength of character and the high standard of excellence that you have demonstrated throughout your time in RPS. Embrace the challenges ahead with the same determination and passion that have defined your journey thus far, and know that you will always have a home here in Reading cheering you on. Class of 2024 – we congratulate you on all of your accomplishments, we thank you for the legacy of excellence that you have left in our community, and we wish you the absolute best as you move forward into your next chapter.
As Superintendent of Schools in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I hereby certify the Reading Memorial High School graduating class of 2024.
