June 20, 2025 | By Lisa Scagliotti

June 23 Correction: This post was updated to correct the music award recipient names that were inadvertently mismatched in the original version.

*The eighth-grade class, followed by teachers, files into the Crossett Brook gym for graduation on June 17. Photo by Gordon Miller*

Crossett Brook Middle School eighth graders, along with their families, friends and teachers, played it safe – and dry – Tuesday evening, holding their graduation ceremony in the school gymnasium as showers moved in just as the ceremony’s entrance music began.

*Co-Principal Jen Durren opens the ceremony. Photo by Gordon Miller*

The 68 members of the school’s class of 2025 are moving on, noted Co-Principal Jen Durren, who reminded them they will next look forward to becoming members of the classes of 2029 at their high schools.

Durren introduced the ceremony’s speakers and announced awards. She saluted the eighth graders saying, “They’ve shown us curiosity, caring, and connectedness throughout every single day. We are so pleased to see what they will do and what they will become next.”

Four graduating students spoke in the program, two each from the school’s two seventh- and eighth-grade teams, Prodigy and Titan.

*Eighth graders from Team Prodigy, Evelyn Andrus and Azalea Eagan, deliver their speech together. Photo by Gordon Miller*

Prodigy students Evelyn Andrus and Azalea Eagan delivered their remarks together – taking turns delivering their lines. “We spent about 518,400 minutes on Team Prodigy. In that time, we felt every emotion imaginable,” Evelyn began. “These small and big moments helped shape us into the people we are today,” Azalea continued.

The pair listed their teachers, thanking each one for their guidance, support, humor and memories they will hold. They ended by thanking their classmates.

“It has been a wild ride, but we are grateful for every minute,” Evelyn finished.

*Grayson Eley from Team Titan speaks. Photo by Gordon Miller*

Team Titan student Grayson Eley looked back on his middle school experience, which he admitted was somewhat unique. “Who doesn’t want their father to also be their math teacher for two years?” he asked. “It’s really fun when you’re doing the homework that your own father assigned, all the while he’s telling you to do the dishes.”

Still, he called the time spent in middle school – its fun nights, field trips, school plays and more – a treasure that he hopes he and his classmates will never forget as they move on to high school.

He reminded the audience how his class started middle school in the COVID-19 pandemic, wearing masks and social distancing, and how it wasn’t until the end of sixth grade that they could play games like tag.

He also gave a shoutout to former Crossett Brook band teacher Dan Liptak, who taught him to play flute and saxophone. Liptak left after the class’s seventh-grade year. “I would not be where I am today without him,” Grayson said.

In her address, Titan classmate Isla Butterfield recalled The Lion King and noted how “nature works in cycles, waves, seasons.” The patterns and repetition of moving from one phase of school to another – meeting new people, spending time in new buildings, and learning new routines – come in cycles, too, she said.

*Titan Team student Isla Butterfield speaks. Photo by Gordon Miller*

“Each of the stages are echos of each other, much like the seasons,” she said. “I say this not to discourage, but to instill optimism. To all those who feel nervous for the change, I reassure you that the security you felt here at Crossett will soon translate to the security you feel in high school… let the uncertainty of high school become a comfort, because you have lived it before.”

Student awards were presented at an earlier school event, but announced at the graduation ceremony. Durren revealed the year’s parent volunteer award during the program. It went to Dana Hudson, who has been a dedicated volunteer for many efforts, including the Crossett Brook PTO, farm-to-school initiatives, and the Junior Iron Chef extracurricular program.

The principals then handed out individual certificates to each eighth grader, followed by remarks from seventh- and eighth-grade math teacher Jen Wheaton, who used a math analogy to talk about life.

“As you age, time starts to feel like it’s accelerating because each year becomes a smaller fraction of your whole story,” she said. She pointed out how one year is a large part of a child’s life – one-tenth when you’re 10, but just one 40th when you’re 40.

She said that although she was hired to teach mathematics, she sees her role as larger than that. “My number-one job was to create a space where you felt safe, respected, and connected,” Wheaton said.

And while understanding relationships between numbers is important, building relationships with other people is the key to happiness and success in life, she told the graduates. “Your homework from me is to use your time to connect with others because as you age, you will find that is what matters most,” she said.

*The chorus performs under the direction of Music Teacher Molly Dubois. Photo by Gordon Miller*

The ceremony featured music from the school chorus, with eighth-grade members joining in. Songs included “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri and “Crowded Table” by The Highwomen, arranged by music teacher Molly Dubois.

*Co-Principal Duane Pierson offers closing remarks. Photo by Gordon Miller*

Co-Principal Duane Pierson brought the ceremony to a close, offering some consolation to the several hundred attendees who endured “the largest sauna in New England” inside the gym, “it has been pouring outside,” he said.

Pierson thanked parents and family for supporting their students and added his praise for the class of 2025. “I love my job,” he said. “The job doesn’t love me back some days, but these kids I love.”

By the time the ceremony ended, showers had moved on and students and their families were able to mingle outside under the tent for cider and doughnuts and picture-taking.

Below are the awards that were given at a separate school event and announced at graduation, and a list of the 2025 graduates.

*The post-graduation celebration gathers under the tent oustside Crossett Brook Middle School. Photo by Gordon Miller*

Awards

School Music Awards

Adeline McCain received the CBMS Choral Award, which goes to a chorus student who takes advantage of every opportunity while bringing musicianship, positivity and energy to chorus.
Grayson Eley received the Matt Clancy Band Award, which is named for the school’s first band teacher and given to an instrumental student who excels in band and jazz band, showing interest in different musical styles as well as collaborating with others.

American Legion Awards

Patricia Sherman of the American Legion Auxiliary presented four eighth-graders with awards.

The legion has two essay topics: “How can we address the health and well-being of our veterans, military and their families?” and “How have family, freedom and friends played a role in my life?” The Citizenship Award goes to a student writing on the latter prompt. The Outstanding Student honor goes to a student who writes on both topics and demonstrates strength as a student in academics and work ethic.

Dahlia McSweeny received the Outstanding Student medallion and certificate. Conor McDonough received the Citizenship Award. The American Legion Chorus Medal went to Beckett McElroy and Silvan Thompson was awarded the American Legion Band Medal. Photos below by Meg Libby