Garfield Middle School promotes eighth-grade class of 2029; staff present awards and remarks

Garfield Middle School held its eighth-grade promotion ceremony, during which school leaders read the roster of promoted students, presented academic awards and delivered remarks aimed at preparing students for high school.

The event featured remarks from Damon H. Lorett Sr., the school’s head principal, who opened the ceremony by saying, “it is an honor to welcome you all to our eighth grade promotion ceremony.” The program included musical performances, presentations by team leaders and certificates for top academic performers.

The ceremony’s nut graf: school staff used the promotion to recognize academic achievement and to offer guidance for students’ transition to high school. Guidance counselor Mrs. Powell presented certificates to students she identified as top performers for the first three quarters, and the dean and principals delivered motivational remarks.

Dean Hayes, identified in the program as the Dean of Student Engagement, urged students to take control of their attitudes and choices, saying, “Please pay attention because I'm only gonna say this once. There are 2 types of people in the world. Some are like thermostats and some are like thermometers.” He framed the transition as a step toward future success and encouraged students not to quit.

Mrs. Powell, the eighth-grade guidance counselor, delivered remarks and presented academic awards. She told students, “Keep growing, keep asking, keep going, stay kind, never be afraid to ask for help,” and called students forward to receive certificates for academic excellence for the first three quarters.

Eighth-grade team leaders read the names of promoted students across three teams. Megan Hill, the eighth-grade team A leader, and other teachers announced the full roster of promoted students; Mrs. Powell specifically named a set of top-performing students including Ashton Stearns, Mylan Wright, Savannah Cornwell, Gabriel Taylor, Dimitri Jackson, Nico Hamilton Walker, Michelle Bintell (as pronounced during the presentation), Maya Brothers, Christian McCants, Amelia Antoine, Fatamata Kita, Marissa Sloan Wilson and Destiny Washington.

Co-principal Miss Moseley closed with a personal message to the class, saying in part, “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and most definitely loved more than you know.” Administrative staff reminded parents that students leaving with parents should be signed out before departing.

The program also included musical performances by the school band and choir and invited school-board members and central-office representatives to stand so families could recognize them. The ceremony concluded with instructions for photos and sign-out procedures and well-wishes for an upcoming summer and high school transition.