Congratulations to the Class of 2010

Commencement Address

Anthony P. Paolillo, June 5, 2010, Graduation 2010

Thank you, Mr. Noftsker, Dr. Koufman my fellow School Committee Members Mr. Portz Mr. Leon, Mr. Beach, Ms. McManus, Ms Hsu Balzer, Town Council President Sideris Mr. Driscoll members of the Town Council, Administrators Principals, and staff. I too would also like to thank Ms. Gaylene Fantasia and Jay Francione and his staff for all of their hard work in setting up this event this evening.

On behalf of the Watertown School Committee I want to welcome all the parents, grandparents, and invited guests I want welcome you all tonight to beautiful Victory Field for the graduation of the WHS Class of 2010. I want to especially welcome the members of this wonderful graduating class of 2010. It is an honor and pleasure to be here with you outdoors on this beautiful evening. The weather has finally cooperated and allows us to be outdoors for the first time since 2005. It is fitting that 2005 was the last time we were outdoors since that was the first time that Mr. Noftsker appeared at these graduating exercises as the newly appointed Headmaster.

It is fitting because tonight is the last time that Mr. Noftsker will be appearing at these ceremonies as he will be retiring or graduating as WHS headmaster. Seniors this is your evening tonight and I know Mr. Noftsker would not want it any other way but if I may take a few moments to thank Mr. Noftsker on behalf of the School Committee and the entire Watertown Community for his 38 years of dedicated service to the Watertown public Schools, and his 28 years of serving the students at WHS. Mr. Noftsker this community is forever in debited to you for making our High School the warm friendly environment it is today you have been the steadying force for our high school for 28 years. You cared for our kids as if they were your own. These seniors here tonight will move on better people because you were part of their lives. Thank you Mike.

I would be remiss if I did not say thank you to another Mike who is also retiring. Mr. McDermott on behalf of the Watertown School Committee I want to thank you for your many years of dedicated service to WHS. To know what kind of love and affection the students of WHS have you Mike all you have to do is just listen to them when the chant of Derm rings through any assembly that you may appear at. Thank you Mike. The High School will sure feel strange without you two Mikes in that building next year.

Thank you Graduates for those few moments I want to congratulate all of you for what you have accomplished over the last four years. You are a wonderful class, a class that has achieved so much in academics, athletics, and in the arts. You have excelled in the classroom, on the stage, on the athletic fields, and in the gyms. You have made us all so very proud these last four years. You represent what is best in Watertown.

When you begin your new journey, you take with you a part of Watertown. You take with you not only the knowledge you gained in the classroom from your wonderful teachers or the ability that you learned on the stage and on the athletic fields from your outstanding coaches. But you take with you strength of character that has been ingrained in you from the people of this wonderful Town. The people of Watertown are a hard-working people, a diverse group of people with compassion and strength of pride. You have been molded by the people around you.

Make sure graduates before this evening is over to thank the person or person that played the biggest part in the molding of your character, your parent’s or grandparents they are the ones that gave you that shove to ensure that you stayed on the right path.

But you played the biggest part of developing your own character, when showed kindness to a friend or the leadership you showed in the classroom or on the playing field or on the stage, or the extra work you put in to complete that class project or when you became a Tri Y Hi volunteer or when you exceeded your community service hours requirement, all of this went into molding you into the person you are today.

But you are not done yet. You will continue to change and grow everyday after you leave us tonight so be aware of that fact so you continue to make the right decisions and follow the right path. But also feel good about the solid foundation that you have build, it is good foundation, a strong foundation that will carry you for many years to come.

Class of 2010 you have proven to us that you will succeed in what ever road you decide to take whether its college, work or in the Armed Services. Go out there with the attitude that you can conquer any obstacle before you. This world today needs you more than ever to succeed although things are getting a little better we will depending on you and your generation to fix allot of our problems that we have left for you. We know that you can do it because you will soon be a graduate of WHS.

So Class of 2010, sit back, enjoy this evening, take it all in, and cherish the moments that will become lasting memories. You have worked hard to reach this time in your life. Feel good about yourselves because your parents and your community are so very proud of you.

Once again, on behalf of the Watertown School Committee, I want to congratulate you on your accomplishment.

You earned this wonderful memory, so enjoy it.

Thank you.