Graduation 2008

 

Please see the below excerpt from Head Master Andy Martire's graduation address:

 

I would like to welcome all of you-parents, grandparents, family members, faculty, staff, students, trustees, alumni, guests, and especially our 8^th graders-to the Calvert School 2008 graduation ceremonies.

 

What a talented, wonderful group is assembled to my right, the class of 2008...whether they are presenting a Castalia Project or singing "Twist and Shout" as they did last night at the Dixon Dinner, they are remarkable.

 

The students are finished their Calvert years now and are headed off to 13 great schools in the fall. The 8^th graders are now feeling the current, slowly but surely pulling them out of the smaller pond and into the stream, which will become a fast flowing river before they are fully immersed in the sea that is their new secondary school in the fall. When you are pulled into that ocean, do not fight the tide. You will be faced with a great deal on your plate...a longer day, possibly harder courses, bigger classes, new classmates and friends to make, upper school sports, activities...and you may think...can I do it all?...maybe I cannot do it...I am not sure.

 

When swimmers are in the ocean and get caught in a rip tide, the first instinct is to fight it and stroke against it, yet you cannot succeed that way as you will be wasting your energy. You have to relax, let the current take you out to sea a little bit, paddle with it, before it subsides and then you can swim where you need to go. Next year, let the current take you new places, and let your school wash over you. Do not worry, you will be safe-the lifeguards-your teachers and parents--are on the beach watching closely. Also, Calvert has taught you to swim well. Sooner rather than later, you will be comfortable in the big sea... You may realize it when your face is painted and you are screaming in support at a sporting event, when you give the answer in class to the question that no one even understands, or when you lead a community service for your ninth grade class.

 

Whatever you do, make sure you are a giver, that you give to your new school the way you gave to Calvert. With credit going to a great headmaster that I had, I offer you a modern adaptation of a classic story. You have three choices at your new school. One, you can "take," and while you all, of course will learn and will receive from your school, I mean that you will "take," that you will be a negative influence, that you will draw attention for less than good reasons. I doubt that will happen, knowing you as I do.

 

The second choice is that you can simply pass through your school, doing OK, staying out of trouble, not causing any ripples in the water. You are simply there. You may think, Mr. Martire, that does not sound like me, and I agree with you, but it is an easy trap to fall into. The third choice is to give, to immerse yourself, to give with your brain, with your body, and, most importantly, with your heart. To offer your talents and your effort and your time to your school, to your classmates, to the younger students, and to the community around you. Serve. Lead. Help. Organize. You know what choice I am endorsing, and you know it is right and better, too. But it will take effort and commitment, but knowing you as I do, you all should be givers. You can do it!

 

And the challenge that I give to you, I give to myself and to the assembled faculty and staff today. To the adults, I say, let Calvert wash over you, stroke with, not against, the current, and give...continue to give to the School with your mind and heart. Moreover, we cannot delay in our giving, nor should the students. Four years in Upper School for the students will pass by quickly, and for the adults, time flies even faster. Start now. We have three long standing, 15+ year employees leaving us at the end of the year, and I will talk more about them later....Mrs. Harlan, Mrs. Ingraham, and Mrs. Rice...they are three great examples of "givers" for all of us-students and adults-to look up to.

 

Typically, when graduations are over, parents come to teachers and thank them for the help and guidance over the years, and I do certainly hope that your parents feel that way about the faculty and staff members in the audience today. Now, I do the reverse, and thank you, the students for the impact you have had on us and the school. We, the faculty and staff have seen you grow and develop, some of us for just one year and others for all ten you have been at Calvert. We have seen you laugh, cry, run, fall, write, erase, speak, read, draw, and sing. You are important to us, you have touched us, and you will now always be a vital part of the fabric of Calvert School.

 

I wish you success and happiness, and we at Calvert send you off with our love and very best wishes. Thank you very much.